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Show THE PEOPLE'S FORUM. Hon. William Aldea Smith of Michigan, Michi-gan, than whom there Is no better Informed, In-formed, aggressive or Influential member mem-ber of tho lower house of Congress, delivered de-livered a spech the other day during tho Postofflco department discussion which ranks high as a terso and lucid definition of the duties of a Congressman. Congress-man. Mr. Smith repelled the assault made upon Innocent members of Congress by tho Brlstow report, declaring that not only had members of tho House and tho Senate simply porformed their primary duties in visiting tho executive departments depart-ments and representing tho lntei'ests of their constituents, but that without the performance of such services no man would be a modern or useful representative represen-tative of any constituency. In demanding an Investigation of tho official career of Brlstow, the investigator, investi-gator, Mr. Smith pointed to tho fact that thcro had been called from tho lower house of Congress a number of men to occupy the Presidential chair of our Nation, while others had honorably and well performed tho duties of Cabinet Cabi-net officers, or had been promoted to the United States Senate, or to tho position po-sition of Chief Executive of the various States of our Union. Mr. Smith rightfully and truthfully stated that there was no more representative represen-tative body of men than those of the lower house of Congress; and they were tho only ones associated with an administration, ad-ministration, being responsible for its doings and tho disbursement of tho people's money, who were directly elected elect-ed by the pcoplo at tho polls, and who wero directly amenablo to tho voters of tho ennntrr rinr? aiili-la-f ti ihnr- 4IMt- llne, their approval or disapproval. Few taxpayers or voters not taxpayers taxpay-ers realize thia potential fact. A Congressman Con-gressman Is more apt to bo wrongfully censured or wrongfully held responsible for an act within his control than any other official connected with the Government. Gov-ernment. The Brlstow report condemned con-demned men for honestly and faithfully performing their duties, whllo constituents constit-uents no doubt were holding them responsible re-sponsible for failure to obtain that which they believed should have been given their representatives in tho executive ex-ecutive departments. In another column In this Impreeslon of The Tribune Is reproduced the salient features of Mr. Smith's excellent extemporaneous ex-temporaneous speech upon this subject, and wo commend a careful reading of it. |