Show 1 MERRY ROUND MERRY Writer Tells Pocketbook Vote Re Record ord By DREW V PEARSON WASHINGTON Most rost distressing dis dis- political development In Inthe inthe inthe the nation Is the weakening of at public confidence in our democratic democratic democratic demo demo- cratic legislate system Wire WIre- pulling for tor war profiteers by Congressman May of Kentucky congressional dawdling overO over O OP P A the Influence of ot cash campaign contributors o 0 over v e r congressional voting all t have weakened confidence in congress at a time when we cant can't afford lack o of confidence This writer happens to be one ono who believes congress can be usually is a bulwark of our dem democracy cracy Furthermore most of ot its members are arB honest conscientious con con- hard working They are arc a true croas section cross section of ot the American people which people which is the essence of ot democracy A small minority however can damage the reputation of the rest Long ago congress should have adopted rules rule of or conduct to protect its own tation But since it covers up rather than purges wayward members this column will wm call can the roll of ot congressmen who vote ote for the pocketbook interest rather than the public interest Here is the first Representative F Frank r ran a n k B. B Keefe Wisconsin Republican Republican- Led fight Ight to defeat legislation for national cemeteries to bury war dead Instead he advocated and won out on a plan to bury war dead in private cemeteries in the United States which States which means large profits for or private cemeteries Most people dont don't know it but Congressman Keefe is president of ot Lakeview Me Me- morial mortal park Oshkosh Win Wis operators op- op orators of ot a private cemetery Keefe therefore voted for his pocketbook interest not the public public public pub pub- lic interest Representative Dean Gillespie Colorado Republican Battled to the end against 0 OP P A. A He happens to be vice president of Bluhm Foods Inc which on March 22 paid a fine of to 0 O P A for violating pr price ce ceilIngs ceil ceil- ings on marmalade His company company company com com- pany Is now being sued for 13 treble damages for lor violating violating vio vio- lating price Ceilings on preserves pre pre- serves Congressman Gillespie therefore not only let his food company violate price ceilings but voter voted for lor his pocketbook in interest in- in terest to abolish 0 OP P A. A A Senator Elmer Thomas Thoma Oklahoma Okla Okla- homa homs Democrat Made Democrat Made speeches against 0 O P A margins when o 0 OP P A tried to prevent cotton speculation W V While h 11 c a making these speeches Thomas a and d his I family were speculating on cotton cot cot- cotI I ton Senator Hugh Butler Nebraska ka Republican Republican Opposed Opposed famine relief shipments of grain to Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope also voted to remove price ceilings on meat and grain Butler Butler But But- ler is a big grain and flour dealer deal deal- er also raises cattle He worked for tor the pocketbook interest not the public interest Senator Edward Robertson Wyoming Republican Voted Republican Voted to remove price controls on meat The senator is a big cattle and sheep heep rancher His vote was for tor the pocketbook interest Senator W V Wherry h It c err r r y Nebraska Republican I Republican Introduced Introduced n t rod u c e d an amendment to the 0 OP P A bill bm whereby automobile dealers dealer would get a higher profit on the sale o of cars Wherry long has I been an auto dealer His vote was for the pocketbook Sam Rayburn's Veto Soviet Ambassador Gromyko is supposed sup sup- posed to be the great wielder of the veto but In a recent secret conference good old Sam Rayburn Rayburn Ray- Ray Rayburn burn o of Texas did a a. little vetoing vetoing veto veto- ing of his own In effect he took a large blue pencil and ran it through three important sections sec sec sec- o of the senate bill to reorganize congress Republican Leader Joe Martin added one extra veto of his own Rayburn in general Is behind the move to reform congress But meeting In a door closed-door session with other leaders lie hOe swung his veto on three provi provi- They were 1 it Appointment of ot an year a-year executive assistant for each cach member of congress Rayburn Rayburn Rayburn Ray- Ray burn felt this would partially remove a 3 congressman from contact with his constituents Several other leaders agreed ed 2 Each committee to hold monthly sessions at which any member could ask debate on a bill previously pigeonholed by the committee chairman 3 No more special investigating ting t- t ing committees This was where Republican Leader Joe Martin exercised his veto with Rayburn backing him up 4 The proposed legislative legislative- executive council also the ma ma- minority policy commit commit- tees The reorganization bill provides that the Democrats shall set up a policy committee and receive annually to pay for research experts to help formulate party polie policy It also provides the same policy committee committee committee com com- and same for the Republicans But Rayburn was vigorously opposed So was his assistant John McCormack of If I I dont don't want any debating societies so societies societies so- so around me protested Sam Ive I've got enough to do without arguing everything with six other men Copyright 1946 Bell Syndicate |