Читать книгу American problems онлайн

5 страница из 16

A Remedy for Some Forms of Selfish Legislation

ssss1

The August number of the “World’s Work” contains an article which is of interest to all who are concerned in the vital subject to which we give the somewhat foggy title of “Political Reform.” The article, for obvious reasons anonymous, is written by a member of Congress who, the editors of the “World’s Work” say, has served for more than ten years in the House of Representatives, has acted on many important committees, and has been successful in “getting things” for his constituency. The article is described as “showing the reason why the ‘pork-barrel,’ special tariff favors, and private pension bills become law,” the reason being, to quote the words of the author, that “the dictum of the constituency to the Congressmen is, ‘Get all you can for US.’ There are no restrictions placed upon his method of getting it.... Until the American people themselves become more National and less local, until constituencies cease to regard their Congressmen as solicitors at the National Treasury, Congress will continue to enact iniquitous groups of local favors into National legislation.”

Правообладателям