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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1963)
Page 2A EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD, Sunday, Jan. 6. 1983 The Real Facts of Life for Congress-Watchers EDITOR'S NOTE The average citizen probably doesn't have a very clear un derstanding of how Congress works. Here is a tongue-in-cheek account 0 tchaf the congressional record doesn't tell. . The Closed Mind, Open Mouth Policy Is Highly Popular By ARTHUR EDSON or the Aisocllted Press WASHINGTON Congress, comes back to work Wednes day, so it's time for each con scientious, high minded citi zen to buckle down to his homework. The task: To learn what senators and representatives mean when they speak the languages mysteriously their own. In this perilous age, when we can't understand the Rus sians, when the Russians can't understand the Cubans, and How to Address A Congressman What to write to your congressman or legislator? It's simple. For U.S. senators, make it "Honorable Adam Smith, U.S. Senate, Senate Office Bunding, Washington, 25, D.C. For U.S. representatives, "Honorable Adam Smith, U.S. House of Representatives, House Office Building, Wash ington, 25, D.C. For a slate senator, make It "Sen. Adam Smith, State Senate, Salem, 10, Ore." For a state representative, it's "Rep. Adam Smith, State -House of Representatives, Salem, 10, Ore." To write to the President, the proper form is "The President, The White House, Washington, D.C." For the governor, it's "Gov. Adam Smith, State Capital, Salem, 10, Oregon." Salutations are generally ignored. Start the letter with "Dear Senator Smith." Courtesy requires that it be "Dear Mr. President" in writing to the White House. Herewith a Glossary of Terms Used in Both Houses the Cubans can't understand anybody, let's at least know what our heroes at the Capi tol are up to. Here, then, is a glossary of terms used in, or about, Con gress: DEBATE, HOUSE VER SION Don't be misled by this word; in the House, there is no such thing. With 435 members, time is severely limited, on import ant issues, where everyone wants to talk, a congressman thinks he has hit the jackpot if he gets as much as five minutes at the House micro phone. So he gets his great oppor tunity and drones until time runs out and the gavel falls. Orator follows orator, with hardly anyone listening to what is said except, possibly, the fellow doing the talking. Possibly no vote is ever changed by House debates. That's why they are usually attended by a smattering of members, chiefly those wait ing to get into the act. The House is the exact re verse of a fancy shop which uses its showcases to tempt the customers to buy. If you want to appreciate the House, you have to march right in to the committees, where the work is done, and investigate the interesting stuff on the shelves yourself. DEBATE, SENATE STYLE It is not true that senators talk longer and say less than any other similar body in the world. It only seems that way. Yet, despite the unending speech-making, here, too, few votes are swayed by it. Tom Connally, the former Texas senator, was speaking of a single colleague, but what he said is true of almost all of them (and almost all of us). "The . senator approaches each issue," tart old Tom said, "with an open mouth and a closed mind." "The distinguished Sena tor" never has an adjective been so devoid of meaning. Privately a senator may know ' his colleague is a creep, but publicly all senators are dis tinguished, to other senators. Fairly harmless habit, but in curable except by a crushing defeat at the polls. FILIBUSTER This is a dirty word, so dirty that no body ever admits he filibust ers. No, he wants to arouse public attention, to explore constitutional problems creat ed by this iniquitious legisla tion. Or, if he's a wordmonger like Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen, R ill., he has a yen to ventilate the issue. But, filibuster? No, this is a horrid word reserved for the other fellow. MAJORITY LEADER This . is a humorous term used to describe Sen. Mike Mansfield, D-Mont. You can't lead a sen ator to water, much less make him drink. It got so bad during the.last session that Mansfield was given unexpected support, from his Republican counter part, the gallant Dirksen of Illinois. "I have seen some of the articles in the newspapers and magazines which under . took to demean him as the leader of the Senate," Dirk sen said in that magnificent purr that sounds like a well ' tuned sports car. "God save the mark. I know him well. I served with him in the House of Representa tives as well as in the Senate. He deserves far better. He , has made an effort to har monize 100 diverse personal ities in the U.S. Senate. "Oh great God, what an amazing and dissonant 100 , personalities there are from . the orchards of Oregon and Washington, from the cotton fields of Mississippi, from the cranberry bogs of Massachu setts, from the rockbound coasts of Maine, and from the cornfields of Illinois." They or their amazing, dis sonant successors will all be here, daring anyone to lead , them anywhere. SPEAKER This is a hum orous term used to describe Rep. John W. McCormack, D-Mass. Speaking is what a speaker doesn't do. He rarely comes down on to the floor to take part in the purported debate, and when he presides over the House he usually mumbles expertly so no one will be sure exactly what Is said. Sam Rayburn, greatest of speakers, turned mumbling into a science. Rayburn could sneak a passel of legislation through the House before the snoopiest legislator could cry, "Hey, what's going on here?" Once he mumbled 50 wonder- . fully that he even fooled the official reporters and the "Congressional Record" came . out next day saying the House had zigged when it really had zagged. McCormack still hasn't mastered mumbling, but, even though he's 71, he's still a rookie playing a strange posi tion. Given time for season ing, his speakering should be ; as difficult to understand as anybody's. "MR. SPEAKER, I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MIN UTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS" Possibly no other combina tion of words is used so fre quently in the House. But, since these words usually come at the opening of the day, when that noisy body is midway between hubbub and chaos, they are never heard. And nobody cares. For this ' is a pleasant little device whereby a rep1 resentative can insert a whole speech into the "Record" without saying a word of it Copies of this opus can now be mailed back to his admir ing constituents who so the theory runs will cry out, "Man, he's a really a-telling them up there in Washington, isn't he?" - . WASTE Despite the talk, you won't find a pro-waste man in all of Congress. We pant for economy in govern ment, and always have.. "The people justly view with alarm the reckless ex travagance which pervades every department of the fed eral government." These sparkling words are a part of our national literature that we don't read much any more, and rightly so. They're from the Republican platform of 1860. Nobody wanted reckless ex travagance then, and nobody ' wants it now, but the diffi culties arise from the way a congressman looks at this sunple word: ECONOMY Something that should be practiced sever- : ely, but in the other fellow's state or district. But don't get me wrong. Congress is a delightful in stitution. So welcome home, gentlemen, gentlewomen. Speak right up so that we can hear you. f people jlW.jiil ! UStlu VIEW il if !:!(' O-.T," J, - I! I everw , 3S1 il v.',':,:) I Mil Mm k' :w mwmr , One Hundred Years And the Song's The Same 4 Conflict Revealed in Research Chief s Resignation PORTLAND W) A conflict over administration of the multi-million-dollar Oregon Region al Primate Research Center time to light Saturday with the "resignation of the facility's di rector Donald E. Pickering. -'. Pickering said in a letter of 'resignation to the board of directors of the Medical Re Search Foundation of Oregon that the administrative code adopted by the dean of the University of Oregon Medical School Dr. D.W.E. Baird and the foundation did not permit him to exercise scientific and operational responsibility for the center. Pickering said that he planned to continue as senior scientist. however. Pickering said that problems had arisen over budgets and 'Monopoly Seen In Railroad Merger WASHINGTON ln The Justice Department says the proposed irnergcr of the Northern Pacific, Burlington and Great Northern railroads would create a huge and powerful rail monopoly cross ing four Northern states. i The railroads' brief, filed Friday, said the merger would re ult in better transportation at lower cost. j The Justice Department took a different view in a brief filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission opposing the merger application. It contended the merger would: J Destroy vigorous competi tion between the Groat North ern and Northern Pacific. - Seriously damage and eventually jeopardize the exist ence of the Chicago, Milwaukee, 61. Paul and Pacific Railroad 0., a principal competitor, and hurt other competitors by di verting millions of dollars of 'freight revenues. Impair adequate transpor tation in a growing region of the nation and deprive it of the advantages of competition. Impose hardships on com munities and shippers in the area, and trigger new merger applications. The brief, presented Friday, also contended that opponents ol the merger were denied a fair hearing in testimony taken last year on the merger plan. The Justico Department said the ICC examiner deprived the opponents of the right to cross examine some witnesses and placed undue restrictions on other cross examinations. what he said were obstacles placed in the way of graduate education. University of Oregon Presi dent Aulhur S. Flemming, a former Secretary of the Depart ment of Health, Education and Welfare, said in Seattle Satur day, "I believe that the adminis trative code and the manner in which it has been, administered by tho Research Foundation through Dean Baird is in com plete conformity with the un derstanding reacnea wun me Department of Health, Educa tion and Welfare when the Bus Firm Seeks Service Reduction The Oregon Public Utility Commission is studying a re quest by Western Greyhound Lines to abandon service on its Junction City-to-Eugcne route over River Road, the Corvallis- to-Eugene run over Highway 90W and the Albany-Newport run over U. S. Highway 20. At the same time Valley Stages of Salem has applied to take over the threo runs. And Pacific Trailways has now filed a request with the PUC for permission to operate between Albany and Newport and for a route between Cor- vallis and Eugene over U. S 99 E. Protests have been filed against Greyhound's request by the Canby Chamber of Com merce and the Railway and Motor Coach Employes Union. 3 n 1 UUUULfU 0 IIP 5 BIG SAVINGS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT! HURRY! MANY ONE-OF-A-KIND! DOORS OPEN AT 9:00 A.M. SPECIAL GROUP FAMOUS BRAND TABLE OF CLOSE-OUTS YOUR CHOICE FROM 25 C AND UP COSTUME JEWELRY ENTIRE FALL AND HOLIDAY STOCK! 61 0 OFF Regular $1.00 NOW 39 Regular $2.00 NOW 78 c Regular $3.00 ... NOW $1.17 While Supply Lasts All Prices Plus Tax NO MONEY DOWN WATCHES 25 to 50 Off SPECIAL GROUP APPLIANCES Save 25 to 50 14k CHARMS BRACELETS and LUGGAGE Holloware FLOOR SAMPLES 33 l3 OFF 25 OFF ACiOl --TW O OFF ALL SALES FINAL B&Wlafla grant was made for the Primate Research Center. "1 also believe the Medical Research Foundation, working through Baird, has conducted the affairs of the Center in a manner consistent with sound principals and will develop it to the point where it will be one of the outstanding institu tions of its kind in the nation." The center is under the spon sorship of the University of Oregon Medical School. Three Killed in Flaming Plane Crash SUNNYSIDE, Wash. Ml Three children were orphaned here Saturday as their parents and a family friend died in the flaming crash of a light plane at the start of a scheduled cross country flight. Killed were Harold Gerard, 39, his wife, Shirley, 35, and John Platsman, 31, all of Sun nyside. The Gerards were survived by two daughters and a son. Peggy, 16, Jean, 12 and Allen, 8. Neighbors are caring for them. Platsman was unmarried. The Gerards, operators of i drive-in stand, were bound for a national soft drink convention in Florida. Platsman, owner of the Sunnyside Glass Co., had offered to fly them there in his four-place Cessna 170, which he had had about three years. ... " JOHNSON FURNITURE buys oui ulonlcnai in original SOPH - - o ntr.F. SttTfOJfALS SHOWROOM SAMPLES! HUGE SAVINGS In SHOW ROOM SAMPLES purchased by JOHNSON'S, PASSED ON TO YOU1 An entire truck load of famous "Montchalin Originals" Living Room Furniture at SAVINGS NEVER BE FORE SEEN. WE GUARANTEE EVERY SET NO LESS THAN 25 and SOME as much as 40 OFF. Luxurious Gold Brocade . A s V 3 ' . il 1. Jl . 'jJi "niSiiisDli 111 "DA VINCI" Sofa and Chair all foam rubber construction . with rich, stylish diamond back. Large arm rests, two-cush-Ion ssat on sofa. Manufacturer's Suggested Price S729.95 JUST A FEW of the TERRIFIC SAVINGS offered in NOW ONLY 95 THIS EYENT! All Pieces Offered Are "MONTCHALIN ORIGINALS" WORKMANSHIP . . . experienced Craftsman . . . distinctive, exquisite tailoring. FOAM RUBBER . . . Monte's fnam rubber engineer ing is the industry's envy. Royal Tex-foam latex rubber by B. F. Goodrich. The very finest. CONSTRUCTION' . . . superior hardwood frames. Joints reinforced. Hand tied cable base, coil spring construction, generous amounts of foam rubber in seat, back, and arms. A" CUSTOM MADE SOFAS Mn s.,,. Mayfei -w,- 3799s MoYfalrl08..p Savnna"EarlyA "NEAPOLITAN" Four-cushion 108 inch length. Foam rubber seat and back . . . one of the most distinctive pieces in Monte's Showroom collection. Manufacturer's suggested price 640.00 NOW ONLY FOB THE BEST VALUES IN TOWN SHOP . . . Fairrm on' 3-Pier. c... 39995 29995 195 Eugene's only i s "S WE GIVE Green Stamp Furniture Store 543' JOHNSON mmitufie Open Daily 9 to 5:30 Friday 'til 9 Customer Parking in rear, off 6th Ave., 649 Willamette. DI 4-2231 499" give" I (GREEN lSTAM PSy 110 W. Broadway Open Friday Nitet 'Til 9 p.m. Dl 3-7746
