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Page Two THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C. Friday, December 15,19T2 This is the season when writers review the role of Congress as one of the three constitutionally established branches of our government. Several members of the Senate, in recent days, have been holding ad hoc hirings on the balance of powers in the area of legislative and executive af fairs. One of the great constitutional doctrines declares that the legislative powers shall be vested in the Congress. There was little challenge in this area in the early days of the Republic, but with the advent of wars and the expansion of the regulatory power of the government, ihe executive branch has broadened its base. And, after a weak beginning, the role of the Federal judiciary has also expanded in such a fashion that members of the court have sometimes accused their colleagues of writing opinions that jumped into the “legislative thicket.” All of this merely restates the proposition that the Presidency and the courts have eroded a part of the traditional power base once possessed by the Congress. Unfortunately, there is more than a grain of truth in the contention. Some of the advocates of “a reassertion of Congressional power,” however, often get sidetracked in their efforts. Again this year niuch of the discussion centers on a con- ---wjuoH u puTBueo woum probably lessen Congrestdonal power rather than increase it. That is the ab^titm of the seniority system. At the moment, the lines of Congressional power are well defined under the rule which states that a Committee Chairman shall be the member of the majority party having the longest service on the Com mittee, unless that member waives his right to the chair manship. Quite frankly, if the seniority rule is abolished there will be% less reform and power struggles than the proponents are willing to recognize. Any reform is always intriguing. ALL-SEASON AIR CONDITIONING warms or cools at a touch! ^he S. B. Parker^ Company 1104 National Avonuo ME 7-3307 L Lennox Comfort , CraHsmon A > rur . d U-nnoi -r .I,' • .'irr'’ and I can understand the frustrations of some of the freshmen Members of Congress, a feeling which sometimes comes to aU who are privileged to serve in this body. But over the years, I have noticed that the arguments made by the younger members diminish in strength as they too advance in seniority until finally they are convinced of its logic. In substance, the seniority system is not an anachronism but rests upon two valid points. First, seniority is not only a usefid rule in Congress, but it is also useful in life. Experience is the most efficience teacher of all things, and con^uently the more exp^ence a man has, the more sensible he is likely to be as long as he retains his mental and physical vigw. Second, I have never heard anyone suggest any other rule that woiud make it more certain that wiser men would become Chairmen of Committes and that fodish men would be exoluded from such positions. It rests upon the strength which a Senator or Congressman has with his constitutents. This puts the ultimate power in the people. Without question, any method of choosing Chairmen has some weaknesses, but when anyone examines the alternatives they all seem to me to have greater weaknesses than the one now in existence iq the Congress. A more appropriate remedy seems to lie in greater efforts by members of Congress to use constitutional powers which they undoubtedly have to resolve the major public questions confronting our nation. Political courage, I must admit, still is in short supply in Washington. All the transactions of the past differ very little from those of the present.—Antoninus. Low Prices, Low Overhead When you think of diamonds, think of Mike. &l\7£,LSXl Home of Kcep'iake Diamonds 222 MIDDLE ST . NEW BERN N C 637.S775 (n)MmA cossiflidios 4 Pi an» to For all real estate needs see LESTER or PAT 637-5130 1001 Broad St. tfl V #1, Singer Christmas GAtC^nter •j Imagiiie! Any of these siy5>inqer*sewina machines for under 200°° 169’* Stylist* stretch stitch sewing machine. Built- in Fashion* Discs and Fiexi-Stitch* Discs for your choice of stitches. Exclusive front drop- in bobbin. Model 416. Also available with portable carrying case. SlyJjM stretch stitch sewing machine. 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The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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Dec. 15, 1972, edition 1
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