The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-09


~ The New York Tribune calls Con
! gress to account for a-neglect Of duty. ]
says it is cursed with absenteeism-tha
one-third of the members seem to be in
variably away when important bills ar
> pending and need their votes.
We think the Tribune is right in demand
ing that those to whom is delegated the re
, Isponsibility of legislating for the natiol
shall apply themselves to their duties an
not desert their posts. If private affair
will not allow them to do the work of tn
public, they had no business to undertak
it. If they are too indolent, or allow mer
; personal indulgences to interfere with wha
they are sworn to perform faithfully an,
to the best Of their ability, they demon
strate their uniitness for the position the.
occupy. They are well paid for their ser
vices. With some few exceptions, the,
receive more money than they could man
age to obtain in other employment. Their,
are some, we are aware, to whom the posi-
ton is really tax and burden. in pecu
mary sense. But the men who can say
this with truth are those who do their duty
who are always in attendance and mostly
capable of intelligent legislation. The alb
sentees are in great part mere voters, and
as they can do nothing else, ought at least
to make point of being present to do that
We don't know what remedy to apply
that would prove effectual. Congress
makes laws. Each House enacts its own
rules. It is not likely that those who
shirk their duty will assist in imposing a
penalty upon themselves. We know of no
instance in which the members have done
anything either to punish derelictions of
duty or diminish their own emoluments.-
They manifest positive alacrity in in
creasing the latter as often as they have
opportunity. An extra mileage is nice
sop to all Of the greedy and useless class.
The only mode of reaching them we per-
ceive is through the people. We hope the
public everywhere will make q note of
those who are habitually absent. We ask
that somebody at Washington will pub
lish q list of them, and, at the close of each
session, let Us all know who have been alb
sent and how ofsen when they ought to
have been in attendance. And then let
their constituents make it their business to
prevent each of them from repeating the
offence. If the people will insist, in this
mode, that their Representatives shall per-
form their work, we apprehend that there
will very speedily be different condition
of things. Important bills will not have
to be laid over, or altogether miscarry, be-
cause the House is empty. We hope il
will be done. If men wish to be Congress-
men, let it be understood once for all that
they must be that and nothing else.
AeThe action of the House on the Bank |
Bill is another instance Of how time is |
wasted by that wise assemblage. 1t is.
on an exact level with its con-
duct on the question of taxing whisky.-l
We don't know anything about the merits
Of the Bill. 1t may have been very bad
and at last consigned to proper fate. But
Why it should take 80 much debate, and be
;ossed from House to House, aad consider
I'd and amended, through 80 long period,
md then tabled by so decided a vote as SO
Oh, is quite beyond our comprehension.
This sort Of proceedings il suggestive of
but sound judgment or intelli-
'ent capacity. It looks to Us as If Congress
magines that it has nothing better to do
han to trifle with the public and its vital
interests. It is in our view disgracefol.-I,,
t looks decidedly as if the members were
nable either to perceive what public ext !:
encies require or to do it II they do. |,
If the Bank Law wants amending it
hould be done. II it don't, why should
legislators talk, aud fume and debate
bout itf Why not letit alone9 There il !:
nough to do. A great many matters are
afiering because Congress fails to act a !,
ought. All this IL deplorable. Surely !,
congress does not know that the country !.
in the agonies Of . civil war, and that
me 10 our chief capital. II they can't do
nything they had better adjourn.
9-1t IL reported that Col. Hatch, Of the !:
Oond Iowa Cavalry, hs been confirmed =
rigadier General. Amid the host of in.
ompetents who have hitherto been eleva- :
ID to that rank only to make their unfit !.
ess the moro conspicuous, it IL gratifying, =
ow and then, to find true merit and ar. .
nous service properly recognised. The
istory Of the Second Iowa Cavalry and its !.
'aders are we'll known. II any man has !,
armed his promotion it IL Col. Hatch. Our =
eople win all be gratihed in finding his =
orth recognized because they feel conf :,
ent that he will do honor to the position, i
theirs have also done well. It il no dis
to them osay that Gen. Hatch
worthy Of place beside the most meri- =
rious.
@The Supreme Court has decided the .,
alifornia Quicksilver mine case in favor !,
the private claimants. It il exceeding =