Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-02-11

lnltlee rooms. Inere, all laws are ulscusS-
ed, matured and prepared for presentation
to the two Houses. On most subjects the
committees require time for investigation,
and therefore, as a rule, the first few
months Of a session are apparently barren
of results. But while to outsiders Congress
| is spending its time discussing questions
to little purpose, the really important
work Is quietly going on i'm the committee
room. 1t is often criticised for spending
valuable time in discussing simple resolu-
| tions of an abstract character. But very
| frequently such discussions are sprung by
committees in order to draw out the senti-
ments of Congress upon measures being
put into shape in the committee room. lt
| is not always possible to secure the passage
of laws that committee is satisfied are
best for the country, and they, therefore,
| take the next best they can get. They
| must cut their cloth not to fit the COM
mittee, but the two Houses of Congress.
! 1t Is, therefore. not unusual for com
mittee to report an important bill upon
which the members differ radically.
For. these reasons it is not always
| safe to accept criticisms upon Congression-
| al proceedings. Important and satisfac-
tory work Is being done very frequently,
when apparently little is being accom-
plished.
| AnOJneT ldcC connected with Congress
| sional legislation Is worth remembering by
constituents. The vast range of questions
that come before Congress makes it utter
| ~ impossible for members TO give to every
proposed law the investigation and study
it deserves. The body of Congress is
therefore divided into Committees. Each
Committee Is given particular subject to
consider. The Appropriations Commit
! tees, for example, passes upon all monies
voted for the expenditures of the Govern
ment. The Judiciary Committee consid-
ers all measures affecting the courts and
rights and privileges of the citizen. The
Banking and Currency Committee consid-
ers all laws affecting the system of banking
and currency of the country. So / might
90 through the list, showing how the work
of legislation is divided, but it is not nee
essary. Enough has been said to enable
the reader to see how the work is done.
This committee work is responsible and in
some respects of a fiduciary character. a
Member of Congress, for example, assign
ed to the Appropriations Committee, III
effect, says to his colleagues: "My time is
wholly occupied in my Committee, and l
can not give much attention to other work
Now, promise you that | will faithfully
and cOnscicntiously watch every applica-
ton for appropriation of public money, and
in the committee vote only for what think
is right and honest. You NAV, therefore.
mends an appropriation which is not ne
cessary to carry on the Government, ] will
inform you OF it, so you can vote accord
, ingly when the bill is before the House.
/ will do this for you if you will promise
} to watch the interests of my people in
your committee. We will depend upon
each other and in that way we can protect
our constituents and the country" This
, Is practically what each member says 70
: his associates when he assumes his com.
mittee work. He is, therefore, to a Ger.
tain degree, dependent upon his colleagues
, for honest legislation. As he can not pos.
sibly look after every claim referred to the
Claims Committee or examine into the
: constitutionality of every proposed law
} referred to the Judiciary Committee OF
: know the equity of every tax fixed upon
imports, as proposed by the Ways and
2 Means Committee or understand the ne
8 cessities of the postal service as recon-
mended by the Committee on Postofiices
and Postroads; or the details of evidence
3 in contested election cases, as the same ia
submitted on elections, he must depend
( upon the recommendations of those com.
/ mittees to guide him in his votes
} For this reason, in most cases Ofspecial leg.
: islation, the recommendation of committee,
is conclusive. 1t is only i'm important leg.
islation that members bring the merits o.
7 each question before the House, and even
then the report of the committee on many
= points, is accepted as conclusive.
WHAT OUGHT TO BE EXPECTED or MEM,
BERS.
In view of what / have said your read
. er5 Will perhaps understand that the
= country at large, has claims upon mem
Der of Congress and q Senator as well n,
a his Immediate constituents. If his whole
z term is occupied in visiting the depart
t ments and hunting places, or looking VI
' claims for his constituents, he, of course
can do but little in looking after the in.
I terests of the people as whole. And il
each member were to devote his main at
) tention and energies to local interests and
+ the personal wants of his constituents, who
( would look after general legislation, wi n.
out which the Government could not be
successfully carried on? How can a mem
Der make a favorable impression upon
q Congress, or win for himself and his con
stituentS infuenceand reputation, he can
not find time from his local correspondence
and duties TO inform himself upon impor-
e tdnt public questions aud take the part he
V ! ought TO in their discussion Constituents
, ! have been known 10 Say, W en-, what /,
D the Use OF sending --- 10 Congress- IIt
: never says ur does any thing and dOesu {
3 seem - have any influence iu Washing
ton. Let as send q man there who can 90
! MS some go0i"n Constituents are often
\ themselves 90 blame for such results They
e send their member peck of letter, every