Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
THE LIFE OF AN NJ. c.
How He Is Tasked, Worried, and
Bseds

nSVeF, OF TdTely,NiSi WstSliuStuu anu arc oucio-
fore unacqualnted with the duties Of Con-
gresham and the labors that are imposed upon
him, the belief is universal that member
dwells upon '.fiowery beds Of ease" and that he
has nothing to do but make speech OCCASION
ally and draw s, 1000 per year.
more erroneous idea never prevailed.
member OF Congress who attends properly to
the needs of his district and the calls of his
constituents has but little time for pleasure or
recreation. He is one of the hardest-worked
men in this country. Years ago, when the pop
ulatiOn was smaller, when mail facilities were
OF the Stage-cOach order, and when but few
citizens had any business with the public de-
partments at Washington, congressman had
not great deal to do. Their constituents sell
dom came to the capital, because the trip was
tedious and expensive. Letters were few and
far between and there were but few pensions
and claims to look after. Then the NJ. C.'s gave
those days cards, horse-racing and cock-fighting
were popular amusementS with the national
legislators. Ever since the war the demands OF
constituents upon their members have been
growing until now Congressman Is expected
to attend promptly to all business that every
man in his district may have in Washington.
II he neglectS these calls upon him he jeopar
dies his hold upon his seat.
THE MAN WHO HAS A CLAIM
against the government for services during the
war, for property TAKEN or for anything else,
rarely ever thinks Of putting it in the hands OF
any of the numerous law firms or claim agents
in this city. He encloses the papers relating to
the matter to the member from his district or
one Of the Senators from his state, and urges
that his business be hurried through. Should
the Congressman fail to establish the claim and
get the money, he frequently, because OF his
failure, makes an enemy Of the claimant, who
forthwith declares and works for some other
aspirant for Congressional honors The last
time Gen. Rice. late democratic candidate for
lieutenant governor of Ohio, was in Washington
he said: "a Congressman who tries to meet all
the demands upon him has the work OF three
men to perform. In the first place there's his
duty upon the floor. If he keeps trace Of all the
bills and public measures, and lab0rS for the
success of his own he has as much as any one
man ought to do. Then there's his committee
work. Not only the work of the committees to
which he may belong, but there are matters re-
ferred TO nearly all the committees which he
ought to look after. Then there's his depart
ment work. There Is not department Of the
government, aye, scarcely division OF any de-
partment, In which some of his constituents
haven't something of interest to them. Appli-
cations for appointment to positions claims,
pensions, and the many stages through which
say this cOmplainingly for no member ever at
tended more faithfully to his duties than he.
He was simply showing that CongreSSmans
life Is not one OF ease.
DEMANDS UPON THE CONGRESSIONAL POCKET.
Besides the demands Of the nature described,
there are a thousand and one pecuniary calls
upon members. They are called upon by mail
to contribute to all charitable movements in
their respective districts, and Senators must
meet such requests from the entire state. Then
II constituent even though ne m may nave been
without money, he expects the Congressman
who represents him to replenish his purse and
mo questions asked In many cases men who
have indulged in pleasure in New York. Boston
and other eastern cities until their funds
were exhausted have frequently telegraphed or
come in person to their member or Senators for
money to 'take them home" OF course many
these annpalS rnflSp1
Of them cannot. Mr. Barnum, Of Connecticut,
while in the US Senate, said he would be glad
to make over his entire salary to any RESPONSE
BILE person who would agree to meet the calls
his constituents. Mr.. Barnum added that he
simply referred to the demands that he felt
forced to respond to; that calls Of this charac-
ter more than consumed his salary every year.
There is now in the Senate a gentleman who
gives every dollar of his salary to his wife and
daughter to be used In responding to the calls
upon him for help, and in addition to this he
gives, every year, a great deal out OF his in
come from other sources than Congress. He
got the idea Of turning his salary to the la
dies of his family from the remark of Senator
gia, since his return to Congress has given away
thousands Of dollars beyond his salary. Sena-
tor Conklng, it is said, in very quiet and un-
0StentattOuS manner, annually diSpenSeS more
than his salary in aiding others. There are very
many others who d o the same, and therefore
find themselves at the end OF the year without
they have performed.
HOW CoNGRESSMEN ARE PLUNDERED.
Besides the money that is voluntarily given
away congressman are frequently made vic
Tins by pretended constituents. Not long ago
very good looking man called upon a member
from distant state, and wanted to borrow $3.50.
The applicant for the loan represented himself
as brother OF leading merchant in one of the
principal towns OF the members district.
Then, said the Congressman, "your brother
will certainly have no objection to becoming Sc
amount upon his security" ''But, Pm so far
away" pleaded the stranger. ''You can tele-
graph to him, answered the member. Bring
right and you can get the money" "Oh. GER
talnly can do that" said the stranger and he
Immediately departed. In a few hours he re-
turned TO the Capitol, called out the men,
Der, and showed him telegram purport-
ing to have come from the brother, who
had been mentioned, and pledging himself to be
responsible for the loan. The member led his
pretended constituent to the Sergeant-at-Arms'
Office, and there gave him the $3.50, for which
due thanks for the favor were returned, with
the promise that the money should be refended.
some days afterwards he was writing to the
merchant. In his letter he mentioned the loan
to your brother" and directed the merchant to
put the amount in a certain bank, to the writers
credit, whenever lit was convenient" I'm
agine the surprise of the NJ. c. when he
received telegram, followed in due time by a
leIttr fTOn lne HerCnant, saying he had no
brother, and had not sent any telegram
about the $50 The member related
The ai.ssir air recently saying he could not explain
how the swiDdler had SO cleverly prepared the
forged telegram: that he must have gotten hold
OF telegraphic blank; ''but," added the duped
Congressman, 81 must confess did not exam
Inc the telegram very closely. / simply read
the words it contained, and for aught know
now to the contrary it may have been written
upon one OF the sending instead Of the receiving
blanks Of the telegraph company" This was
told IN group of congressman and brought
out several similar accounts Of tricks that had
recently been resorted to-always by pretended
One member had been caught for s10O
by forged check, another by q letter plr-
porting to come from friend in the city,
who wanted SIS Immediately /" and so on. The
correspondence Of a member OF Congress, too,
entails great deal Of labor. Letters from con-
Stltuents must be answered promptly, ard In
order to do this there Is scarcely member who
Is not compelled to employ secretary or an
emanuensfs. Upon an average, 1t takes three
hours each day, at least, for a member to read
and reply to the letters he receives. The I'M
preston that Congressman have nothing to do
but enjoy themselves Is altogether wrong. They
nave their troubles and annOyanceS as well as
other people, and, upon the whole, do not de-
serve half the censure they get.
THE DELEGATION OF SOUTHERN UTEs are ex-
pected to leave Santa Fe, New Mexico, to-day
or Monday for Washington. There viii be a
Joint conference between them, Ouray and the
Interior department. Ouray will have another
ov1vfff