Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-05-21
FOR THE SENTINEL.
THE DUTY OF CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. d. O.. Ma,

WASHINGTON, d. O., May 10, 1880.
Mr.. Editor: The time for the adjournment
of Congress draws near, and the scenes pre-
sented at the National Capital afford ample
opportunities for reflection. More than five
months have passed since the present session
began and 1t Is only now that real work is
inaugurated. This Congress is no excep-
ton to the rule governing all the Congresses
that have preceded 1t within my recollec-
ton. As in all assemblies, whether large or
small, few men shape the policy and do
the work. In our national legislature the
various committees are the workshops in
which the different classes of work are pre-
pared. OF course all this is known TO a
great many people, but how many are they
who know how the committees work? Very
few, comparatively speaking Take an ev-
cry day occurrence as a sample, say for in
stance, claim is introduced in the House on
no matter what subject, the course is to refer
1t to some appropriate committee If the
claimant has no attorney or friendly repre-
sentative to push matters his claim might as
well De buried III the sea.
All business before committees Is divided |
among the members of the committee, and |
| each member is thus constituted sub-com-
mttee. When a subcommittee submits a |
report at the weekly meeting of the whole |
committee, 1t does not happen once in fifty |
times that any question is asked, but the re- |
port made by the subcommittee, whether |
favorable or unfavorable, is adopted by the |
whole committee and reported to the House.
For further illustration we will assume that |
favorable report Is made the whole sub |
ject goes upon the calendar and awaits its |
turn, subject of course to the very common
practice OF being set aside for the consider |
alton of some measure of interest TO this or |
that member or paid attorney. Finally, in
the closing hours of the session the claim Is |
reached, and if its business is too plain to
admit doubt, it is passed and sent to the |
other house. Here II is referred TO the APP
propriate committee, and in nine cases out
Of ten Congress adjourns before the second
subcommittee gets hold of 1t, (for be IL re-
membered the same detail is observed in both |
houses,) and the claimant must go over the |
same ground at the next session, as final adj
journment carries all unfinished business by
the board.
This illustration demonstrates the slip
shod manner in which business is done by |
Congress. Men who are sent here by con-
fiding constituencies waste month after
month in idleness Speeches which have
been written by hired professional speech
writers, are printed as though they had re-
ally been delivered, and mailed to the voters |
in the members district.
The average member of Congress, without |
regard TO party, is about as useful as a fifth |
wheel would be to wagon. All business,
l repeat, is done by committees, and it would
be economy, not to say wisdom, If a stop
could be put TO the waste Of the peoples
money by curtailing the number of Con-
gressmen and prohibiting the printing of
speeches never delivered 1t strikes me that
it would also be productive Of much benefit
if committees were required TO report more
fully than they now do on cases entrusted
to their care.
One Of the evils resulting from the exist
ing system oflegislation il shown in the fact |
that the agricultural interests of the coun-
try are at the mercy Of railroad corpora
tons. OF what benefit Is ID 10 farmer If |
hed does have an extraordinary crop, and has |
10 pay an exorbitant price 10 reach mar
ketH Railroads rule the agricultural inter-
ests, and from the character Of our national
legislation it might be well supposed that
Congress Is under the same masters.
A resolution was recently introduced in
the Senate calling for the appointment Of a
committee to consider the propricty of Con
gress regulating the freight rates Of rail-
roads, so that farmers, miners, stock-raisers
and others might be protected. What has
become of that resolution2 / answer, IL
sleeps on the calendar Of the Senate and IL
will slumber there until the end Of the
session.
The people Of the country should nee 10
II that men are sent here who have higher
motives than 10 feather their own nests
What is needed now Is less politics and more
craftsmanship, less talk and more work, few
or schemers Of both parties and more men
Of honest and honorable instincts
Let US have less Legislation in favor Of mo-
nopolies and more in favor Of the people.
Politics Of to-day is but another name for
systemitized robbery. A pure man Is not
usually selected as candidate by politi-
clans, and the hard-hsted, leycl-hcadcd and
honest voters should turn out In their might
and send men 10 Congress who will repre-
sent instead Of incorporating them.
speak strongly on this subject because !
feel strongly the necessity Of something
being done 10 sayc US as nation. | cast no
reflection on one party more than on another,
for in both there are many bad men.
More anon. M.