The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c. Jan. 26th 1880.
OUR MEMBER IN WASHINGTON. HIS PRO-
TEAM ROLE OF SERVANT, REPRESENTA-
TIVE, AND CHARITABLE INsTITU-
TION, ETC ETC.

A more erroneous idea never prevailed
than that the position of congressman is a
sinecure. The real legislative work that the
average member does is small, but his work
as claim agent is onerous in the extreme.
A rural constituency will be satisfied with
the public service of their representative if
he makes one or two set speeches during the
session, and they will be delighted if he
gets the better of some other member in rep
artee but, in personal service, the constitu-
ent il more exacting. The member is ex-
pected to look after the interests of his peo-
pie at Washington. Formerly, forty years
ago, the constituent had no interests here
but now, this one thinks that he is entitled
to q pension, another imagines that he has
an invention which will be worth millions
of dollars to Uncle Sam, and his member is
expected to introduce it and urge its adop-
ton by Congress, the President, Bnd Sscre-
airy of War. The inventor is willing to sell
his millions saving device for 100000
Then there is he''cold water and bran bread
society,"" and an infinite variety of other
societies with schemes for expediting the
millennium that their potent member of Con-
gress is expected to champion, and for which
he is expected to secure some kind of recog-
milton by the government, preferably an ap-
preparation. If he ignores any of them, he
does it at the peril of losing votes and los
ing place at the next election. 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 numer.
GUS law firms or claim agents in this city
lie encloses the papers relating to the mat
ter to the member from his district or one o
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 hii
failure, makes an enemy of the claimant, ,whc
forthwith declares and works for some 9TH
er aspirant for Congressional honors.
prominent member of the lower house re-
Gently said "a Congressman who tries Il
meet all the demands upon him has the worl
of three men to perform. In the first place
he has his duty upon the floor. If he keep
trace of all the bills and public measures
and labors for the success of his own he Il
much as any one man ought to do. Then h
has his committee work. Not only the worl
of the committees to which he may belong
but there are matters referred to all the com
mittees which he ought to look after. Ill
has besides his Department work. There i
not Department of the Government, aye
scarcely division of any Department, il
which some of his constituents haven't some
thing of interest to them. Applications TO
appointment TO positions, claims, pensions
and the many stages through which thes
matters have to 60" The correspondence
of member of Congress, too,entails grea
deal of labor. Letters from constituent
must be answered promptly, and in order tC
do this there is scarcely q member who i
not compelled to employ a secretary or al
emsnuensis. Upon any average, it take
three hours each day at least, for membe
to read and reply to the letters he receives
The impression tina. Congressman have moth
ing to do but enjoy themselves is altogethe
wrong. They have their troubles and an
noyances as well as other people, and, upor
the whole, do not deserve half the censur
they get. Besides these demands on his tim,
no member of Congress escapes demands oI
his purse. He receives many letters from
his district requesting contributions to vari
Gus charities. Some of his constituents
coming to Washington for pleasure or oil
business find themselves stranded, withou
money, turn Immediately to their member
who is expected to pay their hotel bills, O.
buy ticket home. When the multiplict!
of these demands upon the time, energies
and substance of our representatives are con
sidered we ought. perhaps,to be little NOR
charitable towards their short comings.
G. AS.