New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-30
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
HOW CONGREssMENs TINE IS WASTED.
IBr TELEGRAPH To THE rRrnuNE.I


BT TELEGRAPH THE rRTBuNEi
WASHINGTON Dec 29.-As a TRIBUNE cOrre-
spOndcnt ascended the steps of Representative Kas-
sons residence this afternoon he met that gentle
at the door, his arms filed with big bundle of
letters.
You appear to find plenty to do during this holi-
day recess" remarked the correspondent
Yes" replied the Iowa Congressman, somewhat
wear ". have Just finished answering the let
ters received in nv morning mail and was on my
way 10 of the Departments TO attend 10 matters
for some of my constituents One thing is certain
Unless something is done to svsematize the pension
business Congress will be Obliged to furnish every
Western Congressman, Mt least clerk to attend to
his share OF it. The claim agents, it appears. sent
out circular letters TO their clients telling them
that if they will write to their Representative,
urging him to hurry up matters in the Departments
their will be made special and they will get
their money all the sooner. So we are loaded down
with letters of this sort from constituents, and
the result is perpetual worry to and y blockade
IN the Pension Office. Something must certainly be
done to locaze the examinations in pension cases.
and to relieve both the Department and Congress
men of the burden imposed upon them. The large
bonus offered to applicants by the Arrcarages Act
has stimulated both them and the claim agents
and especially the lat'cr-until the amount of work
thrown upon Congressman Is great that they
have very little time indeed to devote to their pub
lie dutcs.' i---.
The same correspondent called yesterday upon
another Iowa Congressman. who said that he bad
intended to go home for the holidays. but had been
prevented from doing so by an accumulation of
business to which his constituents demanded his
attention"
2" How do you manage to find any time for com
mttre or legislative worlli asked the correspond
cnt.
well. have adopted a system. All the letters ]
receive which do not require immediate attention
lay aside. and every Saturday devote myself to
them. take my bundle and start ont in the morn
ing and during the day | visit every Department
that is necessary. Saturday night and Sunday |
have a stcnographcr here. and dictate the replies
to my weekly budget; and between MS we usually
manage to get the docket clear by Monday evening
or Tuesday morning"
This Congressman, who has " adopted a system
spend, three days out Of every seven in doing chores
for his constituents and out of his pocket pays
his postage bills and stcuographer
besides. 1T il all very un,atisfartory.'
he said. but how can | help iti As 60 about
NV district canvas-ing one will say to me: now
have little matter there in Washington that am
not satisfied about and want you to look into it! OF
course do it, People out in my country think that
q Conrrcssman can do almost anything If he tries,
and few of them realize that if the heads of Depart
mrnts and bureaus were 10 make cases special at
the request Of every Congressman, there would
soon be- none except special cascs.''
or course, between ncgectlng his committee and
legislative duties and the requests of his con
stitucuts the average Congressman will usually do
that which is least likely 20 njure his future pros
poets aud the is that rs the personal de-
mands Of constituents increase, the amount of time
which representative can devote 10 his legitimate
pullic duties dmiui5hcs, aud the number of men
who actually shape and control legislation M Con-
grc,s becomes smaller year by year. There mem
bcrs 4 the present House of Representatives who,
as members Of the last Congress. never attended
half dozen times the meetings Of committees TO
which thew belonged and whose only participation
in the business Of legislation was 20 cast an OCCASION
at vnt.--aft,r being told how 10 east II.
II ~ said that Que member OF the House, VINO has
served in that body first and last more
than ten years, never attends more than
one committee meeting In whole
sc--ou aud IL n notorious thut hr never takes any
part in the dclbcr ions of the House except to vote
with his party. or 60 advocate some measure Tor the
benefit If his district OF constituent ana he
is declared To bc very popular Representative at
home and sure Ia De returned Ia Congress regularly
as long as he lives, II he desires lie spends all
his time doing chores, and il virtually the W lshing
ton crrand boy of his constituents.