The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-02-18

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EdttoT Democrdt.'
During the week the majority in
Congress has been considerably en-
barrassed by tho absenteeism which
prevails TO such an extentth session.
While there arc 1852 Democrats on
the roll and only 147 Is necessary TO
make quorum, tho party IL unable
to pass any measure contested by tho
Republicans, because no quorum OF
Democrats IL In attendance. There
are several member elected as Demo-
Gratis who are not only weak -knecd
and indifferent from a party stand
point, but who are also unfit leglslat-
ors and unfaIthsul Representatives.
This Is tho unvarnished truth. On
Wednesday last, when the electoral
count resolution was up, thoro were
i4s Democrats I'm tho city, but only
l4l could be mustered on an attempt
TO pass the most important political
measure OF tho session. measure
which alone will relieve Chester A.
Arthur OF the power 10 determine and
declare the result of tho next Presi-
DENTAL election. Some of these abb
sentees were at home, some were at
the Department attending 10 business
in which they are privately interest
cd, and others were even less decent
~ employed. OF those who were In
their seats, several would not remain
an hour after their dinner time ar
rived, and left In spite OF all remon-
STRANGE. So long as the Democracy
must rely upon this sort OF material
IL viii be a cold day when IL doesn't
Get left. Aside from all party con-
siderations, this absentecism Is most
reprchensible. 4 member of Con-
gress has responsible duties 10 per
form and Is expected 10 attend to
them as no agrees TO when he seeks
and obtains AN election. Jimmy
OBrien, OF New York, has scarcely
bces IN his seat this session. IIe
came o9er last Monday, wandered
about the House an hour or two on
Tuesday, and returned that night 10
the metropolis. Both his constituents
aud the party suffer- from such no
giect. or all the Democrats absent
last week but tgo had valid excuses.
Aud this has been the experience Of
the party since II came into power In
the House. In the 4ith Congress
the majority was so large that fifteen
or twenty absentees were not missed;
bu. In the last two Congresses great
difficulty has alwas bRen experienced
In connection with every measure the
Republicans have chosen 10 Eight.
The people should watch their repre-
sentatives and bold them 10 a rigid
responsibility. Look for their names
In the published roll-calls, and II they
are not there call them 10 account.
No man who shirks Lis duty OF who
Ia so lpkewarm as TO dodge square
voteshould be returned asecond time.
The politics OF the present day de-
mand truer, sterner stuff than that.
One Of the peculiar things connect
ed with legislation In Congress Is the
strange course usually pursued with
reference TO contested seats- When
the seat of a member Is contested II
would seem right that an early inves-
tigation and settlement of the case be
had. But that Is not the way 1t Is
done. The House Committee on
Elections Is one Of the slowest COM
mittees in that body and one that al
most invariably reports upon the bust
ness before 1t In tho very last days OF
the session when the term over which
the contest arises has about expired.
In the present Congress two cases
have but just been reported, though
the facts were just as well known and
as easily determined at the beginning
of the session. In the Florida case
Mr.. Bisbee, Republican, Is given
the seat occupied by Mr.. Hull, and
no doubt he was entitled TO 1t. Two
years ago Bisbee was ousted from 6
seat in the same manner, and Dem
ocrat given the seat which belonged
to him. Tho result Is that for tive
successive terms the same distric
has cost double for representation
The man who In each Congress rem
] dered no service except during tn,
7 last few days of the term draws pre-
cisely the same pay as one who ha
! occupied the seat. There Is injustic
lurking in this system, and sucl
= following after Republican precedent
ought meyer to be tolerated In a Dem
ocratio House.
= In one respect, however, the Dem
ocrats have shown how much create
n is their regard for fair play than thu
of the opposite party. During the 81
years of Democratic control in til
Ia lower branch of Congress cQmpar'
finally flaxu onnfnckr hnr,n q ninnr, IN