New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-08
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
NEGLECT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.
BENJAMIN WOOD AND SOME OTHER INcogRGBLa
ABsENTEEs FROM THE HOUSE
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUsE.i


ABsENTEEs FROM THE HOUSE.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO TIRE rRBUsE
WASHINGTON, May 7.-Mr. Benjamin Wood repre-
sents or is supposed to represent in Congress tho
Vth Congressional District Of New-York which is
composed of Governors Island, and the Firsr
Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth. Eighth and
Fourteenth Wards of NewYork City. Major
General W. s. Hancock, late Democratic candidate
for the Presidency, resides in this.district. When
Congress assembled last December, Benjamin Wood
did not put in an appearance, and II was not nhtil
January 10 that he sworn IN as member OF
the House of Representatives. THIS delay was
ascribcd to illness. Mr. Wood remained In wash
ington a week or longer. and one OCCASION at
least was in his place and voted public question
He very disappeared, however, and bas not
since been in the House. On March Fl he was
granted leave of absence " indefinitely on account
of serious Illness" and has not yet returned to his
duties up to this tme and therefore, according to
the official records of the House, he IS still detained
by " serious Illness"
According to unofficial" information. however,
which in this case at least, is more trustworthy
than that which is oficial-the state of Mr. Woods
health does not prevent his Icing very often
at the Turf Club" in New-York, where he is
described as being lin as good health
as ever" According TO all accounts,
the Turf Club is hardly the place
that a careful physician would recommend to a
patient who is suffering from IS serious illness
and if Mr.. Wood has sufficiently recovered To fire.
quent that resort, it might be well TO consider
whether it be not about time for him 10 pay soIne
attention to the duties which he was elected by
his constituents to perform and for which he re-
ceves from the Treasury of the United states a
salary of - 900 a year. As an absentee from ms
Congressional duties. Benjamin Wood is an old
and apparently incorriSibIe offender. He was
member of the house of Representatives IN the
XXXVlIIth Congress A careful search OF tho
index to The Congressional Globe for that Congress
fails 10 disclose more than one occasion on when
Mr. Wood participated in the public business
That was in the second session. and what he did
was to move that the House adjourn.
Three weeks ago a Washington dispatch 10 lHE
TRIBUNE announced the return to the capital OF the
Hon. Michael Nolan, Mayor of Albany and also
member of the House of Representatives Mr. Nolan
remained in Washington nearly week, and
voted on several occasions IN the house
during that time. During the last
fortnight however each rol-call Of the House has
recorded Mr. Ncan's name in the list OF those
absent or not voting, and according to The Record
he has been paired" with Mr. Crowley. OF New
York. The Record does not show that Mr. Nolan
has been absent by leave of the House, although IL
is known that be has not been iii Washington during
the last two weeks
During the last week the following leaves OF
absence were granted to members of the House
for the reasons assigned: