The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-05-03
what It Costs to be a congressman.

The following from a Washington cor
respondent is worthy of wide circula-
ton n earnest consideration. With
all our "gibes and jests" over the modern
M. c, probably no man is more deserv-
ing the benefit of charitable allowance
than he:
"A more n idea never pre-
vailed than thu" the position of Con-
gresham is a sinecure. The real legis-
latiye work that the average member
does is small, but his work as a claim
agent is onerous in the extreme. A ru-
raj constituency will be satisfied with
the public service of their Representa-
tive If he makes one or two set speeches
during a session, and they will be de-
lighted if he gets the better of some
other member in repartee; but, in per-
sonal service, the constituent is more ex-
acting. The member is expected to look
after the interests of his people at Wash
ington.
Formerly forty years $780, the constit-
uent had no intrests here, but now, this
one thinks that he is entitled to a pen
sion another imagines he has an in
vention which will be worth millions
of dollars TO Uncle Sam, and his mem
Der is expected to introduce it and urge
its adoption by Congress, the President,
and Secretary of War. The inventor is
willing to sell his millions saving device
for 500, 000l Then there is the "cold
water and bran society" and an infinite
variety of societies with schemes for
~expediting the millennium that their po-
tent member of Congress is expected to
champion, and for which he is expected
to secure some kind Of recognition by
the government, preferably an a%pproprf-
alton. If he ignores any of them he
does it at the peril of losing votes and
losing his place at the next election.
The man who has any claim against the
government for services against the war,
for property taken, or for anything else,
rarely ever thinks of putting it into the
hands Of any of the numerous law firms
or claim agents in this city. He encloses
the papers relating to the matter to the
member of his distric., or one of the Sem
ators 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 his failure, makes an enemy
of his claimant, who forthwith declares
and works for some other aspirant for
Congressional honors. A prominent
member of the lower house recently
said "a Congressman who tries to meet
all the demands upon him has the work
of three men to perform. In the first
place he has his duty upon the floor.
he keeps trace Of all the bills and
public measures, and labors for the sue
cess of his own he has as much as any
one man ought to do. Then he has his
work. Not only the work of
the committee to which he may belong,
there are matters referred to all the
which he ought to look after.
He has, besides, his department work.
There is not a department of the govern
ment, aye, scarcely a division of any de-
partment in which some of his constitu-
ents haven't something of interest to
them, applications for appointment to
positions, claims, pensions, andthe MANY
through which these matters have
to 20.
The correspondence of a member of
Congress, too, entails q great deal of
labor. Letters from constituents must
be answered promptly, and in order t o
do this there is scarcely a member who
is not compelled to employ a secretary
or amanuensis. Upon an average it takes
three hours each day, Mt least, for a men,
Der to read and reply TO all the letters
he receives. The impression hat Con-
have nothing to do but enjoy
themselves, is altogether wrong They
nave their troubles and annoyances as
well as other people, and, upon the
do not deserve half the censure
they get. Besides these demands on his
time, no member Of Congress escapes de-
on his purse. He receives many
from his district requesting ON
tributions to various charities. Some of
constituents, coming to Washington
for pleasure or on business, find them
selves stranded, without money, turn
Immediately to their member, who is
expected to pay their hotel bills, or buy
a ticket home. Whom the multiplicity
of the demands upon the time, energies
and substance of our Representatives
are considered, we ought, perhaps to be
more charitable towards their shortcom-
ings."