Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-13
ADDRESSING EMPTY SEATS.
Backwoods Statesmen Making Records in
Congress.

| an expression very commonly used in
referring to Congressman when they
make labored speeches to empty
benches or to a house full of noisy and
inattentive members. This thing has
developed into q good deal of a
nuisance, but there seems to be no help
for it. "a fellow feeling" makes Con-
gressmen "wondrous kind" and the in.
sufierably tedious speech of some back
woods statesman is patiently endured
because his purpose is so thoroughly
understood. The rule which provides
that member may, by unanimous con.
sent, obtain leave to print his remarks
in the Record without actual delivery
has afforded some relief, but the average
Congressman is too conscientious to
make use of that expedient. He wants
to be able to say that he made speech
to the House, although he generally
forgets to say under what circumstances
it was made.
Not long ago New York Congress.
man spoke for over an hour, but so in
distinctly that not even the member in
the seat beside him could hear what he
was saying, while in the galleries not
the faintest articulation could be dis
tinguished. 1t was afterward dis.
covered from the record that he had
spoken on a subject of importance only
TO the district which he himself repre-
sented. That style of speaking is, of
course, more acceptable to the unwilling
lstner than the roaring and ranting of
other orators, because the latter dis.
turbs the thoughts of gentlemen who
are writing letters or peaceably slumber.
ing the tedious hours away. The in.
audible and the too audible speakers
are, however, making what they call
their record as Congressman, and it
would be an unspeakable cruelty to de-
prive them OF their only opportunities
to shine before their constituents.
1t is a fortunate circumstance that
the number Of those who are compelled
to bolster up their record by making
speeches which tax the patience of the
house and benefit no one but them.
selves is comparatively small. They
are mainly confined to those who are
either too dull or too diffident TO take
part in debate, or who are unable to
insure the passage of any bill in which
their constituents are interested. In
talking of this phase OF Congressional
life, member said at is natural
enough, under the existing state of
things, that member should be
anxious to make a good record. His
future political success or failure,
especially if he is young member, de.
pends to great extent upon it, as
those who have a sure thing of re.elec.
tion are as scarce as white crows. This
is always kept in mind, and every act
done or word spoken is designed for
the effect it will have upon record"
"What do you look upon as a good
record in Congress ?' asked.
"Well, think the member makes
the best record who works the most
faithfully in the committees to which
ability manifests itself much more
readily there than in the open house,
and it finds a much wider scope. The
men who shine as debaters and orators
are not in reality the most useful
either to the country or 10 their con.
situent'. Frequently their most bril-.
liant hits are the results OF pointers fur
nished them by men who never at.
tempt to address the House at all. I'm.
fortunately the work a member does
in a committee does not go to his
credit with his constituents. Their
only means of knowing what he has
done is what appears in the newspapers
or in the Congressional Record, and
very little of what is done in committee
ever sees the light through either of
these channels"
"But shouldn't members record be
determined by his success in getting
bills passed ?"
"To a certain extent, yes. but things
have come to such pass that the pass.
age of bills, particularly if it be of local
interest mainly, is matter of almost
sheer luck. Suppose you introduce a
bill at the opening of the session. The
measure may be just and proper, and
of great Importance to your district, but
it must take its chances among ten
thousand other bill. 1t may be sent to
committee already overburdened with
work, and the chances are that it will
never even be considered. If by per-
sistent effort you induce the committee
to look into your bill, the probability
is that it will be combated by some
member the interests of whose district
are opposed to those of yours, and the
committee, finding that there is a diff
ference of opinion, will lay it aside
undisposed Of.
"lf you are fortunate, and get a
favorable report, the bill is placed on
the calendar, there it is likely to re.
main, even though it be at the top, as
there is not the slightest pretense of
following the calendar in determining
the order of business. The time de.
voted to matters of local or private
nature is exceedingly limited, and
seems to be constantly growing less.
Take this session, for instance. Fri
days are nominally set apart for the
consideration of bills on the private
calendar but, with the exception of a
few days at the opening of the session,
the regular order has been set aside,
and bills of national Importance only
taken up. Then, too, measures Of
special interest have excited such
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