The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-11
Section Thirty.FOur.

Section Thirty.Four.
There is within the lids of the revised
statutes dreadful section, the mere
thought of which causes the average
Nashingtonian to turn blue. 1t is
numbered thirty-four. Let me explain.
Congress is constitutionally bound to
assemble at least once q year here in
Washington, and the President is
obliged to live here while Congress is in
session. But neither Congress nor the
President, to the everlasting regret of a
host of people, remains here all the
time. And if it should come to pass
when Congress is about to convene
that, from the prevalence of contagious
disease or the existence of other circum-
stances, it would, in the opinion of
President Arthur, be hazardous to the
lives or health of the members to meet
at the seat of Government, then that
dreadful section comes in; for in such
case it authorizes the President by
proclamation to convene Congress at
such other place as he may judge
proper. This is what the calf-bound
volume declares may be done. 1t was
Third Congress, having the approval OF
George Washington, A. ID. 1874, when
the Government had no particular seat
after it had been carried from New
York to Philadelphia and before it
reached it's final resting-place on the
banks of the Potomac. What would
happen in the dire event of such a proc
lamation would be to the average
Washingtonian, hereinbefore mentioned.
but a prOlongation of the condition OF
affairs which has temporarily settled
down upon us.
To the curious inquirer who asks
"What is Washington without the pres
ence of Congress and the Chief Magis-
trate?" the deserted caravansaries, the
empty dining-rOoms and dismantled
establishments return a melancholy an
swer. 1t is true the work of the De-
partments goes on about the same; the
clerks draw their pay with undertaking
regularity, spend a portion for the neces-
saries of life, and, with much persistence,
disburse the remainder among the lot
terry companies, building associations,
and other combinations invented for
their amusement, Improvement and
poverty. But what are the pickings
from lot of indiferently-paid clerks to
an enterprising people rendered prefer
naturally sharp by many years of grasp
ing for the loaves and fishes and slices
which come in with Congress and take
its train? They may be ikened to an
ante-prandial beverage, whose only
effect is to whet the appetite.
From these premises, and by natural
ratiOcinatiOn, the conclusion is reached
that the average Washingtonian would
like to have Congress in session
all the time. Such is the fact.
True, it has been asserted that
what is Washington loss is
the country's gain; it has been asserted
that outside of the city's limits the
great heart of the Nation heavesa sigh of
relief when Congress adiOurns. and that
the great industrial interests of the
country, agitated and uncertain while
it is in session, settle down serenely
when it is ended. as though danger had
been happily passed. A grave and
reverend Senator from Nebraska, or at
least as grave and reverend as could be
found in his section in his day, Upton
by name, when advocating a long holi-
day recess, stated that he had just ar
rived i'm the Senate chamber fresh from
the people, and he knew the country was
never so happy as when Congress was
away.
In Gods name," exclaimed the Sen
ator, ..shall we deprive the citizens OF
the whole Nation of holiday blessing
by refusing to adjourn over for several
weeks?''
But this feeling is regarded by the av
erage Washingtonian, 1.-The one who
keeps the hotel" as the result of NAL
ice, hatred and all uncharitableness Cd
the part of those who desired to have
the seat of Government transferred to
the banks of the Mississippi. or tc
where California; waters roll down the
golden strands. Be this as it may, Mr..
Edmunds, acting Vice-President by
grace of the Independent party, who re-
Gently quite filled the seat, and who
really is grave and reverend Senator
without guile, once said the law of COM
pensatiOn exists to bless everybody:
and so if Washington is blest twelve
months in two years and the country
''tothered''-as Joe says in '.Bleak
House'-and vice versa, why. then the
fitness of things is illustrated and nc
one need complain. Washington Cor
N. Y. Herald