National Republican., 1883-02-27
Tho Inst pnrs Of the s,snlon.

These are the days that try congrcsamen's
souls. From Maine to Oregon, aud from
Minnesota to Florida, the toilors have gath.
cred who desire the passage of little bills and
the obtaining of little Offices. The last days
of the session are big with the fate of every
pilgrims project, and the senator weary and
worn must listen to the man who can hold
him with his glittering eye, or pin him up in
n corner, or cling to him by his strong lapel.
There are thousands of strangers in the city,
aided by thousands OF coadiutors already
here, who have an aggregate of untold
thousands Of things they want done
during the next FIVE days. Every
senator and member is running for his
life TO escape the mob which seeks to make
his life miserable. He has not o friend who is
not examined and cross-cxamined as to the
best chance for intcrccpting him on his way
from his bed room to his breakfast table, or at
each successive movement ho makes before
placing his aching head upon the pillow at
night for his short, as usual, and disturbed re-
pose. lie is handed card after card from peo-
pie of consequence from his state or district
for whom he has regard, and who cannot with
politencss or safety 10 his political existence
be denied the !" one word," heightened into q
vehement speech of ten or fifteen minutes,
which each one Graves. lie yields TO some
before and others after breakfast, and when
he must leave to reach the capitol he is no
sooner outside his door than he is pluckcd at
by one, confronted by another, and stopped
and jabbered at by third, until he breaks
furiously forth and takes his seat in horse car
or carriage, as his case may be. Upon his
Decentralization he finds himself waited for and
has new gauntlet to run before he can reach
the cloak room, where, To- the favored ones
who have the privilege of tho floor arc ready
to call upon him for half dozen or more
wholly impossible services. Furtively look
ing ut his mail, he is distracted with appeals
TO attend to department crrands, while around
him fellow members gather for his aid in
furthering their projects, who are in turn
themselves each attacked in the same way.
a card is handed him every few minutes, and
if he is watching bill for the very person
who sends it, he is cursed if he does not
leave the chamber and listen for the
twentieth time to what he has had ex-
planned TO him until his once clear
understanding of it is muddlcd and
gone forever. Conference committeeman have
the worst time. Every individual who is in
tercsted in any item waylays them on their
way between the chamber and the committee
room to ask over and again whether the
cherished object is to be won or lost.
These are but the troubles attendant on
legislative work. Think of the applicants for
Office who insist on the daily importantly of
their respective representatives at the white
house and the departments. The sub
jeCt is too painful for contemplation,
for II calls to mind the torturcs to
which the President is subjected in listening
to the badgoring of rejected claimants plead
ing for a rehearing, the elimination and re-
elimination between rivals and the rcmon-
strgnces and entreaties of senators, members,
and committeeman, and of local Muldoors
! swelling with Importance and "infOOence."
The great world is here with its axe to be
ground and woe unto the man in public life
1 IL. a H.