Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-11
rnnaREssnEN nApLY nlxep.

Congress has been In session more
than three months, but not single I'M
portant measure in public legislation
has been adopted. These servants Of
the people make haste slowly. We
have q faint suspicion that In the null
tiplicity of bills introduced, contem-
plating improvements and reforms,
the congressional heads are getting
badly mixed. They have been be-
sieged for changes In nearly everything
pertaining to governmental affairs.
Perturbed and sorely disturbed capital
lists have In alarm implored Congress
men to pay no heed to the demands OF
the laboring people. They pirate about
the ruin and disaster such legislation
will bring to their numerous employees,
but more directly to their own swollen
bank accounts.
Manufacturers are in alarm over the
tariff; banks are threatened with the
taxes they ought to pay; railroads with
laws regulating freight rates; telegraph
monopolies with competing lines to be
built by the nation, and so on throus b
q long list of important aud unimpor-
tAnt bills. With all these subjects I'M
der consideration, it Is but little wonder
that Congressman are mixed.a But
some allowance should be made. Many
Representatives are well meaning, but
Unframed, and are better qualified for
other duties than making laws. A
majority of them know little more Of
the science and art Of government than
can be picked up in the common
schools; and many of them lack
even that meagre training. Such
men have much to learn and
q great deal more that they can
never learn, when they enter the ma
TONS law factory. Even If they apply
themselves diligently to their duties
they are often disturbed by the impor-
tunities OF officer.seekerS and claim
hunters. The average Congressman
may intend to faithfully serve the pub
Lie, but in the rotten condition Of affairs
at the national capital he cannot.
When he entered the legislative halls
he was big with reform. He smelt
wrong and erookedness on every breeze.
He opened his ears wide to catch every
murmur of q grievance. He heard the
two sides of the tariff question; the
complaints of the workiugmen against
pauper labor, the enormous profits Of
bank monopolies, and other complaints
too numerous to mention. All
these things needed regulation
and he resolved on the the nee
essary corrections. At once
mass Of bills are presented that it IS
thought will easily right wrongs and
establish reforms. When these efforts
at legislation are considered intelli-
gently and eapably discussed, the I
folly may appear.
But valuable time is wasted. Vast
sums OF money are expended in the ed
ucation Of men that ought to go to Con-
gress thoroughly qualified for legislative
duties. 1t Is but little wonder that
such novices at law-making become
confused. If they are of any value at
all it is by reason of their voting and
acting at the dictation Of men who by
practice and training are fitted to per-
form the duties their position imposes.
The best statesmen we have seem in-
competent 20 regulate the tariff and
finances, upon basis that shall be fair
and just tn all the people. The legisla.
ton given is largely experimental, and
when Congressman draft and adopt laws
without q we'll defined knowledge OF
their scope and effect, they must of ne
cessity have confused notion OF their
value and propriety. Better trained
lawmakers are wanted in Congress.