The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-03-07
WHAT cosoRsss ~ snouLs NOT

xlV.
The publication In the New York Sun
recently coupling the names OF we'll known
senators and representatives, with the Star
route inloultles has brought attention TO
the fact that the representatives. at the
national capital are. from the purest and
clevcrest motives though II be, leading
themselves aud their influence frequently
20 come very questionable schemes IL 10
the practice, ID seems. TO sign and endorse
irdiscrminately petitions aud claims aud
applications OF their constituents npon
generally the meresl heaissy and most
hurried enqairy, aud without any knowl'
edge or care about the merits or dement's
Of tho special application IN hand. This
Is Of course not always the cate, but II Is
generally so. The constituent persists Ia
regarding the representative AZ hls
general attorney aud special LIBBY
lot, becomes a factor at home
against the congressman IL his request l.
not granted or tho representatives, name
secured 10 his paper until the congressman
themselves get TO feeling that their con.
stituenis justly demand OF them their
name and influence Ia every Claim OF APP
plicstlon they may bling before congress- or
tho government.
SENATOR VesT's statement that no signed
the petition for s,ar-route expeditions "bs-
cause they came from his constituents and
that he knew nothing Of their inertia or de-
merits" was not only repeated by Others,
but might be- truthiully said by n majority
OF The senstors and represent aNycs, who
not only sign like petitions, but who aro
signing aud passing daily thousands Of
claims in the departments. The only con
dition ofiheir active assistance Is tina, "they
come from constituents" and tho
controlling reason or ever ready excuse,
that the constituents demand" OF them
such service. Aside from the fact that
much rasoality and corruption Ia carried on
under such respectable endorsements, and
the crying evil in our civil service, there are
other strong reasons why statutory enact
ments should prevent this practice OF gen.
eral endorsement by congressman.
1t Is an open secret tina, congressional in
claims that never would pass upon their
merits. The congressman are not 80 much
10 blame as ths constituents. Claimants
throughout the country have learned OF this
potent influence and are flooding their inn
mediate representatives with appeals for
help. Tae result. is, the member lie com
PEELED 20 play pension agent, claim sgent.
lobbyist and general attorney at Washing
ton for all the private az well as public bus
iness of some $1,000 voters, and their si,ters,
aud their cousins. and Their aunts, until his
energies are wasted, his lime consumed, MS
private means taken and the possibility de-
stroyed OF his properly attending 10 puolic
legislation or growing ia knowledge aud
weight 10 the discussion OF The great ques-
lions OF tho hour. 30 great 10 the volume
Of this character OF labor nov piled upon
congressman, that their isn't u member oil
either house but needs the services oil one
or TWO private secretaries aid some OF The
mora prominent members, indeod, employ
such secretaries at great expense. Asd 80
he public lime is wasted or the regular or
Ter OF business interiersd with, for Duretu
officers supply congressman oiten
With special form Of card
ID which to call up claims Of
,helr constituents and the clerks are in
trncted that such calls" are TO be mace
special" For every case 30 made "sp'c Q.
al or advanced, two others, at least, must
20 equally retarded. 30 much time Is lost
n selecting these special cases.
Something ought to be done, some cor
ective supplied, in the interest OF public
egislstion, to say nothing OF honesty. pu-
ity, fairness and impartiality. A congress
nan 10 sent to Washington NJ public legis-
a,or, the representative Of the collective in
erests OF his people, his constituents, and
lot "a a special or general claim or pensio
II he IL faithful TO his first and pub |
10 trusts, he has no time for these thous- |
.nds OF private Gala Ii he Ii not 10 gener- |
rally aud Unfortunately called upon, he
might find time to investigate properly the
merit, OF applications OF quasi pubic
ch arscter relating to.mail facilities, Judicihl
and other matters. A. 1t 10. the congress
men are, as Mr.. BELYoRD, OF Colorado, ex-
claimed not long since, becoming. II They
ara not now. but "pack horses and pick
Ensctments should oe passed or
bidding legislators, congressman, nndtr q
severe penalty, from using their names or
inilu nce in any OF the departments of the
government, or elsewhere than on the iioor
OF their respective chambers, 10 behalf OF
private claims and petitions or applications
Such M "inauence," In both the CONGRESS-
mans and tho public's behalf, should be
removed and all such business be confined
to where it properly belongs-in the party's
or his attorneys hands.
DnLEGArEs TO TIM NATIONAL CON-
vENTION.
OF late, Washington specials have sug'
n nm