Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-10-24
WASHINGTON WINTER.
Something About Congressmen-
Their Ability and Disability.

II SAA 1*0AAASy oAA A106O111Iy.
Special Correspondents Of the ISrER.ocEAx.l
! WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.-As the touch oi
frost clothes the streets and parks ol
Washington in autumnal hues, the city
begins to assume livelier and gayer ap.
pearance. Stylish equipages, with their
liveried coachmen and footmen, II sight
not often seen during summer months,
now pass frequently up and down the
avenues. The store windows are bright
with the display of fall goods, and the
crowd ON the pavements Of Pennsylvania
avenue daily increases. The hotel and
boarding house keepers, and restaraun-
ters, rs we'll rs those who have reception
costumes and swallow tail suits to hire,
are making elaborate preparations for
the season, and members O! congress
throughout the country, with their fe-
male entourago,bcgin to pack their grip
sacks and Saratoga trunks for their win
ter's sojourn at the capital.
Few people realize what worthless
specimen Of the genus home the average
congressman is. Not every member Of
congress is as truly good man al that
paragon Of eloquence and bencvolence
who represents the readers district. The
other kind is one who, having by dint of
Aattcring speeches. delusive promises,
and readily spent money, been elected to
fill a place in the legislature. his slippery
and accommodating memory easily for
gets all the promises on which he has
climbed to his post, honorable in inself,
but dishonored while in his possession.
Narcissus-like, he Is lost in admiration of
his own image, and perhaps forgets the
purpose for which he was elected, which
may have been to vote against an in.
creased tariff on wool, Or to urge IN ap-
preparation for improving the north fork
of Little Muddy Run. So, during the
winter session he spends the greater part
Of his time in the parlors and dining sa.
looms Of hotels and at various places of
amusement and interest. During the
few hours daily that he is expected
to be in the house or senate, he lounges
in al easy chair or on u sofa, smoking,
reading the newspapers, gossiping with
female lobbyists in the waiting rooms,
and flirting with gallery goddcsses. He
pays little attention to the dcbntes that
are about matters outside tho area of
his narrow district. and can always be
relied upon to vote for an adjournment.
When two years have almost elapsed
and he realizes that his term of Office il
about to expire, he rouses himself from
his ;ethercy and disliking to relinquish
his role in the great drama Of history he
gets one of the many Literary fellows"
who are always hanging around. to write
him u speech, which he reads to empty
chairs in congress, and sends several
hundred copies Of the Congressional Re-
cord, in which it il printed, to his consti-
tuents. And when the end OF his term
comes, his exit from public life reminds
one not Of falling star, but rather re-
sembles dropping stick.
This is not an exaggerated type 6f
craftsmanship in Washington. There
are SO many like him that he is not con.
splcuous for Incidence or stupidity. The
idea that the mission OF leadership il
past, is II mistake. There are few prom
incnt men on both sides who direct leg
islation, and the rest are but followers.
Although the vote Of the dullest member
counts as much rs that Of Daniel Web
ster he gets his cue from bis chief and
is able to vote without disgrace to him
self or disaster to his country.
But it is not strange that legislation
lags ard that bills are sent forth half
made up, when 80 many of the peoples
agents are unqualified by mind, educa-
ton, or aspiration for the work Of lcgis-
lati0n.
Much has been said and written recent
" about the reform Of the civil service.
A radical reform in the legislative SER
vice is most urgent II Mr.. Leather
lungs and Mr.. SetEm-Up were compel
ed to pass a competitive examination
they would never attain their places in
the senate or house.
Co.