Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-10-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Oct. is. 1886.

From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Oct. is, 1885.
Is the touch Of frost clothes the
| streets and parks Of Washington in
autumnal hues, the city begins 10 as
sumo a ~Iiyelier and gayer appearance.
Stylish equipagges, with their liveried
coachman and footman, a sight not
often seen during the 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 payements of
Pennsylvania e daily increases.
The hotel and boarding house keep
ers. and restauranters, as we'll as those
who have reception costumes and
swallow tail suits to hire, are making
elaborate preparations for the seasons;
and members of Congress throughout
the country with their female en-
tourage begin to pack their grip
sacks and Saratoga trunks for their
winters sojourn ct the Capital.
Few people realize what a worth
less specimen Of genus homo the av-
erage Congressman Is. Not every
member Of Congress is as truly good
a man Is that paragon Of e'oquence
and ~benevolenca who represents the
readers district. The oth@r kind is
one who, having, by dint o. ~1iattering
speeches, deIusive promises, and
readily spent money, been elected to
fill a place in the legislature, his slip
perry and accommodating memory ca
silly forget all The promises on which
he has climbed to his post, honorable
in itself, but dishonored while in his
possession. Na~rcissus-like, he is lost
in admiration Of his own image, and
perhaps forgets the purpose for which
he was elected, and which may have
been to vote against an increased tar
If on wool, or to urge an appropria-
ton for improving the North Fork Of
Little Muddy Run. So, during he
winter session, he spends the greater
part Of his time in the parlors and
dining saloons Of hotels and at vari-
Gus places Of amusement and interest.
During the few hours daily that he is
expected to be in the House or Sen
ate, he lounges in an easy chair or on
a sofa, smoking, reading the newspa-
pers, gossipping with female lobby
lists in the waiting rooms, and flirting
with gallery goddesses. He pays lit
tie attention to the debates that are
about matters outside the area Of his
narrow district; and can always be
relied upon to vote for an adjourn
ment.
Whom two years have almost elaps
ed, and he realizes that his term Of
Office is about to expire, be ronses
himself from his lethargy, and dislik-
ing to relinquish his role in the great
drama Of history, he gets one Of the
many Literary fellows who are al
ways hanging around, to write him a
speech, which he reads to empty
chairs in Congress, and sends several
hundred copies Of the Congressional
Record in which it is printed, to his
constituents. And when the end Of
his term comes, his exit from public
life reminds one not Of a falling star,
but rather resembles a dropping
stick.
This is not an exaggerated type of
craftsmanship in Washington. There
are so many like him that he is not
conspicuous for incidence or stupid
ty. The idea that the mission OF
leadership is past is a mistake. There
are a few prominent men on either
side who Direct legislation, and the
rest are but followers. Although the
vote of the dullest member counts as
much as that Of Daniel Webster, be
gets his cue from his chief and is able
to vote without disgrace to himself OF
disaster to his country.
But it is not strange that Legislation
lags and that bills are sent forth hall
made up, when SO many Of the PEG
pies agents are unqualified by mind
education, or aspiration for the work
of legislation.
Much has been said and written re.
Gently about the reform Of Civil Ser
vice. A radical reform in the legisla.
tive service is most urgent. IL Mr.
Leatherlung and Mr. Set1Em-UI
were compelled to pass a competitive
examination they would eve affair
their places in the Senate OF House.
Hunting Winter Quarters.
The Canadian Pacific is credited
with an intention Of acquiring by pur-
chase the Portland & Ogdensburgh