New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, July %. 186!

Washington, July %. 1885.
Consistency is a jewel rarely found
among legislators. Representatives in
Congress who belong to the party which
pirates Of economy andreform, continue
to draw thousands Of dollars for mileage,
while they point with pride to their
votes against pensions for soldiers.
The same men boast Of their votes
against the me-honored custom Of q
month extra allowance to employees OF
! the Capitol. The latter get no mileage,
and have to pay their way to and from
home to work and vote for the election
of members of Congress.
am not advocating the months ex-
ira pay. but why should these self styled
watch-logs Of the Treasury, cut and
slash ut the little bonuses of those
abound them, and reserve all good
things for themselves? They have re-
Gently voted to reduce the mileage OF
army officers from eight to four cents q
mile, which is we'll enough, for that is
considerably more than it costs them 10
travel. But the mileage rate of Sena-
tors and Representatives remains 20
cents mile. And then again if the
II olmans and Reagans and Randalls Of
the House of Representatives would ex-
hibit the same Roman virtue in regard
to appropriations which effect their own
districts and their friends, they would
be more entitled to the respect of OBJ
servant people, The same men who
vote against everything which is not go
ing TO benefit their own constituents or
their own pockets, have just voted to
put in the deficiency bill an appropriation
for the payment of y Texas war claim.
1t is said that many virtuous Congress
men who draw mileage, travel on free
passes, and that some who pose as
economists get all their stationery from
the commttee-rooms, and then draw
in cash the 1926 allowed each mem Der
for stationery during the session.
No one knows when Congress will
get through and 60 home, but no one
now thinks it will be before the middle
of August. 1t is the same Old story
with regard to appropriation bills
They must be disposed OF, and they
were held back and then rushed
through the Senate and House. to be
acted upon finally by conferees. Legis-
lation BY conference committees has be-
come sort Of our constitutional sys-
tenn.
It is thought the Presidents veto
messages will excite q prolonged dis
cussion before adjournment, and there
are :, number Of other questions that
Will consuma time. The Morrison Sur.
plus Revenue Resolution will take up
several days, Oleomargarine. and
Land Grants forfeiturcs viii be pressed
for attention, while something will be
done to reach the Mexican and the one
arm and one leg pension bills. as we'll
rs that for the increase of the Naval es
adjustment
| lncensed claimants and their agents
who nave been hanging around the
halls of Congress doing all in their pow
er to have their private schemes pushed
through. are disappointed and indigg-
nant now. The Senate, they say, has
treated them fairly, but the House has
entirely neglected them. Having failed
in an attempt to have q little of the re.
naming time of the session allotted tc
private bills, they decided to hold ar
indignation meeting at the Nationa
Hotel on Sunday morning, to be re
peated until Congress will heed thei1
cry. All the disappointed claimants il
Washington were invited to attend tho
meeting, and it was worth going to SCI
whether one had claim or not. On,
very indignant claimant said: W.
want 10 teach Congressman that the,
are the servants and not the masters Of
the people. Let them indignate, wa
Speaker Carlisle's comment when h,
heard Of the meeting
HON ~o~I ON4 pleasant, an,
4 .oe,,l&a aao Aa1xo.,z D.x;u,,o1,cia To hlo&o