Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-06
WHIRLPOOL IN WASHINGTON.

WHIRLPOOL IN WASHINGTON.
Western Kansas World Coyycsbondenct
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1886.
In the higher branch of congress tn
week, thus far, has been marked by eulo
gies OF the late Vice President Hendricks
by debate over the admission OF Dakoti
to the Union, and by lecture from Re
publican senator administered to tina
august body for culpable addiction to ad
journments. The senate being far aheat
OF the house in the work Of the session
has been in the habit Of adjourning from
Thursday of each week until Monday
The feeling among senators was that the.
could well afford this indulgence, mas
much, as they work when in session, ant
inasmuch as the senate is always il
advance of the house by several hundred
bills at the expiration of each congress
An aggrieved senator from Massachusetts,
Mr.. Hoar, thought these facts were in
Sufficient excuses for the senatorial dila
toriousness. He offered resolution re
curing that the yeas and nays be calle>
hereafter on all motions to adjourn owe
legislative day, so that the country Cal
know which senators favor constant work
and which are willing to take the worlt
easy.
W.
In the house of Representatives more
new bills, undignifed attacks of per
sonal character, routine business, ant
general idleness have been the order Of
the week. As usual, upon the formal an
nouncement of the death of a member
the body adjourned, Immediately after
conysniag, through respect to the memory
OF the deceased representative from
Wisconsin, Mr.. Rankin.
*
Thus two days have been lost by con-
gress, the other being devoted to the Hen
bricks eulogies in the te. 1t would
not have been appropriate for either body
t. have done differently in the absence of
any rule requiring different action. But
each of these occasions again emphasized
the fact that announcements of death
should be made just before the time for
the daily adjournment, and memorial
. services and eulogistic sessions should be
held on Sunday or at night. Due respect
could be shown deceased senators and
representatives in this way without inter-
rupting business.
~
Public opinion is not yet ready to sane
ton the proposition to furnish each men,
Der OF congress with a clerk, although
very strong case can be made out for
policy. Nearly all members who can af
ford it employ clerks now at their own ex-
pense. The public would be surprised to
. learn how many congressman hire assist
ance to help them meet the requirements
of their constituents. As understood by
most constituencies, the duties of a mem
Der of congress are not confined to speech
making and voting. Scarcely day
passes that each member does not receive
dozens Of letters from citizens Of his dis
trict asking the most absurd and unan-
swerable questions, or making the most
impossible demands. And then "our
member" is expected to act as guide to
all members from his district who come
to Washington. He is expected to be
their counsel in all troubles before the
departments their agent in prosecuting
all claims, their authority on all political
subjects, their source of supply for public
documents, and their friend in every ef-
fort to get Office. A member who tries to
attend to this daily mail and the duties
that flow out of it, is very busy man,
independent of his legislative functions
proper.
~.
The contest between the administration !
and Republican senators has become in
tensely interesting. The senators have
called for more papers and information |
bearing on removals from Office. The
late cabinet meetings have been devoted
to discussing the senate's requests, and the
president has decided to disregard them.
He takes the position that the resolutions
of Senators Edmunds and Morrill, asking
for information in regard to appointments
and removals were attempts to make him
subordinate to the senate. The senate
will be formally notified OF his decision,-
and what next?
~.
The debate over Dakota's admission is
going on in the senate now, and it prom
ises to be long and interesting. Fit we're
possible for Democratic politicians to
consider tbs question from any point of
view except that of the partisan, Dakota
would pass through both houses Of con-
gress without debate; her claims to state
hood being SO fully established by her
wealth, population, education, etc. In
terest in Dakota and her affairs has been
enhanced by the presence and prominence
in the senate of her two applicants for
senatorial honors, Messrs. Moody and
Edgerton. They are both portly, digni-
fed looking gentlemen, who pay strict at
tention to the discussion of their coming
commonwealth, occasionally enlightening
a speaker on some poin. that needs ex-
PLANTATION. c. A. s.