Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-22
A PILE OF BILLS.
And More Beng Introduced
How IT'S Done

A PILE OF BILLS.
And More Beng Introduced
How IT'S Done. i,
Special Correspondence Of the INris CclAx.l
WASHINGTON May Is, lss6.-The pres.
emit session of congress is far advanced
and thousands of measures have been
presented that cannot have chance of
being passed or even considered. Still
new bills pour in every week, and 9th.
ers will continue to come until this ses-
sion expires. Among the latest new en-
tries is one for imposing q fine Of 500
on our lawmakers for absence at roll
call without leave. 1t has been sug-
gested also that the fund thus acruing
from congressional derilictions shall be
appropriated to defray the expenses OF
congressional funerals. 1t was Repre-.
sentative Beach Of New York who pro-
posed this penalty for absence. 1t was
also he, who, some weeks ago, intro
duced a resolution to have the rules of
the house so amended that all eulogies
of deceased members should be deliv-
cred in the house on Sundays, and that
on such occasions the public shall be
admitted to the floor Of the house as
we'll as 10 the galleries. This is to pro.
vide Al audience for the eulogists. One
Of the features Of the present plan is,
that as soon as the memorial services
begin, the congressman nearly all de-.
sert their seats and leave the orators to
talk in al empty hall.
Speaking Of bills reminds me that up
to this date ;S740 measures, besides Ill
resolutions have been introduced in the
house of representatives alone this ses-
sion. Of these, the house has passed
ia public, and 655 private bills. This
seems to be very slow work. but a fire.
quenter of the galleries who knows that
almost every unimportant question gives
rise to a protracted debate, does not
wonder that legislation lags. The bills
already introduced exceed by several
hundred the whole number presented
during both sessions Of the last congress.
And do you know what a bill goes
through? | mean the routine through
which each n of these thousands of
bills passes? The experience offs house
bill is varied. Some ofthem have come
to be old veterans by serving in many
congresses, and are sallowed and shriv-
eled with age.
After a bill is introduced it Is read by
title at the clerks desk. 1t then has
numerous hieroglyphics put III blue PEN
Gil upon it's back to show where it is to
be consigned. Then it is numbered
and registered in a book and printed.
The most active part of Its %existance is
being printed. If it has a full run it is
printed six times. 1t is printed when
first introduced, when it is reported
from the committee 1t is printed, when
it is passed by the house-if it ever is
it is again printed. Then the senate
prints it. When it is reported by the
senate committee it is again printed,
and again when it becomes a law. AZ
ter that it has to be printed IN the stat
ute books. Meanwhile it has been
slowed away in the document room and
on the calender of the committee, has
been discussed and probably abused and
cut to pieces, has been objected to and
threatened in the house, and solemnly
sat upon in the senate. THIS is the OK
perience OF the simplest and most UNI
important bill. The appropriation
bilts suffer more at the hands of the
printer than this. They are first prin-
ted as estimates, then as unofficial forms
of the bill, then the bill as adopted by
the committee is printed. When it
passes the house it is printed, and again
when it reaches the senate. 1t is next
printed as it passes the senate. When
it comes out Of conference-if it ever
goes to c~onference-it is printed as an
act, and after that it is printed in the
statute books.
A bill that has never been in congress
before and is fresh and new has gener,
ally come in the pocket of a member as
fresh and new as itself, or has been writ
ten by some insinuating person outside,
and introduced by request. The aver.
age member Of congress, although he de-
lights in introducing as many bills as
possible, does not like to write tLem.
lie will frequently take a bill that has
done service in many different causes,
and will chop and slash and interline
it, and patch it together as a new bill.
Many Of the private bills haye done
service through many congresses and
for many persons, merely the name in
it being changed every time it was intro.
duced, 1t has been suggested as a
means of preventing the house being
flooded with 40 many bills, that every
bill introduced must be in the hand.
writing of the man who offers it.