The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-28

A Demand for SIorc Practical Representa-
lives and Fewer Professional Politicians.
where tho Reform should Begin.
Ne,r York Commercial Bulletin.
Nominations to the Fiitieth Congress
are now being made, and almost every
day brings the announcement OF the
candidacy of new aspirants for seats in
the National Legislature. The record OF
the House OF representatives OF recent
years has been disappointing; the legis-
latiye methods have been inefficient, the
results have been inadequate, aud the
people have not received from the popu-
lar branch OF government the business
like and statesmaulike service to which
thew are entitled. 1t is at such times as
the present, when Congressional nomi-
nations are to be made, that the reasons
for this disappointment should be con-
sidered aud the means OF achieving bet
ter results carefully studied. In the
present Congress the Senate has distin..
cuished itself by record so devoid Of
merit and SO deeply marked with ex-
trayagance, partisan intrigue and dema-
rogic pretense that the House has shown
10 Comparatively good advantage by con-
trast, and has thus appeared in better
light than its own merits justify.
Although the House calendar has been
burdened by n greater number and va
riety OF measures than in any previous
Congress, it has achieved about as little
useful legislation as any OF its predecGs-
sors, and has neglected an unusually
large proportion Of the measures best
entitled to its attention. Apart from the
Tariff bill there is little to show us the
result Of nine months deliberations.
Business questions OF great number and
Importance are pending before the pres
ent House which will not receive the at
tention to which they are entitled, and
II must be admitted that with some Of
these the House has shown itself lnCom-
potent to deal. So greatly has the House
Of Representatives deteriorhted in dig
nifty, in efficiency and in capacity for thu!
transaction OF business that the means OF
eiIecting a reform cannot be safely neg
Iected, An examination OF the recent
history OF Congress will promptly dis
close the fact that the most serious de-
iiciency has been the absence OF men OF
business knowledge and experience, OF
extensive information on commercial
questions, capable OF appreciating the
needs OF the country from bus
mess stand point, and OF intelll-
gently applying such legislative RENE
dies rs lie within the limitations OF the
Constitution and tend to facilitate the
unobstruCted operation OF natural laws.
The debates OF the present session
have been sufficient to disclose the lack
of this class OF knowledge, and recent
Congressional history has shown how
great has been the influence OF the few
men who possessed these qualifications,
and vet how sadly they have been made
to realize the lack OF more intelligent CO.
operation. The personnel OF Congress i'll
dieates a popular impression that law
making can best be entrusted TO lawyers
and politicians, and accordingly these
classes greatly predominant in the
National Legislature; but the fact must
be recognized, that Federal Legislation
extends its influence to commercial and
business interests OF all kinds and affects
them vitality, it is necessary that the
tlaw.making power should be guided by
a practical knowledge OF the subjects
dealt with, the influences OF the pro
posed enactments and the consequence!
Of neglecting the duties which Congress
owes to business interests which 1t has
burdened and restricted.
There is no greater lack in our Fed
eral system than the absence OF practical
far.seeing and energetic business men IL
Congress, and there is no public move
ment Of brighter promise or greater i'm
portance than that which aims to secure
the selection Of Congressman fitted by
business training for the legisIat!Y'
duties which have so largely to do will
practical business questions.
This reform must begin with the meF
chants and business men Of all classes
It is their interests which are at stalk
and their work which Congress persis
tently negleCts, partly from n lack OF ap
probation OF its importance and part!
from a sense of incompetency to dea
wisely with the questions at issue. 4
radical change is not demanded. NJ
revolution is proposed and no ney
theory is advanced. The point contend
ed for is simply that the business com
munity should demand competent rep
resentation in Congress, and b.
as unwilling to trust its interest
to unskilled hands there as in it
stores, mills and marts. 1t is true tina
there Is little inducement for q success
full business man to go to Congress !
these days, but that is largely for til
very reason that he would be lonesom
in IN assembly OF men elected on IL
count OF very different qualification
and bent on very different purposes tina
the promotion Of sound business legi
lation. AS the number OF business me
innvnnani onA ,,attNt.n n,i hV1airn