The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-12-27
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Washington, Dec. 1.-THE fiedgling
congressman are here 10 force. There
are al,oat 100 Of them. You meet them
n the street, in the hotel corridors. at
The White House and in the intricate
passages of the capitol. Some wear
kid gloves and clothing of fashionable
cut Others wear slouch hats and
bomespun garments. All are on the
alert. Some occupy expensive pariors
in paIatial hotels. Others are hidden
away in comfortable quarters at much
cheaper rates. Some have their fam
lie, with them and Others are alone.
1t will take the new congressman
some time to unravel the intricacies OF
Washington life and to learn to find
his way among the labyrinthine pas
sases Of the capitol. His committee
room will elude him when in search Of
1t. and he will frequently take the
wrong direction when seeking the res
taurant or trying to leave the capitol.
1t viii take him months to know ev-
cry byway and passage in the i'm
mense building, and even then at tim
Is be will require the assistance of
guide. 1t will take him longer than
that, however, to get the hang of the
rules of the house. More than one
term may be required to know how to
do business. If he attends strictly to
his duties, be will find that there will
be very little time left for play and 80.
eial enjoyment.
If Republican, he will probably
be placed upon two committees. They
will meet twice week at 10 o'clock 10
the morning. The session will last
about two hours. At IL o'clock the
house will begin its session. If the
new member wishes to retain the run
of the business before the house he will
find it necessary to be present. Later
on he will be placed upon sub-commit-
tees, and later still, upon committees
of Investigation. These will use up
others of his morning hours.
No new member can tell upon what
committee he will land. An agricul-
tural member may be thrown into the
marine committee and sea-board
member may be whirled into the COM
mittee on agriculture, All trades and
professions appear to be scattered
around upon the various committees
without much reference to special fit.
ness. An embryonic statesman may
land upon the committee on acoustics
and a rural preacher may turn up on
the judiciary. Wherever they may
land, there will be more than work
enough for all if it is properly per-
formed.
Many other things will astonish the
new member. The rules will certain
ly puzzle him. He will fluid, IL they
are enforced, that they will apparent
ly give the greatest privileges to the
old members and none at all to the
new ones. He will be forced to keep
his mouth shut even when legislation
directly concerning his own district is
under consideration. Vainly will he
plead for recognition from the speaker,
and he will be lucky indeed if he fluids
the chairman of the com mittee willing
to grant him even minute of time to
talk concerning such bill. He may
introduce bill, and the bill be report
ed back from the committee as intro
duced. When the house. however,
comes to consider it he will be obliged
in nine cases out of ten, to listen to the
debate and not participate in 1t.
As illustrative of this, story is told
ola New York member who served
two terms in congress. In his first
term he had no opportunity to open his
head. Along in the middle of his Sec
ond term bill from the committee Oh
war clai ms came before the house.
The New York member had com
manded the troops responsible for the
destruction OF the property alluded to
in the bill. He alone, of all the men,
bers on the floor, was thoroughly con-
versant with all the circumstances o.
the case. The speeches made in the
time allotted to the committee did not
touch ON the vital points in dispute.
The general went to the chairman of
the committee and asked for half an
hour to discuss the claim. He added
that he understood the case thorough
ly and no one else seemed to have a
fair idea of it. The chairman turned
upon him and grimly replied:
when We want you 20 talk Well
let you know"
That ended it. The general got no
opportunity TO speak upon the only
subject that came before the house On
which he was thoroughly informed.
There are other troubles for the new
member. 1t will be long before he un-
derstapds the secret of suspension day,
district days. morning days, call of the
committees, open house, committees OF
the whole, and a thousand and one Pc
culiar features Of house legislation
He will be lucky. indeed, If he under
stands what the house is doing with
ont reference to the mode OF proceed
ure. Upon Friday nights he will be
indicted into the mysteries Of pension
legislation. He will see others obtain