Telegram-herald., 1890-04-14
WASHINGTON ECHOES
Ccngressnen AZ Home and AZ the
Capital
COaHI1TEE WORK vs.. ELOQTnCg
Fsiztsrs for AUsisfs4s ss~ Msnbsrs-
6sa- Cutcheoa's saecs>s as . asnabsE
sxtss ncuss-So sn.0kiRz Ale sed
-Fat Wltaess Fsss


IN which members Of Congress are
estimated in their own districts and
here n Washington. Al home they
are generally men Of considerable ac-
count, and they have a reputation for
wsdom which, unfortunately, Is too
often fictitious one, bat, nevertheless,
passes current, and whatever they say
: generally listened 10 with A great
deal OF respect. But IN Washington il
. entirely different. He IS only one Of
4 great number OF men, each Of whom
cherishes the fond ldea that ne Is the
biggest statesman in the House, and
the consequence Is that but little atten-
ton ls paid 10 individuals. One Of the
most common characteristics OF the
new member of Congress when he first
comes 70 Washington IS 10 do great
deal OF talking. He believes that If he
can get his name IN the Congressional
R>eord every day and can make a
speech which he can send to the voters
OF his district, Il Will establish his repu-
tatlOn. and his fellow members in the
House will believe that he IS a man OF a
good deal OF intelligence, and that, of
course, his constituents viii feel highly
nattered to think that they were wise
enough 10 send such a very brilliant
man TO Congress. But the fact is that
the really great men-men like Reed,
Mckinley, Carlisle, Randall, Burrows,
and others OF their stamp-do very
little talking. On great occasions like
the tariff. the debate on rules, and
other matters OF really National im-
pOrtance, they can be heard, and. of
course, whatever they saw is listened to
with the greatest respect, not only
by the House, but by the
country az large. But 1t IS the
younger members, men who are all
the time trying to get into print, who
hll the columns of the Congressional
Record with great deal of stuff which
IS hardly MT 10 put into type. At every
conceivable opportunity they are on
their feet, and although half the time
they do not know what they are talk
ing about, still 10 is the duty of the OF
ficial stenographers 10 record every
word that IS said in the House and
everh word that IS uttered is printed in
the Congressional Record. See what
magnificent opportunity this gives TO
members who are desirous of hearing
their own voices on frequent occasions.
All he has to do Is to get up and address
the House and ne can make sure that
everything he has said will ultimately
be printed, and of course ne can always
lind people VINO are willing to read
what ne may send them from Washing
ton. IL the leaders do not talk, one
might naturally ask how it Is that they
make their impress on the House and
the country at large. Well, the answer
IS very simple.
The real work Of Congress Is carried
on IN comm ttees. At the head of each
committee is an old and experienced
member. and the new man Just as soon
As he comes here IS assigned 20 some
committee, the least Importance of
course being gwen TO those who are
least known. In these committees the
actual work Is done. All bills as soon
rs they are Introduced are referred to
the committees, and II Is there that
they are passed uDon, their merits dis
Cussed, their hidden purposes revealed,
aud the decision arrived at which, in a
great measure influences the action of
the House i'm their behalf. The new man
can very soon show what stun ne IS
made of. The chairman OF the
committee viii ass gn to him the
preparation Of report IN connection
WITH some h,l. II IN the getting up Of
this report be has shown that be has
given the subject the proper amount of
study and fully mastered MS topic, it
Will at once impress the other members
or the committee, and 10 wall not be long
before be VIII gain the reputation OF
being hard working member of COM
Ia.ltee. sud that IS a favorable recon-
meu4arOn 20 have, and IN consequence
Doe wIl huQ that when he gets up TO adj
dress the House nc Will be received
With good deal IF attention. The
member OF the committee who makes
the report IS charged with the manage
meut Ot the hlll when IL comes into the
House, and % is his duty 10 explain is
provisions % the House. to point out It's
merits, II the blli j. reported with fav-
orable recommendation. 20 defend 4 Il
necessary. and to do anything that ls
required 90 secure is passage. This
gives him n chance 70 make his speech,
aud nC does not have TO seek the Op-
portuuitv as the occasion = presented
90 hlm. Now II be has got MP all bis
data, and given the matter proper study,
b. VIII lind that lt is all very smooth
sailng. Being a new member the
House = naturally curious 20 find out
what the new fellow can do. In this
respect there isabout the same curiosity
q splaved as there IS a. a large school
when a new boy comes IN. At first the
old members display very languid m
tcrest in what q gong on, but # the
speech is good one they soon show it.
and they are very free with their con-
gratulatiOns. If he has made a success
Of C he can fee very certain that IN the
futurs when be has anything 70 say it
~ 20 stenad to with a good desi Of
stte1ton, but II bis first effort has been
stature it vii be as well for him not
On be m any great hurry 20 talk again,
bcesusc the members have long mem
ores. and Il there "a one thing they
hate more than anything else it a a
bore, although bores are very numerous
In Congress.
Z have been led 70 make these re-
rlsrss = thinking of Gen. CutcheCu' :
success SINCE he ass been IN the House.
ITe =. as vou Sn0w. the chairman of
the Military Affsirs COMMITTEES. ore OK
Fl . most important committees Of the
lfouse Last Saturday hs committee
rad the csl and Gen C1tcheon sue
ceeded = passing a dozen 81 fifteen of
the most important bills winch VII sua-
arafe from thst committee during ths
Congress. re has, s0 far. succeeded u
having passed hv the House some tEen-
t-fve 81 s many of them of the great
rst Importance a. tn srn1F / DO not