The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-16
Amos j. Cummings Tells How Green
Representatives Cut Their Eye
Teeth in Congress.
Learning the Art Of Log Rolling
and Wire Pulling From
Old Stagera
They Receive Many Hard Knocks From
Those Who Have Been Through
the Mill.

has now arrived at the zenith of his first
term. HIS eye teeth are cut and he has
fair idea of the shoals of legislation. He
has learned how to inject a speech into the
Record, whether delivered in the house or
not. He knows how to handle himself in
committee of the whole. II he wants to
talk upon anything outside of the amend
ment under consideration he moves to
strike out the last word, and will fire away
with all the grace and dignity Of an old
timer. The motion gives him five minutes
for debate, and he can talk about what he
pleases. Then he can add to his remarks in
the Record until his speech looks to his
constituents as if he had occupied the at
tention of the house for an hour or more.
The effect is heightened by the words ZAP
plause," if judiciously distributed through
the speech.
He has also learned who Joe Cannon is,
and what to expect from Watchdog Hol-
man, Buck Kilgore, Silver-haired Brecken-
appropriations in which possibly he may be
interested. He can summon page with
exquisite nonchalance. and run bill at
the bar with equal facility. He can smoke
Perfeotos and Stinkadories without regard
to the noses of bystanders. He can chase
bill into committee and ott of committee
and see that it is planted on the calendar
all right. But he has not yet learned how
to twist it before the house. This is a
feature of legislation only acquired by long
practice. The old boys never teach it to
new corners. -.
He has been initiated into the mysteries
of log-rolling. If a natural diplomat, this
knowledge will prove of great advantage to
him. He has learned another trick prac-
ticed by old members. Their devout atti-
tudes during prayer are no indication that
their minds are concentrated upon the blind
chaplain's appeal. Their thoughts may be
turned upon their chances for securing
unanimous consent for the consideration of
private or public bills. If he is bright. he
knows how to catch the speakers eye. The
speaker is far-sighted ofae;ai. His eye is
usually caught in his private room few
minutes before the house is called to order.
The new member usually has a lot of
pension seekers in his wake. If they fail
to make an impression on the commission
er of pensions. they look to him to get what
to get acquainted with some member of the
committee on invalid pensions. Such an
acquaintance may prove of service to him.
In addition to this he may have dozen or
more creditors Of the government looking
to him for relief. This forces him to seek
familiar acquaintance with the members
of the committee on claims.
He knows when it is safe to leave the
house and 60 to a base ball match or at
tend horse race. He may not spend half
his time on the floor, but he can turn up at
critical moment and mix in debate so as
to give his constituents the impression that
he is fully alive to their interests. If he
happens to be one of the few who are al
ways at their posts he knows when to lis
ten and when to saunter around the cham
ber. 1t pays to listen to some speakers,
and it is a loss of time to listen to others.
There are dozen members who can COM
mand the attention of the house at any
time. This is because what they say is apt
10 be entertaining and instructive to all who
hear them. There are others who might as
they attract. Their tongues wag to no pur-
pose because their words convey no
thoughts. An incident occurred the other
day which fifty illustrates this. A we'll
known babbler had the floor. He was shak-
ing about two hundred words minute out
from glass of water. "That's useless, %
observed Hon. James j. Belden, of Syra-
cuse; you can never run a windmill with
water.''
If new member is hard worker he has
learned how to utilize the congressional
ian, will serve him like a genie. If
he requires political statistics Col
onel Mcpherson, the clerk of the
house, is ever at his call. If he is lawyer
and wants to load up on law points, he has
learned his way to the law library and
formed the acquaintance of it's Spofford.
Books of reference are found in almost
every nook in the capitol. Only those
who have served seven or eight terms know
the way tc all these hooks. One OF them is
back of the main gallery on the upper floor
of the house wing of the capitol. It's GUS
man, who has been of great service to
Samuel J. Randall, James II. Blount,
Joseph G.. Cannon; William 8. Holman
and other old members who want old docu-
ments on the instant. Smith has been at
his post nearly quarter of a century.
The new member, however, has not yet
learned that the reports of all the house
committees for hundred years back have
been collected and are to be found in book
form in certain committee rooms. But he
with the senate. If, either by legislative
manipulation or by some kind dispensation
of Providence, a bill in which he is inter-
ested has come out of the house hopper, it
travels over to the other wing of the capi-
tol. Here it may die in second infancy un-
has learned how to nurse it. He knows
what senator to see and how often to see
him. Experience has taught him what
wires to pull and how to pull them.
Il the new member is apt and bright he
will be very likely to appear in the social
uoAAA01U. no WILL uO0A y uAcoo 6uAts
whether he uses one at home or not. He
Twill have to steal away from the sessions of
the house in the afternoon to attend recep-
lions. He has learned that polite attentions
o the wives and daughters of prominent
men may serve him. Formerly intimate
acquaintance with the committee on
library would have been of exceeding value.
This COMMITTEES had the pull on the gov
srnmentai botanical gardens. Upon the
order Of one OF the committee the superin-
endent scattered among favored members
soxes filled with rare roses, orchids and
,ther exquisite exotics. These were of i'm
nense service to new members ambitious to
.hine IN society. All this has been changed.
The committee on library no longer as
somes control of the botanical gardens.
The exotics are said to be sent upon per
sonal solicitation. Certain it is that the
modest member is left. Roses, like kisses.
20 by favor. TheFe ia undoubtedly some
syoritism here, but there is no truth in the
,ecently published statement that the boz
anical gardens furnish flowers for half the
private entertainments given in Washing
on. The COMMITTEES on library once held
he key TO the situation. but hold il no
WlsW fkaa Hna ~ ~ar :