The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-18
four months. Strange anomaly net tliSS
lets al the big fish through and catches the

four months. Strange anomaly-a met tESSl
lets Ill the big fish through and catches the
little ones.
Here is bill granting fifteen days leave
Of absence to per diem men in the customs
service. The secretary Of the treasury
fav0re it. 1t takes not cent out of the
treasury. All the other employees in this
service have leaves Of absence for thirty
days with pay. They work eight hours
day. These per diem men work in relays
compelled to remain upon duty whether
their services are needed or not. In stm-
mer importati0ns are not as heavy az in
winter. One-tifth of the force might easily
four-fifths did the work. Yet thrice has
unanimous consent been asked to consider
this bill, and thrice has objection been
made. A similar bill affecting postoffice
employees has been hanging by the eyelids
Tor two weeks on motion to reconsider, EN-
tered two days after its passage. No man
back pay law, the bill to restore the wages
in the government printing office. and q
score OF similar bills placed on the calendar
BY the committee on labor. It is an ILL
tempered house. Senseless objections are
made and the point of no quorum raised
apparently without reason.
Despite these overloaded calendars and
the absence of over one hundred and fifty
members who are skirmishing with the
Farmers' Alliance and the Lutheran preach
ers committees are urged to report bills
lately introduced. The committee rooms,
chamber of the house. Effort after effort
is made to secure quorum in vain. All
see that a measure reported at this late
hour, unless Of vital Importance, must fai
of consideration. At times the clerk of q
committee spends days in searching for
-, H~1r
quorum is frequently secured BY bringing
their signatures together upon the back of
the bill to be reported. Many poor devil
seeking private legislation departs from
Washington with joyful heart after this
is done.
some fellows dance with delight when
they secure the introduction of bill. They
seem to think that with the matter thus
brought to the attention of congress the
Justice of the claim must secure prompt
and favorable action. They wait weeks
and months and then return to Washington
Days are then spent in importuning mem-
bers of the committee. At last the claim
ant il told that his bill will be reported to
the house. Again he departs singing paeans
of Joy. He fanoies that when the bill is re-
ported it will be read, and that every men,
Der will listen to the reading. Il used to
be 90. but it is 80 no longer. The bill is
quietly slipped upon the calendar under the
new rules. In many cases, the only man
who knows anything about it is the man
who reported it. In nineteen cases out of
twenty it might as we'll be buried in the
catacombs of Paris, for it will never see
daylight unless by a happy combination of
circumstances. Upon the calendar it takes
the chances with thousands of others.
Aside from private pension bills, the house
that passes three bills day on an average
is doing great business.
When the seventy-fve members to be
elected by the farmers Alliance take part
in the Fifty-second congress things may be
diferent-better if not worse.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS.