The National tribune., 1891-02-26
CHAT OF TIE CORRIDORS.

CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS,
The Hon. FERRY Simpson, Of Kansas, has
been Woodworking man al bis life, aud bears
che reputation OF being a hustler. ] am told
that he entertains the customary idea that the
life of an average Representative is one OF ele-
Rhut leisure being mostly spent in either max
ing eloquent speeches In the House or listening
10 the same, with pleasant social relaxations at
receptions and other " blowouts" at sumptu-
Gus mansions. ] am curious 10 see him enter
upon his legislative duties, and get this idea
disspated. risk nothing in predicting that a
year from to-day be will come to the conclusion
that he never really did any hard work until
he got into Congress. ] know Of no more Ia
borious trade for q really conscientious man TO
follow than 10 represent his District in the
House OF Representatives Many OF them
work like slaves from early dawn far into the
niRht-risinR at 6 or o'clock to answer their
correspondence, and make round Of the PEN
aioB Bureau and the Agricultural Department
possibly some Of the other public Offices before
going 10 the Capitol 10 attend the meetings OF
their Committees Their evenings are taken
up with their correspondence, OF Studying out
kAs DlhANNln MllNh NAlt1h AhRe mum - t'NAh ~
their Committees or the House, and 30 one day
Of unTemitting occupation follows another
Slavery is not abolished in the District Of
Columbia" said one hard working Representa-
tive 10 NC, whom i found late at night work
ing with his stenographer over his iutermina-
bic correspondence. 81 never earned money
any more laboriously than j do my salary as
Representative"
ssa
II the private feelings Of the Democratic
members Of the present Congress who were re-
elected 10 the next were considered il would
probably result in the reduction Of about i've
sixths OF the majority. They believe that il
is not only possible TO have too much OF a good
thing but that 1t has already happened. A
majority OF 15O Is unwieldy and dangerous.
Worse than that, IL makes too much Of scram-
bic for the committees, and II takes away q
good deal Of the bulge" SO 10 speak, that the
older members have always had on the new
ones in the distribution Of the coveted Chair
mRnships. There are 81 standing committees
Of the House. Therefore, If tho Democrats had
only majority OF %, or I9I Representatives
In all, there would be one Craftsmanship for
every three Democrats, and the old members
would be pretty well provided for. But with
$50 members the struggle becomes much more
complicated, for Il is very likely that the
newly-elected viii not be- ms regardful Of their
elders IN service as has been the habit, AID
will Insist on having portion Of the pleasant
places themselves As they have large ma
jority inside the ranks Of the party they can
control everything, and .rmHy even decide TO
recognize the House from top 10 bottom, and
put none but new men into the places Of
honor, 80 Ms 10 more thoroughly carry out the
political revolution Of 1890" For my own
part, ] rather wish they would. None of my
friends is a candidate for Speaker, and ] can
watch the struggle with the placid impartiality
Of the old lady in the fight between her hus-
band and the bear.
sSs
zee that Senator Plumb's amendment TO the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial ApprOpria-
ti0n BID 70 make places In the other Depart.
ments Tor the present employees Of the Census
Bureau, has greatly stirred up my eK-Confcd-
crate iriend, Hugh o. Thompson, Of South
Carolina, and member Of the Civil Service Com
AAhaA1us 10 hANh ~ ~ ~ uaat UAIAitAu scheme
70 inject $500 Republicans into the Depart
menls and displace that many Democrats who
are now holding places there. The distin-
Ruishod South CaroliniRn is q little excited
and like all South CarolinianG, whether eK-
cited or otherwise, IL prone to eIaggeration
10 has been the custom, j think, after each
census completed, TO transfer the most
competent clerks 10 other Departments, and
the expectation Of this has been regarded as q
proper incentive 10 them 10 do their best Ny
interest in tho matter grows out Of the fact
that large proportion Of the Census Bureau
employees are old soldiers, and the widows
wives Rnd daughters OF such, whom should
like 10 see provided for in the regular Civil
Service, 70 which they have certainly more
right than the young people at present outside
OF Government employ, and from whose ranks
She Civil Service Commission now Gil oil
vacancies as they occur.
80
"Don't you make the mistake Of thinking
the new members are going ~ have an oppor-
tunity 10 spluTge in the noxt Congress" said
q New England Representative 10 me last
Sunday. They think they are just going 20
turn everything upside down, but they will be
badly fooled. The rules will do IT, The old
fellows will sec 10 that. IL takes q long while
20 learn The rules Of the House Of Representa-
tiyoal and most Of them will not do ID before
their time ia out They are The most compli-
Gated rules la tho world, and the older mem
beH viii take care that the ones for the next
House are not made any simpler, but tho re.
verse. That's the game the Democratic man.
ageB will play, and they've already begun
fixing up for H. Congress will open next De-
oember and there will be some prclim mary
sPouting, and then everybOdyn go home for
the holidays. BY the time they get back it'll
al be fixed up. The new members will be
ued up like flea In spiders web They NAV
buzz aud GutteF about, but that's all the good
it'l do Them they'll be moat Tor the old
EpideR MI the same"
My Democratic friends from New York ipssst
that Representative Roswell r. Flower will bc
the next Democratic candidate for Governor
Of New York. II he IL AZ popular IN that State
a. in Washington, he will be as strong a man
- the party put mp. lie is a rotupd
jolly, genial fellow, makes good speech. and