Omaha daily bee., 1891-12-27
Ann orr snxlroEs ornRuoRk zps

senator Preston b. Plumb has been
ascribed by leading journals and public
men to overwork. This may literally
be true. Senator Plumb was a man of
unusual activity and his health may
have been undermined by unremitting
eXertion. But the question is: Was
Mr.. Plumb really cut OIL in the
prime OF life by the performance
of the arduous duties hat de-
volve upon our United States senator's?
Are our representatives in the upper
house of the national Legislature really
overburdened and borne down into pre-
mature graves by great mental and ply
steal strain superinduced through the
cares of state and service required by
their constituents?
on this point we take issue with those
almost us fatal to the health Of the man
who occupies it as would be q six years
confinement in Il penal institute.
1t is hardly necessary to point to the
late Father Hamlin, Simon Cameron,
Senator Anthony, Senator Morrill, of Yer
mont and other members of the American
house of lords, who attained four score
years and more in spite of The terrible
ordeal to which they were subjected
during three, four and five consecutive
terms in the United States senate.
The life of Senator Plumb, who is
cited as Il victim of overwork in the
senate, furnishes the most effec-
tive negative to the assump-
ton that his untimely death
was due to the terrible pressure which
he had to undergo in the active dis
charge of his senatorial functions. 1t
has been announced, and will doubtless
prove true. that Senator Plumb leaves
an estate of over II million dOOlars, That
fact speaks volumes. Whom MIR. Plumb
entered the senate in 1877 he was not
rated at more than S5o. 900. In thirteen
years he mad accumulated Il round mil
lion, while holding IL position with Il sal
airy of 5000, and living at
the national capital whore it
costs from s., 900 to $4,000 a year to
maintain a modest household. Mr..
Plumb was a bright business man who
always kept many irons in the fire. He
was largely interested in National
banks, in cattle ranches. land deals,
mines and various enterprises that kept
his mind constantly on the rock and re-
quired unremitting care. His senatorial
duties were comparatively mere child's
play. 1t did not require great
mental strain to dictate from fifty
to 100 letters to his constituents
in the daily routine work of the con
gresham. 1t was not a terrible deal
physically or mentally for him to walk
or ride back and forth between the de-
partments, the capitol and the white
house. This work afforded him the only
chance for exercise that senators take
while they are at Washington.
1t was the outside work OF the capt.
talist ana speculator, that no secre-
tary or clerk can do for a sena-
tor who is striving for wealth
or who has millions already invested in
speculative schemes, that brought on the
fatal consequences, coupled as this strain
always is at Washington with unseason-
able hours and indigestible dinners.
The present session hnd only begun
two weeks before his death, and no ra-
tional person will contend that the first
twelve days OF a session had imposed such
unbearable tasks upon Senator Plumb
as to have literally worked him to
death.
Such theories are misleading, and
calculated to create Il false impression.
The truth is that our statesmen are not
0~verwOrked, unless they are trying to
carry on three or four lines Of outside
business, any one of which requires the
unremitting attention OF a IN IN of IRON
constitution. There is not an editor IN
the country at the helm OF a first-class
daily who does not work harder in wrest-
ling with the issues of the day,
while supervising the various depart
ments that go to make up a great
modern newspaper, thun any senator.
AND there are many other professional
men who are mentally and physically
taxed to Il greater extent than the
average senator.
II the senators a"e really overworked
they have nobody but themselves to
blame. 1t is within their power
to rid themselves of the haras-
sing opportunities of Office seekers.
They should cut loose from the distribu-
ton of patronage and relieve themselves
from the pressure eXerted perniciously
in foisting upon public service per-
sons who, in most instances, are
unable to gain II subsistence in any
branch of business. Such IL thing as Il
member of Parliament turning Office
broker, o" even suggesting who among
various a5pirants for positions in the
British civil service should b, given pre-
ference. is never thought OF, and would
be regarded rs AN u~nwarranted intru-
siOn