The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-20
A CONGRESsMAN'S LIFE.
It Is Not Altogether q Bliseftl Ex-
iStence.
Some of the Annoyances with Which tho
Average Statesman Has to Contend
Beset on Every Hand by
Public Demands.

| PUBIC DemHnQS.
| Most days of the average member OF
the house are repetitions each of the
other A review of the tweuty-four
hours made by a member before closing
his eyes for nights rest, puts him to
sleep with the thought that-the lot of a
legislator is not always happy one.
and that craftsmanship is the least OF
things that enter into his days toll.
The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Telegraph asked one Of the oldest mem
bers of the house to keep a record of
one day of congressional life. This is it
in brief: Eight o'clock, breakfast;
eight thirty, opened mail and laid aside
ali newspapers with marked articles
for future examination Read upward
OF ninety letters on all sorts of subjects,
of which the following are twenty ex-
amples: One is from veteran asking
for information about his pension. He
gives no post5ofhoe address, and l am
obliged TO write q letter to the pension
Office to secure his address. Another
correspondent wants number of vol
umes of geographical survey, which,
upon investigation, find are not to be
had. A veteran writes that he conmu-
nicated with the pension Office Deem
be z, 1891, and got a communication
from them nearly month later which
made no reference to his letter; wants
me to go to the Office to see if his COM
munication was received. Another let
ter requires me to go to the pension Of
fee to ascertain what there is defective
in the application of the writer for a
pension.
ga gentleman from the agricultural
department requests me to accompany
him to my home, where he is to deliver
a lecture to some of my constituents.
Another wants the Congressional
Record sent to him. An applicant for
pension wants to know where his pa
pers are One of my constituents writes
for me to secure him place in the gov
eminent departments. Another wants
the report of the bureau of animal in
dustry. Another wants his pension
number of his case. Another wants
position in the government printing
Office. In another letter the gentleman
gives an account of trouble he is having
over the eXaction of duties from him for
goods brought to the custom house.
This requires investigation at the GUS
toms division. treasury department,
and an examination of the law, which
shows the duties We're properly col
lected-
"The pension Office notifies me of the
allowance of pension. The office also
wants to know how an applicant for
pension in my district spells his name
correspondent wants inforna-
ton as to the foreign insurance COM
panies doing business at the national
capital A pension applicant wants to
know all about the surgical report in
his case. Another wants me to have a
medical examinatio as to his condition
made at his home, because he is unable
to travel. Another letter is on the sub
ject of river and harbor improvements.
Another gentleman wants me to ascer-
tain what action has been taken in some
land case he has before the government
''These are examples of requests con-
tanned in nearly a hundred letters.
Each one requires reply, and most of
them involve writing letters to the de-
partments or making personal visits,
many requiring long personal examina-
tons of department records and IN
winding of lots of red tape, Most of
the matters are such as must be looked
INTO before going to the capitol.
after this go to the committee
work. There is different committee
for every day in the week, with sub
committee work besides, and on Satur-
lay, besides several subcommittee to
ook after, have various departments
10 visit. At twelve o'clock l entered |
the house, introduced bills, chased |
around after the speakers eye, listened |
to debates, took part in general legisla-
ton, answering letters between times,
roll calls and received visits |
rom a large humber of constituents
and other persons who called me out by |
ard. Five minutes is allowed for |
unch meanwhile, and at six o'clock !
line. At seven o'clock l again return
% my mail and to newspapers and to |
pamphlets and world of other printed |
natter. This occupies me until eleven |
o'clock, when, for the first time during |
he day, get chance for general read
rg and for study, which occupy me. |
or an hour or more, until drowsiness |