The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-07-14
A CONGRESSMAN'S LIFE.
It L. Not Aitogether.a Bnssful Ex-
istence.
Some Of the Annoyancee with Which the
Average Statesman Has to Contend
Beset Every Hand by
Public Demands

Beset on Every Hand by
Public Demands
Most days of the average member Of
the house are repetitions each Of the
other. review of the twenty-four
hours made by member before closing
his eyes for nights rest puts him to
sleep with the thought that the lot Of a
legislator is not always a happy one,
and that statesmanship 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 record Of
one day of congressional life. This is 1t
in brief: Eight o'clock. breakfast;
eight thirty, opened mail and laid aside
oil 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 q veteran asking
for information about his pension. He
gives no postsoffice address. and am
obliged to write a letter to tho pension
Office to secure his address. Another
correspondent wants q number OF vol
umes of geographical survey, which.
upon investigation, find are not to be
had. A veteran writes that he commu-
nicated with the pension Office Decem-
be Z, 1891, and got 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 LETT
ter requires me to go to the pension Of
| fee to ascertain what there Is defective
in the application of the writer for
| pension
| "A gentleman from the agricultural
! department requests me to accompany
him to my home, where he Is to deliver
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
ernmept departments Another wants
the report Of the bureau of animal in
dustry. Another wants his pension
matter looked up, but does not give the
number OF his case. Another wants a
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 were properly col
lected
1.-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.
Another correspondent wants informa-
ton as to the foreign insurance com
panies doing business at the national
capital A pension applicant wants tC
know all about the surgical report tn
his case Another wants me to have q
medical examination as to his condition
made at his homo. 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 COD
tanned in nearly hundred letters
Each one requires reply, and most o1
them involve writing letters to the de
partments or making personal visits
many requiring long personal exaInina
tions of department records and un
winding of lots of red tape. Most o.
the matters are such as must be loolset
into before going to the capitol
AFTER this l go to the COMMITTEES
work. There is different COMMITTEES
for every day in the week, with sub
committee work besides, and on Satur
day, besides several suboommittees L
look after, have various department.
to visit At twelve O'Clock ! euteret
the house, introduced bills, chaset
around after the speakers eye. hstcnet
to debates, took part in general legisla
ton, answering letters between times
answering roll calls and received visit
from large number Of constituent
and other persons who called me- out b,
card Five minutes Is allowed fo
lunch meanwhile, and At six O'Clock
dine At seven O'Clock again petnrl
to my mail and to newspapers and t
pamphlets and world OF other prtnte'
matter. This occupies me untfl elevel
o'clock, when, for the FIRST time durin,
the day, get chance for general read
ing and for study, which occupy m
for an hour or more, until drowsines
compels retirement"