Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19
A CONGREssMAN's DAY.
Brief Account Of What Occupied One Rep
resentative's Working Hours.


resentative's Working Hours.
One day taken apart from all the rest in the
existence Of q Congressman in not apt to be
marked by great adventures or enlivsned by
an exciting incident Most days Of the average
member Of the House are repetitions each OF
the other. A review of the twenty-four hours
made by q member before closing his eyes for
nights rest puts him to sleep with tie
thought that the lot Of legislator is not al
ways happy one and that craftsmanship is
the least OF things that enters in his days toll
STAR reporter asked one Of the oldest men,
bers Of the House to keep a record for him Of
one day Of congressional life. This it is in
brief: 8 o'clock breakfast; $780, opened mail and
laid aside all newspapers with marked articles
for future examination. Read upward of
ninety letters all sorts ofsubjects of which the
following are twenty examples: One is from a
veteran asking for information about his pen
sion. He gives no post office address and am
obliged to write a letter to the pension Office to
secure his address. Another correspondent
wants number OF old volumes of geological
survey. which, upon investigation. find are
not to be had. veteran writes that he COM
municated with the pension Office December Z.
1891. and got a communication from them
nearly a month later which made no reference
to his letter. Wants me to go to the Office
to see if his communication WAS received.
Another letter requires me to 60 to the
pension Office to ascertain what there is de-
fectivc 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 a lecture to
some of my constituents. Another wants the
Congressional Record sent to him. An appli-
cant for pension wants to know where his
papers are. One of my constituents writes for
me to secure him place in the government
departments. Another wants the report of the
bureau of animal industry. Another wants his
pension matters looked up, but does not give
the number of his case. Another wants a
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 Gus
tom house. This requires investigation
at the customs division, Treasury Department.
and an examination of the law, which shows
the duties were properly collected The pen
sion Office notifies me of the allowance of a
pension. The office also wants to know how IN
applicant for pension in my district spells his
NAME Another correspondent wants iufor-
nation as TO the foreign insurance companies
doing business at the national capital PEN
sion applicant wants to know all about the sur
gical report in his case. Another wants me to
have medical examination as to his condition
made at his home, because he is unable to
travel. Another letter is on the subject of
river and harbor improvements. Another gen.
tleman wants me to ascertain what action mas
Deen TAKEN In some land case he has before the
government.
These are examples of requests contained in
nearly hundred letters. Each one requires a
reply and most of them involve writing letters
to the departments or making personal visits.
Many require long personal examinations of
department records and an unwinding of lots
of red tape. Most of the matters are such as
must be looked into before going to the Capt.
toll.
After this go to. the committee work. There
Is different com nittee for every day in the
week, with subcommittee work besides and on
Saturday, besides several subcommittee to look
after. have various departments to visit. At
II o'clock entered the House, introduced
bills. chased around after the Speakers eye
listened to debates. took part in general lesis-
lation, answering letters between times. an
swered roll calls and received visits from large
number Of constituents and other persons who
called me out by card. Five minutes is al
lowed for lunch meanwhile. and at 6 o clock
dine. At l again turn to my mail and to the
newspapers and to pamphlets and a world of
other printed matter. This occupies me until
II clock, when, for the first time during the
day. get chance for general reading and for
study. which occupies me for an hour more,
until drowsiness compels retirement.
This is the average humirum day with
Congressman, which is repeated every twenty
four hours, and involves AN immense amount
of labor without interest.