Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-08-18
a coNoREssMAN.s DAILY LIFE
Much Time Given to Pension-seekers and
Some to Public Business.


Much Time Given to PensiOn-seekers and
Some to Public Business.
Most days of the average member
OF the house are repetitions each OF
the other. A review OF the twenty
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 srways a
happy one, and that stateSl. EsSlip is
the least Of things that eH:ers into
his days toll The correspondent of
the Philadelphia Telegraph asked one
Of the oldest members of the house to
keep record Of one day of congress-
ional life. This is it in brief: ''Eight
o'clock, breakfast; $3.50, opened mail
and laid aside all newspapers with
marked articles for future examina-
ton. Read upward of ninety letters
on all sorts Of subjects, of which the
following are twenty examples: One
is from veteran asking for informa-
tion about his pension. He gives no
postofilce address, and I am obliged to
write letter to the pension Office to
secure his address. Another cores
pendent wants a number of volumes
of geographical survey, which, upon
investigation, l find are not to be
had. A veteran writes that he COM
municated with the pension Office
December 7, 1891, and got a commu-
nication 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 re-
ceived. Another letter requires me
to go to the pension Office to ascertain
what there is defective in the appli-
cation of the writer for a pension.
ga gentleman from the agricul-
tural department requests me to ac-
company 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 papers are. One of
my constituents writes for me to Sc
cure him a place in the government
departments. Another wants the
report of the bureau of animal in
dustry. Another wants his pension
matters looked up, but does not give
the number Of his case. Another
WduOo q pOolGlOu III OIIO
printing Office. In another letter the
gentleman gives an account of trouble
he is having over the exaction of du-
ties from him for goods brought to
the custom-house. This requires in
Vestigatlon at the customs division,
treasury department, and an exami-
nation of the law, which shows the
duties were properly collected.
1.-THE pension Office notifies me of
the allowance of a pension. The Of
fee also wants to know how an appii-
can't for pension in my district spells
his name. Another correspondent
wants information as TO the foreign
insurance companies doing business
at the national capital. A pension
applicant wants to know all about
the surgical report in his case. An
other wants me to have medical ex-
animation 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 improve
ments. Another gentleman wants
me to ascertain what action has been
taken in some land case he has before
the government.
'"TheSe are examples of requests
contained in nearly hundred letters.
Each one requires reply, and most
of them involve writing letters to the
departments or making personal visits
many requiring long personal exami-
nations 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
CATER this 1 80 to the committee
work. There is different committee
for every day in the week, with sub
committee work besides, and on
Saturday. besides several subcommit-
tees to look after. have various de-
entered the house, introduced bills,
chased around after the speakers
eye, listened to debates, took part in
general legislation, answering letters
between times, answering roll calls,
and received visits from large num-
Der of constituents and other persons
who called me out by card. Five
minutes is allowed for lunch mean
while, and at O'Clock / dine. At I
o'clock again return to my mail and
to newspapers and to pamphlets and
a world of other printed matter.
This occupies me until IL o'clock,
when, for the first time during the
day. 1 get a chance for general read
| ing and for study, which occupy me
for an hour or more, until drowsfness
conpels retirement.