Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1892-10-12
A coNcRESSMAN'S DAY.
The Humdrum Diurnal Routine That
Fills Out a Members Time.

One day taken apart from all the
rest in the existence of congressman
is not apt to be marked by great adj
ventures or enlivened by an exciting
incident. says Washington letter TO
the Philadelphia Telegraph. Most
days of the average member of the
house are repetitions each OF the
other. Areyiew of the ,twenty-four
hours made by member before clos
ing his eyes for a nights rest puts
him to sleep with the Thought that the
lot of a legislator is not always hap
py one, and that craftsmanship is the
least of things that enters into his days
toll.
asked one of the oldest members
of the house to keep record for me
of one day of congressional life. This
is it in brief: Eight o'clock, break
fast; $3.50, opened mail and laid aside
all newspapers with marked articles
for future examination. Read upwards
of ninety letters on all sorts of subjects,
of which the following are twenty ex-
amples: One is from a veteran asking
for information about his pension.
He gives no postoifce address, and |
am obliged to write letter to the
pension Office to secure his address.
Another correspondent wants num-
Der of volumes of geological survey,
which, upon investigation, | find. are
not to be had. A veteran writes that
he communicated with athe pension
office Dec. Z, 1891, and got commune
cation from them nearly month later
which made no reference to his letter;
wants me to go to the office to see il
his communication was received. An
other letter requires me to 90 to PEN
sion Office to asce rtain what there is
defective in the application of the
writer for a 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 Re-
cord 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 government departments. Another
wants the report of the bureau Of ami
nal industry. Another wants his PEN
sion 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 du-
ties from him for goods brought to the
customhouse. This requires investi-
CATION at the customs division, treas
ury department, and an examination
of the law, which shows the duties
were properly collected
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 to
know all about the surgical report in
his case. Another wants me to have
a medical examination as. to his condi-
ton made at his home, because he is
unable to travel. Another letter is on
the subject of river and harbor inn
provements. Another man wants me
to ascertain what action has been taken
in some land case he has before the
government.
| ihtoS CIV oNaih l'iCo Vi itIuNoio VIII
tanned in nearly hundred letters.
Each one requires reply. and most
of them involve writing letters to the
department 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 capital.
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-
day, besides several subcommittee to
look after, have various departments
to visit. At u O'Clock | entered the
house, introduced bills chased around
after the speakers eye, listened to de-
bates, took part in general legislation,
answering letters between times, an
swering roll-calls and received visits
from large number of constituents
and other persons who called me out
by card. Five minutes is allowed for
lunch meanwhile, and at 6 o'clock
dine. At o'clock | again return TIC
my mail and to newspapers and to
pamphlets, and world of other print
ed matter. This occupies me until IL
! O'Clock, when, for the first time during
the day, | get chance for general
reading and for study, which occupies
me for more than an hour or more,
until drowsiness compels retirement"
This is the average humdrum day
with congressman, which is repeated
every twenty-four hours, and involves
an immense amount of labor without
| interest.