Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-01
FEW PRIVATE BILLS
Passed at this Session of Congress-Ihe
ReasOns-A Good Record
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Sps 1fsI TssecrGR TO the RsgsStsr.
WASHINGTON, July SILT is proba-
bic that fewer private bills have been
passed at the present session OF Con-
gress than al any other session in 20
years. Where in other sessions bills OF
this character were rushed through by
the hundred, in the session now closing
they have not passed by the decade.
All the work OF the session, especially
in the House, has been confined almost
exclusively 20 bills of public charac-
ter and TO the appropriation bills. This
may work hardship TO many wOrthy.peo-
pie but there is little doubt 1t Is the
best thing for the country at large.
While there are large number OF pri-
vate bills OF meritoriOus character on
the calendar the great mass OF them
possess little merit and even II
they do, the proper place for them is a
court of some sort and not before Con-
gresS, whose time ought to be given up
to the great questions Of the day, which
affect the welfare of the people at
large. The committees OF Congress
cannot In the nature OF things devote
the proper amount Of time 10 examining
into the events of the thousands Of pri-
vate bills that are introduced at each
session. The great majority OF such
bills that are reported, are
allowed to go through on
good natured plan, because 1t
is physically impossible for members
70 give them thorough examination,
and they don't like TO reject them II
they have any appearance OF merit on
their face. The average Congressman
is very human and easy-gOing, and he
dislikeS to say no when 1t is his power
20 say yes. SOin years past those prl-
vate bills, allowing one man few hun
dred dollars for horses or fodder or pro-
visions taken by Federal soldiers during
the war. allowing another similar
amount for property damaged by the
troops, or placing some old soldiers
name on tne pension rolls, have been
run through the legislative mill in big
patches, aud they have cost the Treas
ury many millions OF dollars in the ag-
gregate.
But in this session three or four OBJ
iectOrs Of the most determined and I'M
cqjolab,e brand have blocked the
progress of private bills through the
House. These objeCtOrs are the famous
Buck" Kilgore, OF Texas, the most
genial man who ever riled the temper
of the House; Tom Watson, the emo
tional and talk-a-heap Alliance member
! from Georgia: Baby Bailey, the soft
faced and flowing tongue boy orator
from Texas. and Bother OF Town. These
four gentlemen have objected in season
and out al through the session and pri-
vate bills by the hundred have fallen
before their points Of mo quorum" and
other points known 20 parliamentary
Sharps that have the effect or stopping
the progress of bills towards the White
House.
One of the members who has suffered
severely at the hands Of these object
ors Is Mr. Pendieton, OF Wheeling. He
introduced considerable number OF
meritous private bills at the beginning
of the session and by judiciOus work In
the committee rooms got them favor
ably reported TO the House and placed
on the calendar. These bills were for
friends, old war claims and other claims
against the government beld by citi-
zens of the first West Virginia district.
After Mr.. PeudletOn got them on the
calendar he tried at many Friday night
sessions. which are held specially to
pass private bills, to get them through
but all in vain. II Buck Kilgore was
absent Mr. Bailey was on hand with
his objection. If neither OF the Texans
was in attendance Mr.. Watson was do
ing Objectionable duty, and so the bills
never came to passage. Thus the ses-
sion closes aud Mr.. Pendleton's bills are
hing up with hundreds Of others and
there is no hope OF getting them
through.