The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-05
THE RIGHT OF PETITION.
How 1t Was Abused by u Gov
erNment Clerk.
flo Styled Himself tho Wagcworhcrs'
Political Alliance md Flooded the
Congressional Mail Box with
Cranky Documents.
Especial Washington Lcttcr.l

Especial Washington Letter
One of the most peculiar freaks ever
known in the capitol during Il session
of congress was developed here when
the Fifty-second congress was young.
OF course you know that John Quincy
Adams, as Il member of the house OF
representatives. long after he had been
president of the United States, was the
leader in the debate which forever set
tied the right of petition" BY the pco-
pie of this republic. That right is not
only exercised very freely, but it is
also abused. Not only do the people
send genuine petitions to congress- but
lobbyists interested in legislation have
petitions printed, leaving blanks for
signatures, and send them broadcast
over the land These "machinc pc
titions" are signed by persons who
know little and care less about the sub
jcct matter contained in them. They
are al forwarded to the Washington
attorneys, and by them handed to NOM
bcrs of congress, either of the senate or
house. These alleged petitions are
dropped into Il receptacle called ''pc-
tition box" and the regular clerical
employees send them to the proper com
mittccs. The people have ''thc right of
petition but their petitions have al
most no weight whatever with the
gentlemen who legslatc for the nation.
Well, during the carly DAYS of the
last congress there were petitions gu
lore upon all manner of subjects from
the "Wagcworlicrs Political ALI
ancc." The alliance first made itself
known by the introduction of numerous
bills and the presentation of wordy pc
titions to both houses of congress.
Prominent statesmen received numcr-
Gus communications, signed only by
this remarkable body. and most of the
bills and memorials which accompanied
these epistlcs were introduced Not a
few of them, though, were thrown
aside. notwithstanding the fact that
they bore the seal of this great politico-
labor engine, by whose mysterious force
the world was to be reformed in an or
iginal and highly satisfactory manner
That some of the bills were introduced
is due to the fact that they were less &C.
centric than those which found Il rest
ing place in the waste basket.
just when the alliance commenced its
task of vicarious legislation is not a
matter of much moment, but it was
early in the first session of the present
congress. To close observer il must
have been evident that neither senators
or representatives paid any attention
to the crudition which was being dis
played and after awhile the alliance
became aware of the sluggish circul;-
ton its alleged ideas were having Then
the alliance caused Il bill To b. intro
dnccd authorizing and instructing the
public printer to publish daily Sundays
eNccpted) Il periodical which should he
known as Tho Congressional Petition
Box" the same 10 be for gratuitous dis
tribntion to all applicants
Further provision was made for the
creation of an otlicc-cditor Of The
Congressional Petition Box"-thc sal
airy to he four dollars per day. The
duty of the editor would be the ear
ranging, classification. condensation
and publication of all petitions, me-
norials, bills, resolutions and other re-
specially wordcd communications"
which he might receive from any citi-
zen of this republic when such petit
tions, etc, were addressed either to
congress, 10 the supreme court or the
president: provided" SAYS the bill.
that said communications shall clear
iy show that something is wanted by
some citizen of this republic ana that
the person who wants that something
can be found usually at the place stated