The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-18
CONCERNING CONGRES.SHEN

There is an old saw which says, "Ey-
ervbodv knows what to do with a bad
thing except the one who has it." And
on this ground, perhaps, if on no other
we who are not Congressman and do not
bear any Of the load Of responsibility
that attaches to the life Of public ser
Want, can presume to criticise some
things that pertain to Congress and Con
gressmen.
There are some things that THE
DEMOCRAT has never been able to see,
and as we think Of it now, it would take
some very strong glasses to make us see
them. We have never been able to see
how it can be right for member OF
Congress. either Of the Senate or the
House, to leave his business in Congress
and go to his home thousand miles
from Washington, perhaps, and spend
q week or two, or even day or two, for
the sole purpose of conducting a case
In court, get his fee as an attorney and
still draw his unbroken salary as a
member of Congress. 1t has always
appeared to us that the compensations
for services as a member Of Congress
are quite sufficient, and this being true,
it would take Il considerable strain on
our ideas Of common justice to make 1t
appear right for any member OF Con-
gress to leave his place and his duties
in Congress and 60 home to attend to
his remunerative private business and
his salary continue all the same. Our
national representatives are not called
upon to serve their country free. Of
they were we hardly think there would
be SO many 'savailable" men.) The
government pays them for their time
and services, and every one knows when
he accepts the trust what his salary IS ;
and if he can not afford to turn his other
business over to some one else while he
serves his country for good pay, he
ought not to accept the position And
when be leaves Washington to 90 home
to practice law it seems to us his salary
ought to be suspended during his alb
sence or else he ought to turn over his
fees into the United States treasury.
He is hired to serve the people and he
has no more right to double pay than
common 1abOrer.
What would any business man or
farmer, Or ANYBODY else, even q mem
Der of Congress, say to labOrer whom
he had hired for one or two years if he
should find him even one time, not to
say at will, quitting the work assigned
him and going off in some other mans
service day Or week, getting pay for
his work for the second man and at the
same time claiming his regular wages
from the first man who hired him?
Well. now we would not have to 90
far to find an answer. There is not
one man in hundred who would not
discharge him on the first offense, and
there is hardly man of common sense
IN the land who would not deduct from
the hired mans wages according to the
time he had neglected the work which
he was employed to do.
1t is a common occurrence for men,
bers of Congress to leave Washington
and 20 home to attend courts or to
conduct cause as special attorney,
md we have never heard of ones sala-
~ being suspended while he was away.
Now, it strikes us and we believe
It strikes the average man the /
same way, that member of Congress
ought to be in his seat from the first to |
he last day during a session Of that |
body unless sickness or some other I'M
lvoidable circumstance prevents his be-
ny present These are our views as to
osing time, to say nothing of the dis
graceful spectacle of having to arrest |
members in order to get i, quorum.
WE have received the premium list |!
or the seventh session of the East Car |
Dina Fish, Oyster, Game and industrial |
Association to be held at New Berne |