The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-07
WHAT CONGRESSMAN DOES.
THINss mar COMMAND BIS ar
1IOy DURING SINGLE DAT.
HIs Dntie. sua Issors ss Varies ss Thsss
OF Pooh- Rrh - The De-ssds 81 RACER
Csssittaests PerpIeS Hius ~ Day ssd
Wsture Its Hest ne night.

"NtuFe AAts hAest NJ NiEhts
WARRINGTON. Jan. 0-very few have an idea
Of the daily work Of q Congressman. he at
tends to his duty he may work eighteen hours
day. and still havs work unfinished. IL a
member u q leading committee and attending
its sessions regularly. and the sessions OF the
sub-com mittecs to which he IL assigned. and
performing the task sllotted to him there he
will do we'll aside from any other work. But he
must also attend the sessions OF the House
and be In readiness to sustain or oppose bills
that affect his constituents.
Next in importance is his mail. A good Con-
gresham always answers his letters prompt
II an old member Of the lIousc, he receives
from forty to ssven;y.nve letters a day. Ono
letter in a hundred may contain a postage
stamp He pays the postage Tor answers to
the remainder out OF his own pocket IL he Is
q member Of the Grand Army, many OF the re-
quests will be to look up claims for pensions
and use his influence In forwarding sottle-
ments II he is Democrat n dozen OF the let
tiers will be applications for Office directly or
indirectly. Some may he from mutual friends
and others endorse by persons OF influences.
II he visits the departments and attends
personally to all these requests. this alone will
take up his entire time. Some are applications
made by constituents. but the majority come
from persons who have no such claim upon the
attention OF tho Representative. Then there
are letters applying for public documents. all
OF which require m ore or less attention.
Aside from this work the Congressman is
personally importrned in every corridor and
at every turn in the Capitol II he desires to
60 from the House to his committee room he
may be an hour In reaching It. and whom he
gets there. unless he is man OF strong mind.
h g forEets the object he started for.
II he attends strictly to his duty investigat-
ing bills drawing up reports and keeping a
close watch upon the legislation OF the House.
no will not have time to Keep abreast with the
news OF the day. or attend to any social obli-
cations He will do we'll to find time to eat
and slcep. To illustrate this It is only neces-
sary to detail one day Of Congressman.
Take a day in the week ending Dec. III. 1893
The Congressman lives at u hotel near the
Capitol. Before o'clock in the morning cards
are sent to him. One is from young lady
bringing letter from a gentleman residing
thousand miles from the Congressmans dis
trict. asking him to secure place for her in
one OF tho departments Another Is from n vet
ersn member OF the G. A. H.. who thinks he has
been Illegally discharged from Government
employment A third is from some school
mate who desires q personal introduction to
the President. Disposing Of these as best he
can. the Congressman goes to the Capitol. or
dernG his breakfast at the House restaurant
while on mis- way to his committee room.
There he finds mis- mail Beside tho letters.
there are basketful OF newspapers. many OF
which contain marked articles for inspection.
Then there is a raft Of public documents aud
pamphlets on all conceivable subjects. from
silver and pension legislation down to matters
OF trifling interest. Cranks present visionary
schemes. and persons interested In private
W Ha Ia N vi aht IN
banquets and receptions. and asked to remit
checks for tickets to entertainments given for
charitable and other purposes
He has barely time to slit the heap before he
he is subject to opportunities from visitors
On his way back to the committee room he Is
bnttonholed by delegatjons around the doors
OF the Committee Of Ways and Means. and
urged to use his influence toward changing
the tariff schedule. Preserving his eIuanim-
nailed Mt the door OF his room by committees
from the Chamber Of Commerce and Maritime
ence against u bili damaging to the CONNER
cial interests OF the city they represent
He arrives at his commtttee room In time TO
tance. The meeting lasts until high noon.
The legislative mill begins 10 turn out It's
grist TO vote intelliGently he must pay close
iect under discussion. hut he finds II difficult
to remain in his seat three minutes. Cards arc
continually presented to him. some are from
ii he goes to the restaurant 10 lunch he Is
accosted n dozen times before he reaches it.
Once at lunch. however. he Is com Haratively
safe. unless those seeking him are lunching at
the same time.
prompt attention is required. An appoint
ment is pending. and action must he taken at
once. After nasty LUNCH they catch the cable
ears and HE to the Treasury Department.
They wait an hour or more before the Secre-
tary can be seen. and then are compelled to
Even in the department tho Congressman is
not relieved from OPPORTUNITIES, He meets
anu who urge him to give Whatever aid he can
Back to the Capitol he goes without accom-
Pishing the object sought. Before he gets
ure or to oppose that. 4 friend desires him to
pr"ss upon, the Committee on Claims some
Committee on Military Affairs and use his in
nuence toward relieving some man from the
ro%iSs story Of a Young lady who has lost her
place IN one Of the Departments, and appeals
To his sympathies to do what no can toward
Auditors ofiice. aud urges the Congressman
to revisit the department and use his influence
toward securing Its payment
A nth isa Washington correspondent who
wants his views on Hawaii and the kanaka
queen iscs IS " pa Mao mas trouble S IN the
the Representative to visit the Commissioned
aud expedite the matter Il possible. Here is
place AS CLERK In the Mare Island Navy Yard.
and there a third, who wants rare book
printed BY the Agricultural Department years
aGn and entirely out OF print Here comes a
rage Informing the Herresentatiyeth that sen
ator So-and- So wants to speak 10 him mo-
mont In the senate Chamber,
The Congressman starts for the other wing
of the capitol and - met by constituents who
desire cards OF admission to the members
gallery. This necosstateS visit to his COM
mltiee room. Before he reaches It he is
stopped twice 1gaiu-once ~ an employee ni
tho House who wishes his signature to an
order iOr binding, and again by his clerk who
has telegram oil moment which requires an
Immediate answer,
Half an hour is gone before he Is again ready
to start tor the Senate Chamber. and fortunate
indeed he Is II he Passes through the Hall Of
Statues and the great rOtunda without fur
Their opportunities. Once in the Senate cham
Der he II again in trouble, A senator has .
constituent in the employ Of tho House who is
In danger OF dismissal aud wants lin retained.
Another senator has bill which has passed
the senate and which he desires the Congress
man 10 look after when II comes 10 the House.
A third has a request forA Dubllc document
from one OF the REPRESENTATIVE constituents
and places the matter in his hands
A trip back to the House L. attended with
more interruptions. The Congressman 10
N fF.,I ~, ,fT m m