The Washington times., 1894-05-02
MIR. MAHoN OBJECTS TO BEING DOCKET

MIR. MAHON OBJECTS TO BEING DOcKED.
Mr.. Mahon, Of Pennsylvania, said the other
day that he did not propose to make dago
Of himself or to keep tally upon his comings
and goings at the bidding of the Sergeant-at-
Arms. The gentleman made this remark in
protest Of the action Of the House in instruct
ing the Sergeant-at-Arms to dock the mem-
bers for absence without leave. Mr.. Mahon
had introduced a resolution which In effect
said that the docking resolution shouldn't
CO." II is to the credit Of the House that the
resolution was knocked out.
As we understand 1t. the members Of the
House are the servants Of the people. They
receive a certain wage to perform certain ser
vice. Now, what do those who have servants
or working people do when their help does
not appear for work on timer Dock or dis
our elective servants-more's the pity-but
we should do the first; in fact, the House Of
Representatives has decided to do It.
We, the people. pay MI. Mahon four hun
dred and sixteen dollars and some cents
month, and We allow him and his compeers
to flx their own hours. That they do not
strain themselves Is evidenced by the fact
that they work only five hours day for an
average Of Ave and a half days in the week
for an average Of five months in the year.
We supply them-or at least they supply
themselves-with all the comforts, and lack
eys bound at a crook Of the finger or hand
clap. We shave them. black their boots,
give them luxurious bathing accommoda-
tions, stationery, books, and lots OF other
things. We pay them for their travelling ex-
penses about ten times the actual frst-class
fare, even when they do not travel on pass.
Altogether, we treat them very handsomely,
and whatever we have neglected to provide
them with they provide for themselves at our
expense.
Why, then, shouldn't Congressman be regu-
lar in their attendance and thus facilitate our
public business. The only thing that has 90
far been done promptly by our national rep
resentatives is to drawing their salaries. As
to the work which in the campaign of 1892
we ordered them to do, how much has
been done? In thirteen months they have
done nothing. II these congressman had
Uccu WOIkiuS LUZ pK1foAo paktASS, o4o Aees
been ordered to revise the tariff, and had
done no more than Congress- had done so far,
they would all have been fired and new set
hired to do the work. Even the "da2os"
that Mr.. Maton speaks of so contemptuously
would have had the job finished by this time,
and there would have been some certainty as
to our countrys future.
But a thought strikes us. II Mr.. Mahon
doesn't like being docked. why don't he
quit his job? There are lots Of people who
would like It. and who would be glad to do
full days work for the money. 1t does not re-
quire any special ability to be Congressman,
not half so much as to be an ordinary farmer,
or bricklayer, or printer. II the entire Con-
,gress concludes to resign because Of objection
to being docked, We will guarantee to supply
full delegation that shall contain higher
order OF intellect, better practical knowledge
Of our needs. and an ability to do business
that will put the present membership to the
blush