St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-05
reliance upon the Judgment of Mr..
Miller.
PAY ATTENTION TO BUSINESS


PAY ATTENTION TO BUSINESS.
The opening day of congress after the
holiday recess was disgrace to those
charged With the conduct of public
business. There was no quorum in
either house, and no business could be
transacted. Its not expected that any
thing will he accomplished for two
weeks To come, owing to the absence OF
members from their seats.
Ii is becoming more and more notori-
Gus year by year that our senators and
representatives in congress care little
for the public interests. They persist
emily absent themselves from their
seats. and even when matters OF the
graveSt national Importance are under
consideration it Is difficult to secure
quorum. Some members visit WASH
lngton only when the day arrives upon
which they can draw their salaries.
Others. If they visit the capitol AT all,
spend their time in the restaurants
guzzling liquor, and appear in their
seats only at the command of the SER
geant-at-arms. The absence of quo
AuAii ID oioSOfClOu d NOLS ID W
be taken, and much time is wasted in
gathering enough members together to
PASS even the most unimportant meas
ure. Owing TO the slim attendance, no
bill can be passed to which there is the
slightest objec ton.
There is rule of the house which
permits members to draw pay only for
those days i'll the session upon which
they are actually in attendance, and for
the time when they are absent with
leave. The rule has never been en-
forced, although frequent threats have
been made that. unless members paid a
closer attention to their duties, enforce
ment would be demanded. These threats
do no apparent good. The habitual ab--
SenteeS continue to absent themselves,
and the public bushes; is neglected. Is
there no remedy?
" hen a-man accepts public Office he
is expected to attend to its duties. If
he fails to do so, he should be compelled
to resign. No member of congress can
safely absent himself from his seat for a
day. In his absence measure may be
rushed through which will have all i'm
pOrtant bearing upon the interests of
his constituents. Nowhere is strict at
tention 10 every detail OF business or a
close scrutiny of pending legislation
| more imperative than on the floor Of the
house and senate The committees
which pass upon measures before they
are 5rought up for final action are not
always thorough i'll their Investigations.
l. TO- i
most invariably reported with favor
able recommendation. 1t thus happens
frequently that laws having covert
| purpose hidden beneath an apparently
harmless motive receive the sanction of
congress. IT was by such means that
| the sewing machine patents were eX
| tended several years ago, and by a sub
terfuge bill extending the telephone
patents was Struggled through both
houses of congress. Both of these meas
Tres cost the public millions of dollars,
| Notwithstanding the fact that the rep
resentatives of the people were paid.
| and well paid. toto guard against
| precisely such legislative outrages.
There is no valid excuse that can be
| urged in eXtenuation of this neglect of
duty On the part of our representatives
| in congress. 1t is not too much to re-
quire of every one Of them a prompt at
| tendance upon the sessions of the body
! to which he has been accredited, and
close attention to business. The ses-
Sions continue but a few months OF
| each year, seldom more than four days
! in each week, and for four to six hours
of each of those days. Ifthe strain of
Itattendance is too great for the physical
| endurance of the members, they should
| resign and permit the people to choose
men in their places who are better fitted
| to discharge the duties of the position.
The people have become weary Of alb
| senteeism in congress. 1t is pernicious
| and demoralizing. 1t interferes with
the transaction of public business
| to dIsgraceful extent. 1t should not
| be tolerated, for there is no excuse for
it. Especially at this time, when mat
tiers of vital Importance to the well
fare of the country are before con-
gress, every member should be in his
seat at every days session, and remain
there as he would be required to remain,
at his place of business if engaged in
the field of commerce or trade.