Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-28
rIrnnmnnK hi roNaREss.

The tendency OF the average Con-
gresham to fliouster and retard the
legislation proposed by any party not
his own has brought the Baltimore sun
to the conclusion that "sone means will
have to be found of compelling Congress
to talk less aud do more. The business
sense OF the country resents the grow
ing length Of its debates and the chronic
habit OF obstruction which makes 1t i'm
possible to pass promptly any legislation
which q small but resolute minority of
members choose to oppose"
After a careful investigation Of the
subject, the sun has decided that the
course Of business men, who pay their
employees Tor what they do and nothing
more might proftably be employed
with Congress. The piece work system
is usually more satisfactory than any
other to the employer, who then gets
what he pays for and pays for nothing
be does not get
The American people send men to
Congress 10 make laws aud pay them for
it. Why should they be paid for work
they fail to do, or else delay until the
country is sick and tired of waiting for
It? There's no use in paying a man six
months wages for work that should be
done in three, and a little business
principle applied to Congress by the
people might instill a few ideas OF busi-
ness into the kickers who are causing
the delay.
The principal objection to the plan Of
paying by the piece is that the change
could only be brought about by vote
OF Congress and, il the recent action Of
the House in resolving the docking law
out Of existence is any evidence, it is
highly improbable that our worthy Rep
resentatlves could pass a law which
might curtail their profits ever so little.
And then, if they were paid so much a
law the country would be flooded in a
year or two with so many new laws that
all the printers 10 the country would be
required TO help the government print
ing Office get out the statutes, and the
laws passed by asingle Congress would
look like a set OF census reports.
The sun suggests another plan, based
on the Chinese idea Of paying doctors.
So long as a Chinaman is we'll his doctor
draws his money, but when he fails to
keep the patient" we'll not only does
be have to treat him but he also forfeits
his pay. In other words he's paid to
keep the people well. That is what
Congress is elected for-to keep the ma
ton free from all disorders. And, as with
human patients, the less medicine the
Congress gives the country the healthier
it will DO. When a new law is needed it
should be passed quickly and some in
centive to speedy action might be given
Congress were the SUMS plan adopted.
Why" it asks, would it not be
perfectly fair and eminently practical
to pay our Senators and Representatives
by a sliding salary scaIe-the longer the
session the lower the pay? Taking the
present IS, 600 a year as the maximum
and three months as the normal length
Of a session, the Congressman might be
entitled to draw $4,000 only if the ses-
sion occupied four months, $4,000 only
il it lasted six months aud nothing at
all if it exceeded six month. The prin
ciple is already applied to the builders
Of our warships. They are allowed ex-
ira pay for extra speed. Surely extra
speed in legislation is much more valua-
BILE than in warships."