Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11
What the Business Man Can Do in
the Halls Of Congress.
RED TAPE AND ROUTINE
Bringing Business Methods to Bear
on National Legislation.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

Congressman Michael d. Harter Of Ohio
/ talked with a reporter Of The Star in the
members lobby for half an hour the other
day on the business man In politics."
He was we'll qualified to discuss the sub
ject, as his life has been a patchwork of
managing exter sive business industries and
of minglng in public and political life. The
| business side of his character is shown by
the success of the mammoth agricultural
| implement factories at Mansfield. Ohio,
! and the poltico-publc phase is indicated by
his membership in the famous Golden Club
of England and in the prominence he has
| attained as one OF the leaders of the House
of Representatives, although his congress
sional service has not been long.
Mr.. Harter was asked to give his views on
the business man in politics.
| II am not certain" said he, that a man
who from the age Of sixteen has made his
| recreation and his leisure means of fol-
lowing the problems of human government,
and who has for twenty years or more, by
| written article, public speech. circular let
| ter, In campaign seasons and out, at con-
ventons and in private gatherings. given
| his time and efforts to furthering certain
definite ideas he entertained can be cited
as the business man in politics. The Ques-
ton arises as to whether such a man
|
! politician than anything else. How rTer, IL
the fact that a man for thirty years has
kept himself for twelve hours each day
| actively at work in exacting commercial
! and manufacturing pursuits entities him u
| be quoted as one of the business men in
politics, then, of course, l fairly fit your
wants, and il l know anything which the
| pubic cares for 1t is al your command"
The business Mems Energies.
| Us 1t not a pervers.on Of a business mans
energies from their proper channel - go
! into politics. WAS asked.
| IF a bus ness man has no natural tas.e
! for politics, no liking for the study of the
! science OF government and gets no pleas
Hre cut Of the Investigation of the princi-
( pies .EAiclS hold society together, AMI which
/ advance or ret&rd the progress of nations.
undoubtedly IL is Il per.ersion Of his ene--
Sles to employ them in any legislative body.
! 4 man so situated. disposed and inclined
would always hai trade, traffic and bdsl-
/ Ness more u his fancy, and ought 10 stick
I 10 the yardsticK, ol"ave 10 the country
! house OF marry himself 10 factory
spend his life in a mill and occu2y az his
! waking hours with such affairs. CA the
/ other hani the business man who. year
/ In aai year out, IS By choice and inc.:na-
! ticD student Of the principles Of govern
| rneat an observer of the laws which con-
! trQl human action ami collector of data,
| a gathercr Of acts ami figures, VIII Gnd ac-
tive politics, especially the arena Of legis-
| ldtNe activity, one OF the greatest pleas
| rres within his reach, ami the most I'm
selfish and excellent work of his life can
| be done In Congress. If, however, he comes
! here 10 make money he Will business
nan ought ID know beforehand. be thor
! ougEly unsuccessful
| Lawyers and business Men.
1t was suggested at this point that there
were many more lawyers than business men
IN public !.fe.
| Yes" said he, land If instead of nine out
of ten legislator being drawn from the
| legal profession but one became a recruit
| from Blackstone. and the others were en-
! listed from the ranks OF the shilful, studi-
Gus merchants. bankers, farmers, manu-
/ fdcturers AM railroad men of the country
do not question the enormous advantage
! ii would be. on the other hand IL Con-
gress were I'd lie recruited and filled from
the class OF business men who pay no at
{ t@ntioa 10 politics, who talk of Il as dirty
pool and step from such surroundings into
Congress, 1t wouli h. a bad change for the
| country and dtsaSreeab.e one for the men
| making such an exchange of occupation"
| Bustness Methods in Congress.
rs there not great lack of business
method i'm public life?" was asked.
"A business man man finds few customs
and methods in Congress which obtain and
| control in business and chafes under the
delays of legislation. He sees enough time
wasted to worry. annoy, indeed, TO greatly
disturb him, but after while he becomes
accustomed to these delays and adjusts
! himself to them. IL is not long before he
| finds that most Of the legislation is trivial
while some of il is of the greatest weight
and most serious importance, and it does
.'ot take great while fer him to be able
TO distinguish between the two classes of
/ questions, and usually he win discover
| there is more room for him to apply his
[ reading, his study and whatever ability
! he possesses in the discussion and settle
! lnent Of the major questions He will not
| care 10 tax Often. | think his inclination
Will be To CccIpy the time of Congress as
| little as possible, but with the natural re-
J silt that what he does say is likely 70 be
well said, and for this reason win have
/ weight in Congress and influence outside
| In the country at large. No man can long
| advocate earnestly, modestly but steadily
sound principles in tie House of Repre-
! sentativ2s before he gathers around him
! a multitude of kindred spirits scattered all
over the coUntry, and in this way lie comes
| into contact personally and by correspond
| cnce with great many of the ablest,
| rurCst and most distinguished of his fell
| loW-citizrnS. Fortunately. a man who has
been a student of commercial questions, q
| seeker after truth on social lines and al
| earnest explorer OF history finds all the
| work Of his years outside of Congress of
| immediate benefit at Washington. He does
| rot depend upon others for his opinions,
he does not have to look TO his district for
| instructions or inspii alton, but, the
contrary, as Il rule. sees his course as an
| honest legislator and patriotic representa-
| tive very clear before him"
| Then, as Il rule. the business men in
| Congress make good legislators on great
| questions such as finance and tariff
| Yes, they are the safe men. Take the
| business men in Congress during the past
| four years. and how seldom have they
Numbered upon any great question. 1t is
| likely the inside history Of the great fnan-
cal struggle
| Red Tape and Routine.
| rs there net so much red tape In con-
gressonal procedure that it is pracu ally
! impossible to carry out plain and obvious
| reform?'
| That red tape. routine, Formally and all
manner Of delays embarrass legislation
| goes without saying, and II is also certain
| that they are annoying IN the extreme. but
| after all, one gets accustomed to them and
| after awhile, I'm certain sense, Obvious
| of them, except to note with regret how
| long il takes to bring about much needed
! reforms or pass wholesome and important
| laws. The duties Of legislative body are
rourdly speaking. divided into enactlng
good laws and preventing the passage of
| bad ones. and no business man can feel
that his honest efforts in either of these
| directions are entirely unrew2r1ed with
| success. After all. principles control In
Congress Just as conscience holds sway
I IL.