The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-02
CAPITAL CHAT.
Congress Turning Out Bills
at a Rapid Rate.

Parallel Between the Senate and the House.
Congressmen Who DO Not Have q Price.
Senator Cameron and the Presidency
Secretary Carlisle n Teetotsler.
WASHINGTON. March 1.-tSpecial i
Congress is now showing US what it can
do when II gets its mind made up TO legis-
late. Bills are being turned out Mt the
rate of about two minute. 1t Is always
so In tho closing hours OF session, and
especially In the dying moments OF a con-
gress. For week or ten days past 1t has
been almost impossible to find senators at
home evenings. They have staid at the
capitol till night came on, often sitting
in the evening, and as soon as that body
had adjourned and tho statesmen had had
their dinners tho most Of them set out to
fix up little schemes. Every senator who
Is considered at all useful to his state has
on hand in times like these a large batch
of small bills which no Is expected to push
through, and 10 Is often necessary TO hunt
the town over for help or for means OF re-
moving objections. Many little dinner
has been held during the last week that
had for its purpose tho removal OF some
senator's objections to bill In which
some other senator was much interested.
The senate's Power.
Between this and tho hour OF noon
March there will be great deal at
fine work in both houses It is an old say
ing here that congress governs tho coun
try, the senate governs congress and In
tho closing days Of "a session three or four
men govern tho senate. 1t is almost lit
In, ~
tween house and senate 10 Is tho house that
yields For somo reason not wholly ex-
planned tho senate stands out more firmly
than the popular branch, Is moro stubborn
and easily held together. Probably this
is because Of tho smaller number Of men
who arc to be controlled and 10 the un-
Outstanding which it is so convenient to
create, not to say anything harsher, in n
body which very much resembles big
club.
In the closing hours such men as Cor
man, chairman of the steering committee,
and Cookrell, chairman of the committee
on appropriations. on the Democratic side,
and such men as Aldrich, floor leader, and
Chandler, able and active lieutenant, and
Allison, Republican representative on the
appropriations comnhttee, on the Repub-
lican side, virtually control three fourths
of tho legislation. 1t happens through
the operation OF some great legislative
principle that about all the octs OF con-
gress which any one wants in tho last
hours are such as carry appropriation for
something or other, and this places tre-
mendous power In the hands OF tho appro-
priations committee. Their Endorsement
of a measure or amendment is usually suf-
flcient to carry it through without opposi-
Ia hot OH fc fota nj In mi ipa
cases out OF ten. Considering that about
$500, 600, 600 oofappropriationspa through
the hands Of this committee In either
house every year, 1t would net be surpris-
ing IL occasional temptations 10 make
money or gain some other advantage did
not present themselves to members of these
committees on the exchequer.
Long In Ofhce, Yet Poor.
It must be said 60 the credit OF tho
American congress that there is so little OF
wrongdoing OF this nature hero that per-
haps tho man does not live who could
provo a single case OF direct corruption
Doubtless there are frequent instances OF
favoritism which ought not be shown and
Endorsement OF schemes OF somewhat
doubtful utility or propriety, but this is
quito different matter from actual cor
ruption. Most OF the shady things that.
get through congress are due TO senatorial
courtesy and not to senatorial or congress
sional corruption. IL any fault can be found
with congress in this respect 1t lies
against the senate, which at times Is care
less IL the proper influences are set to
work. II certain coterie Of senator's
embracing men on both sides of the cham
ber, agree to a measure, Ii is pretty sure
to go through. To the credit OF the ap-
propriations committees of both houses IL
should be said that most of their members
have been long timo In public life, and
that they are as poor In purse now as when
they came here.
On this question Of honesty In congress
Twas recently talking with an old mem
Der, who now retires from harness. 'In
all tho years that / have been here" he
said, II was never but once approached
with an offer of a consideration for my
vote. In fact, except on this ono occasion,
no improper intimatlon was over made To
me, no suggestion, and l have never been
submitted to tests or scrutiny as TO whoth.
or or not i might DO willing to deal In
that way. So far as know, there Is no
special reason why should bo regarded
as moro honest and upright than my fell
lows, though Of course have always tried
60 deserve a good reputation, and this fact
conyinces me bribery or attempts at brib-
cry arc much more rare In congress than
most people think. Tho ono effort to buy
my voto was made in such a bungling
manner that it only made mo laugh. At
first could not believe tho man was in
earnest. llo seemed to DO joking. AS
soon as l discovered that he really meant
20 offer me money for my support of bis
bill i opened tho door Of my room and
gave him boost with my too rs ho passed
out. l afterward learned that he was q
tyro, n now fellow at tho business, who
had come down hero imagining every con
gresham had his price, and that 1t was
not very high price either"
Personal Gossip.
An interesting bit Of gossip hero is 60
tho effect thct Senator Cameron is an out
and out candidate for the presidency on
tho silver ticket. A great many politi