Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-02-20
a Senator's Duties.

slider and pass upon.
1t has often and truly been asserted
that the United States Is governed by
committees, and with the great mass
of legislation to be enacted by the Ma
tional legislature, 1t must always be
so, but the only important act passed
by the Senate during the present Con-
gress, the resolution providing for the
appointment Of the Venezuelan COM
mission, was distinctly legislation by
Congress, understood and approved by
every member of the Senate and House
rather than by a mere committee.
While the Importance of a Senator :
work is popularity guaged by the part
he takes in debates on the floor Of the
Senate, his real duties are chiefly per
formed in connection with committees.
The daily routine of a Senator IN
wolves attendance on committee meet
ings, usually called to meet at 10
o'clock in the morning, and lasting
until nearly noon, when they are ad-
iourned, and the members take their
seats in the Senate. Each committee
divides its work mongsub-commIttees,
consisting OF one or more Senators,
and reports OF facts bearing on the
particular bill under consideration, to-
gether with recommendations ioI ITS
disposition, are made at meetings Of
the full committee. Innearly all minor
matters these recommendations are ap-
proved by the committee, and in turn
by the Senate 1t is only in the con-
sideration of important political meas
ures that a general discussion is car
ried on, and even in such cases the
Subcommittee, being in accord with
the dominant party, usually has It's
work approved with little orno noomend-
meut. A subcommittee Is given a
bill to consider, Its report is approved
by a committee and solid vote ofthe
dominant party in the Senate is apt to
pass the measure.
Besides the work IN committee that
is looked for from a Senator he Is ex-
rected to be within the call Of the
electric bells announcing that vote Is
to be taken in the Senate, unless paired
with some one OF opposite political
faith. For the Senators whose COM
mittee rooms open on the corridors en-
cIcling the Senate chamber this re-
quirement is not attended by any great
inconvenience, but only small con-
tingeucy are so favored. Senators
who happen to be engaged IN commit
tee rooms in the Maltby Building and
in the terrace don't enjoy the tramp to
the Senate in order to answer to their
names when called. But even IN the
case Of a Senator who attends closely
on the business Of the Senate II is sell
dom necessary for him to spend more
than two hours at his desk. From Y
to . o'clock is what Is known as the
morning hour, and within that time
committee reports are received and
often acted on, and Senators frequently
ask to have their pet measures con-
sidered. At . o'clock "the regular
order" is demanded, and, as a rule,
that means that speeches are continued
on the measure before the Senate, and
unless the afternoon promises some-
thing of interest Senators retire TO their
committee rooms or 60 home.
Much Of a Senator'S time Is taken
up in attendance on callers. Nearly
every one who comes to Washington
on a sightseeing journey wants to
meet the Senators from his State, es-
pecially if the visitor is Of the zane
political party as the member Of the
Upper House. There is a standing
rule that Senators DO not receive cards
between II and 2 o'clock, and visitors
wait until the latter hour before an
nouucing their presence, and then are
invited into the marble room. Some
Of the popular Senators find that the
reception of visitors who merely call
to pay their respects Is an important
part Of their daily labor Usually II
doesn take much time to dispose OF
visitors, who are generally dismissed
after a brief interview, delighted with
the attention shown in their receiving
card admitting them to the private
oaIIsrv of the Senate.
Frequently the greatest part Of a
Senators work is done in the evening,
when the Senator and his private Sec
retary get together, and either dispose
Of the accumulated mail or prepare a
speech. It's fortunate Senator who
knows the value Of an efficient secre-
tary, aud Is able to find one, for they
are not abundant, and Is wise enough
| to intrust such one with respona-
. Il