The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02
DUTY OF THE DIRECTOR.
TO Bob UP AT EVERY OPPOBTUNI-
TyY LIKE A PARROT. -


An ObstcuctOr of LegisIatiOn-Amos
!. Cummings Describes What He
Forms the TOadstOOls of the House.
Grabbed old Directors Who Take
"a Fiendish Delight in Delaying
LEGISLATION Merely to show Their
power to Their COnstituents-New
Members.
Washington, Jan. 1.-Rich and nourish-
ting is the soil of legislation in Washing
ton Almost beyond belief are its produc-
+iva and reproductive qualities, but when
fertilizers are used they are absolutely
marvellous. Many choice and nutritious
n,ants spring to the surface, but among
Them are many worthless weeds. Among
the weeds small groups Of fungus growth
obtrude themselves. The most remarkable
of these fungi is the objector, alias the
Instructor of legislation. He is the toad
stool of the House, although he develops
far more rapidly than the toadstooi. Nor
do his foliations turn black and shrlVel'
they become hardened, and preserve their
color. lasting almost invariably TO the END
of the term. Like all fungus plants TINS
toedstool never terminates. 1t arises from
the spawn of parliamentary practice. the
general public takes these outgroWths Ior
mushrooms, and this mistake IS some
times fostered in the newspapers. They
are NOT mushrooms, but the genuine anna
nita DbaIoides There may be an occa-
sional mushroom among them' Dut II
quickly becomes impregnated with theH
poison and usually develops the same
deadly qualities. T..
all
the present House Of Representatives.
his presence was manifest in the extra
session. and he will undoubtedly increase
in size after the holiday recess. his pow
or has been increased by the Development
of the Reed rules These rules as they
etond to-day. make no provision for the
consideration of any bill involving any
annroDrjation, except the appropriation
bill themselves. They alone are privileges
and have the right OF way at an
times Bills that do not involve appropfla-
tions 90 upon the House calendar, ana
49, he considered in the morning hour
mon the call of committees. Similar Oils
involving appropriations however small
90 unon the union calendar and are never
reached under the rules, except by tle
specfal order of the committee on ruieS'
The only way in which they can pc
1rn,,obt before the House. aside from this,
Is nv the unanimous consent of the house.
provided the speakers recognition IoI
unanimous consent can be obtained Wheh
such recognition is given the opJectoI 10
in his glory The time for hlm 10 ols-
tfnouish himself has arrived. After hst-
4ning 10 the reading of the bill, he usual
Nv arises. as though governed by AN over
yybe,roinsr sense of duty, and says: MI
Sneaker I object" The speaker regaius
him fixedly for several seconds, ana tilel
SAYS. Objection is made.
This ends the matter The MEMBER VINO
had been recognized usually resumes ms
scar in disappointment. Occasionally,
however. his visits the obiector ana pleads
with him to withdraw his opposition put
usually in vain. At times he mas the te
merity to openly appeal to ms sense %
Justice The objector listens with an APP
parent desire to please, but finally INSISTS
upon his objection, and the Dill Is again
buried on the calendar
The Injustice OF this system OF legIsla-
ton is clearly apparent In one case d
merchant in New York pald uhuer 49,.
excessive duties levied by an appraiser
He appea!ed to the board of appraisers
Before thew had rendered a decision the
collector had turned the money INTO the
treasury 1t could not be returned 70 the
importer without an act OF congress a
bill providing for its return was hltro-
duced and promptly reported from me
committee on claims. 1t went upon the
calendar There is remained until the
speaker recognized a member VINO asked
unanimous consent for us cons4ueIdtloli'
The bill was read by the Clerk, but the IN
evitable objector was on hand. lie llsVeh-
ed 10 no explanations, and the session eN-
pired without action. six years elapsed
before the injured merchant received the
money Illegally eXacted, ana que MN
from the government. Even theh ne Was
OBLIGED TO take it without interest Mean
time the obiector reve,ed in the good will
Of the people as one of the watch-doSs OF
the treasury.
Another case in point In the construc-
ton of a postofice in a large city, quar-
ter of a century ago, contract Ior grass
thing was signed The contractor sublet
It, The sub-contractor found that the
framing for the thing was too light ana
that under the specifications II Would ell
danger the lives Of the government en-
ployes to use it. The federal oillcer IN
charge of the work tod him to make it
heavier and the government would pear
The increased expense. This was done
The original contractor received his pay
according to contract and turned over to
the sub-contractor what he had agreed to
pay him
When the latter however, applied TO
the treasury department for his extra pay
he was told there was no law for it. He
drew a bill specifying the amount due him.
and after years of weary waiting 1t passed
both houses. 1t was then vetoed by Presl-
dent Cleveland upon the ground that the
clearly ascertained by the treasury de-
partment before the passage of the bill
At the request of the sub-contractor the
President himself then drew a bill au-
thorizing the treasury department to as
certain the value of the work and settle
the matter More weary years of wait
ing ensued and The bill finally reached
the calendar in the last congress. After
being importuned for weeks, the speaker
at last consented to recognize repre-
sentative to ask unanimous consent for its
consideration. This was done. The bill
was read and the representative explain
ed it and called the attention of the House
TO its provisions. As he concluded the in
eNitabie objector again appeared. He had
been absent from the hall and had return
ed without hearing a word of the eXpla-
nation, but the remorseless words, IT
object" dropped from his lips and the
hopes of the applicant were dashed to the
ground for another series of years.
third instance In the blizzard, years
ago, the postmaster at Monticello. n. Y.
found himself in dilemma. The rules of
-FAfff afr.a hot