The age-herald., 1898-01-02

seven weeks. Then he relented little, but for months afterward the practice was periodically repeated The result was that in his absence one day hundreds of pension bills were rushed through the house with little or no consideration.
 The Great Objectors.
 The greatest of all objectors was Will lam 5. Holman, of Indiana. It has abeen said that he saved the country many mill- ions of dollars by his objections. Possibly this Is so, but at the same time the ob Jections were not always based on sound premises. Many just bills were buried un- der them, and honest hearts made sore for years by the remorseless words, "I object" The habit grew upon the gentleman from Indiana until just bills were confounded with unjust bills, and he seemed unable to distinguish between them. Samuel J. Ran dall was a far more judiclous objector. Rarely, indeed. did he question the propri- ety of considering any bill of a. just nature. One of the most persistent objectors was Buck Kilgore, of Texas. Repeatedly did he, by his objections, defeat bill providing for the erection of a monument in Brook 1yn the bones of the victims of the British prison ships. At one time it would undoubtedly have passed the house almost unanimously were it not for his factious opposition. He was so close attend ant and such an active objector that be seemed to hold the house in the small of his hand Members frequently went up to him and besought him not to offer ob- jections when their bills were reached. At times, in the excess of good nature, he gratifled them by withdrawing from the house when they were about to ask for unanimous consent. But usually he re- mained stern and unyielding, saying that he governed by a sense of duty and that he could show no favoritism.
 Another striking example was Lewis Beach. of New York. He objected to the consideration of bills by unanimous con- sent with an unction that aroused almost universal indignation. He was as sincere In his work as was Cotton Mather in the work of regeneration, but it entailed many hardship and gave rise to a brood of ob- jectors. They apepared from every section of the union. A California member would object to the consideration of a bill called up by a New York member. New Eng land representative would irtnrrocc o',- lection to request coming from the banks of the Rio Grande. Puget Sound seemed to reVard with jealousy Biscayne Ray, and the EIskiminetas member took great de- light in flooring the gentleman from the Atchafa1aya.
 Opportunities for Now Members.
 The new member is freuuently used to forward the schemes of the old obiector. The work is adroitly done. The old mem- Der, aware of his unpopularty among the members of the house. at times approaches the new member and suggests the propriety of an objection. He defty flatters the vanity of the new member and not always in vain. Unless the fedgling is a close stu dent of human nature. he is apt to be drawn into the vortex and to begin his congressional career as an obstructar of legislation. Some seem to be infatuated with the new role. and play it for years; others find an understudy, who answers all purposes, and is burdened with the res sponsibility; the member of sterling worth, however, gains wisdom by term of service and reaches prominence in legislation by hard work in committete and judicious discussion in the house.
 It has been reported that the committete on rules Is to meet after the holidayss and frame some improvements on the code of procedure. This ought to prove true. Im- provements are sorelv needed. and none more sorely than one that will remove from the house of representatives that great na- tional toadstool known as the obiector. <
 AMOS J. CUMMINGS z