The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02

payment from the government. His bill
was Endorsed by the postmaster The de-
partment refused payment because of the
neglect of the postmaster to promptly in
form it of the arrangement. Thereupon,
the claimant fell back upon congress. His
bill was reported and placed upon the cal
endar. The congressman from that dis
trict secured recognition, and asked for
unanimous consent for it's consideration,
but the great Director again interposed.
His words II object sent the bill hum
ming back to the calendar, and the claim
ant still remains unpaid. While he is suf-
ferinS for what is justly due him, the man
who aids the government in robbing him
is receiving the plaudits of the people; at
all events he thinks he is.
But the work of the objector is not con-
fined to requests for unanimous consent.
When bills are being considered under the
rule his power still remains. Friday nights
are usually devoted to pension bills. A
quorum of the House is rarely present.
The objector remains in his seat until a
bill is put to a vote. Then he calls for a
division. The division develops the alb
sence of quorum. ThereTpon the OBJ
jector triumphantly shouts no quorum -
and the House must either adjourn or
waste the time allotted to the session in
a futile effort to secure a quorum. Then
the objector pats himself with satisfaction.
ASStoSAbAJ
widow of a veteran. and has earned the
reputation of an economist.
Frequently the objector is moved by
personal pique. In the Fifty-first congress,
when the private calendar was being con-
sidered a bill was reached providing for
the payment of claims of certain union
men in the south. 1t sought damages for
property seized during the war. Many of
the claimants resided in Tennessee. Fac
fiOnc nnnOSitin To DIlniGh the
position a representative from Tennessee
blocked business on pension nights. His
words, mo quorum" uttered in a stento-
rian voice, prevented the passage of such
bills for seven weeks. Then he relented
a little, but for months afterward the prac-
tice 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 greatest of all DIRECTORS was Will
liam S. Holman of Indiana. 1t has been
said that he saved the country many
millions of dollars by his objections. Pos
sibly this is so, but at the same time the
objections were not always based on
sound premises. Many just bills were
buried under them. and honest hearts
made sore for years by the remOrseless
words II object" The habit grew upon
the gentleman from Indiana until just
bills were COMPOUNDED with unjust bills
and he seemed unable to distinguish be-
tween them. Samuel J. Randall was a far
more judicious objector Rarely indeed
did he question the propriety of consider,
ing any bill of a just nature. One of the
most persistent directors was Buck Kill
gore of Texas. Repeatedly did he, by his
objections, defeat a bill providing for the
erection of a monument in Brooklyn over
the bones of the victims of the British
prison ships At one time it would I'M
doubtedly have passed the House almost
unanimously were il not for his factious
opposition. He was so close an attendant
an dsuch an active objector that he SEEM
ed to hold the House in the small of his
hand. Members frequently went up to
him and besought him not to offer objec-
tons when their bills were reached. At
times in the excess of good nature, ne
gratifed them by Withdrawing from the
House when they were about to ask for
unanimous consent But usually he re-
manned stern and unyielding, saying that
he was governed by a sense of duty and
that he could show no favortism.
Another striking example was Lewis
Beach of New York. He objected to the
consideration Of bills by unanimous con-
sent with an JUNCTION that aroused al
most universal indignation. He was as
sincere i'm his work as was Cotton Ma
Their in the work of regeneration. but it
entailed many a hardship and gave rise
to a brood of DIRECTORS. They appeared
from every section of the union. A Cal
ifornia member would object to the con-
sideration of a bill called up by New
York member. A New England repre-
sentative would interpose an objection
to a request coming from the banks of
the Rio Grande. Puget sound seemed to
regard with jealousy Biscayne bay, and
the Kiskiminetas member took great de-
light in flooring the gentleman from the
Atchafalaya.
The new member is frequently used to
forward the schemes of the old objector.
The work is adroitly done. The old mem
her. aware of his unpopuarity among
The members of the House, at times APP
breaches the new member and suggests
the propriety of an objection He deity
flatters the vanity of the new member,
and not always in vain. Unless the ftedg-
ling is a close student of human nature,
ne is apt to be drawn into the vortex
and to begin his congressional career
as an INSTRUCTOR of legislation Some
seem to be infatuated with the new role.
and play il for years; others find an I'M
derstudv. who answers all purposes, AMI
is burdened with the responsibility; the
member of sterling worth. however, gains
wisdom by term of service and reaches
prominence in legislation by hard work
i'm committee and judicious discussion in
the House.
1t has been reported that the commit
tee on rules is to meet after the holidays,
and frame some improvements on the
code of procedure. This ought to prove
true. improvements are sorely needed,
and none more sorely that one that will
remove from the House of Representa-
tives that great national toad-stool known
as the objector. Amos Cummings.