New-York tribune., 1900-03-05
HE HAS HIS TROUBLES
ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NFW.yopr
ASSEMBLYMAN
WHAT HE HAS TO DO AND HOW HE r>or,,
IT-DIFFICULTY OF AVOIDING; A VOTE
OVER WHICH HIS CONSTITUENTS
WILL FIND FAULT ,7-

OVER WHICH HIS CONSTITUENTS
WILL FIND FAULT. ~
This is "a story showing the trial. nm.
tribulatfOns which beset ambitious and ~
triotic gentlemen who go to Albany far ~
purpose of making laws u.s. liz was WIT,
ten by an AssembIyman whose name q,
known all over the State. and given IN
hts own language. without correction or
change.
Albany, March ) (SpeciaD.-He was memsa-
from small city. and he knew full wen tha,
the work of an AssembIyman is less well under.
stood than it ought to be- Few people ba
knew. had any idea what an AssembIynnan has
to do, or how much time he has for work There
fore the member thought it might be well 10
write down few of his pleasures and ssme Of
his woes on busy and troublesome day in the
Assembly. and here they are:
The Member reaches the Capitol at about 10
o'clock Lawrence. the devoted factotum of the
Assembly informs him. with quizzicaI look.
Forty more since yesterday Mr. NJ and more
coming" The Member looks at the ever grow
ing white pile on his desk. sighs or perhaps does
worse for there are over eighteen hundred Sem
ate and Assembly bills the files. The very
thought Of reading them appals him. The
Member glances at few of the newer bills and
then turns to his mall Here are dozen or
twenty letters-this wants copy of a bill
which he hears amends the railroad law on
some minor point; he is not who introduced
it, when, or where it is. That correspondent
wants a pass-oh. yes, the constitutional pro-
hibition has deterrent effects on the con-
sttuent. Again, some energetic lady wants to
know if the Honorable Mr.. Member will intro
duce bill to regulate bicycles in the village OF .
Y. She has twice been knocked down while
talking with the grocer or the postmaster.
Again comes long letter from some political
club. protesting against the Members recon-
mending John Jones to the Governor for a
place John Jones, be it remembered not hav-
ing any more chance of being appointed than
of growing six inches taller over night. While
reading a communication from a client on a
really interesting question. gentleman seats
himself in an adjoining chair and stays there
with that uncomfortable look which persistent
lobbyists have-for all these sirnpe but energetic
men and women who importune Legislators are
really lobbyists. they not? although the
Member does not call them such And just as
the Member is ready TO give attention TO this
gentleman. of the legislators greatest aids
or enemies as the case may be-a newspaper
man-Ieans over his desk and announces that
he is taking poll of the Legislature on some
BILL on which the Member. of course either has
as yet no views. or none he cares to express.
The Member during all this time has vaguely
heard call that IAN persons not having the
privilege of the floor =. followed by a rap
and a cry OF Hats off, a bang OF the Speakers
gavel. and back go the Members thoughts TO his
school days; for 1t is exactly like school, TO be
called to order and to be made to sit still while
a prayer is being made.
A JUMP INTO BUSINESS.
II can hardly be called dignifed, the sudden
transition from the solemn words to the shor.
announcement by the Speaker That the clerk
will read the minutes OF yesterdays proceed
ings" followed by muTmur from the clerks
desk and a statement by the Speaker That ths
gentleman from moves that the further
reading of the minutes be dispensed with" Tbs
motion is promptly declared carried by the
Speaker, and he Immediately announces with
certain monotonous drawl. First reading of a.
bin'
IL is difficult not TO admire the Speaker, for
the quiet minute during the prayer is suddenly
transformed into what TO an outsider seems dire
confusion, and indeed it is often confusion The
first reading OF bills is completed, messages
from the Senate are read and the calendar OF
the day is then called up All this time the
Speaker is recognizing first this member. then
that; putting motions. ruling on points OF or
der being worried by this or that member or
Senator. who goes up TO speak to him. and at the
same time announcing over and over again,
Third reading OF a BILL The clerk begins.
BY Mr.. --. an Act -- Geading the utle)'
Section -- This act shall take effect -"
the Speaker. as it were. responding, The clerk
will call the roll on final passage" Away goes
the rollcaI. $50 names in as many or fewer
seconds
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE
Meantime the Member sees bill on the caien-
dar he really knows nothing Of but it is intro
duced by Mr.. A, OF . He knows Mr. A,
likes him, trusts him: the bill has been before
committee of which A. is a member. A. has ex-
planned the committee in executive session
that the bill Is all right simple proposition. In
volving the expenditure OF small amount OF
money. and repeats this 10 the Member, who
sits near him. The bill is read. few violent de-
nunciations made of ii by the usual OBJ
jectors on the other side of the House. no facts
being given to substantiate them and the Mem
ber with ninety-odd others. votes Aye" The
next day he reads in great headlines in the pa
pers: Greatest Steal of the Session. The y
Y. z. Franchise Given Away Doodle Behind
the Bill" And the Member says to hiulsel II
1 can't trust A. whom can trust? had no lfea
the bill was a bad How am / going 10
know the truth of all the bills. anyhow And.
seriously how can he?
Out of sheer good nature he introduces n BIN
to please a constituent. and it is hardly in tina
bill box when he wishes II were not there under
his name. The Member is assailed with letters
OF complaint. and he thinks his reputation gons
forever. He tries to excuse himself. bat he
knows he has no excuse. and concludes TO let
the measure die in committee
ANTAGoNIZES HIS SENATOR
But as the session goes on Mr.. o.. OF the
- paper comes to the Member and says.
Senator B. has just had bill sent over here.