The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-08
inside OF
Ian MAKING
How Buncombe Is Used in
Congress Every Session.
BIG FELLOWS RUN THINGS
Decide on Certain Measures
and Kill Others.

Washington, March S-Public conven-
fence would be greatly served if the pro-
per authorities in Congress would use two
different kinds of paper in printing the
bills and resolutions which are introduced
in such numbers. One quality of paper
should indicate that the proposals print
ed thereon are declaratory of the intent
of 1.-The organization that they are the
measures which Congress accIally in
tends to pass, AMI so IN tpe fullest sense
mean business" All the others should
be printed in way that would indicate
the mass merely the expressions Of their
respective authors, presented in many
instances to please somebody on the out
side or in response to certain local in
terests, but with no expectation of sue
cess.
So vital is the distinction between these
two classes of bills that some new termi-
nology, at least, is necessary in public
discussion, if the Congressional situation
is to be clearly understood. The great
mass of the bills introduced in Congress
are wholly without relation to legisla-
ton; they are intended for influence at
home just as the speeches of the House,
inserted in the Record without being
delivered, are intended for Buncombe
County and not expected to change votes
in Congress And yet the public prints
are constantly overestimating the impor-
tance of the introduction of a BILL
Long discussions of what it aims to ac-
complish are presented to innocent
readers Unless a bill is one of the few
on which the organization forces nave
laid their consecrating hands, all ex-
plantations of what it aims to accomplish
is about as useless as some new mans
theory of punctuation.
1t is no discredit to member of either
house if his bills have steadily failed to
amount to anything. The introduction Of
bills is a personal matter upon which
each man uses his own judgement; one
member finds it better to introduce a
private pension bill for a very persistent
applicant in the district as an evidence
Of activity. although he knows that only
and that he will be asked TO designate the
particular ones. Other members, in pri-
vate pension legislation, prefer to intro
duce only as many bills as they are en-
titled to have put through, and so hold
a hundred per cent record for actual
accomplishment. This is merely a ques-
ton of taste. The same choice applies
in public building bills, river and harbor
items and other local improvements. AS
a rule the older members find that the
introduction of bills as merely an exhibit
of preliminary activity is unprofita BILE.
1t stimulates other applicants, and, be-
sides. leads the direct beneficiaries to ex-
pect more than they will ever realize,
In general legislation, all the bills in
troduced by inconspicuous members may
be set down as meaningless. The incon-
spicuous member does have the right TO
draft a few actual private pension bills
just as he may address packages of seeds,
or other favors whose existence is de-
creed by the real authorities. But if there
is to be a change in the tariff, or a piece
Of Trust legislation. or attacking of suf-
frage conditions in the south. or any of
the big things done. it is the small inner
circle. somewhat vaguely known as the
organization" which drafts the measures.
These quite as often originate outside Of
Congress. or owe their final form to out
side assistance as to the organization
leaders themselves. The Elkins bill. for
example. which was a part of the recent
" enacted Trust programme was real
thing. As soon as It appeared in the
stack of bills presented that day. every
body knew that il should stand apart
from the others because it was intended
for business 1t represented what the
organization had decided TO do in rail-
road legislation. It's phraseology had
been chosen under the advice and from
the experience of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Its terms were en-
tirely familiar to the great railroad man.
ayers Of the country long before the
formal introduction by Mr.. Elkins. It
might properly have been defined as that
part OF the legislative desires of the In
terstate Commerce Commission which
the most progressive railroad manage
ment of the country was willing to &C
cept. To have gone further would have
meant a fight with the railroad influences;
TO have stopped short Of the point Sc
lected would have left one form Of the
antitrust agitation still vigorously push
ing for position.
The Aldrich finance bill was another real
thing. In fact. Mr.. Aldrich seldom lends
his name 10 anything which does not
mean business This does not imply that
the bill is SURG to become law IN tie form
introduced. but rather that this was the
intention and expectation Of the organ
ization influences at the time It may he
Just what the organization" is The
rhrsse varies somewhat with with the
time and the measure IL is really the
group Of leaders who by common con
sent are expected 70 map out the lesis-
lation Of each particular kind which
shall be treated seriously. No one would
think that a proposal affecting the tariT
had any standing IN a period = Repub-
Ican control for instance, unless Mr
AIdrich stood hack Of it. or could al least
be induced TO make 10 opposition In
Philippine matters. Mr.. Lodge. the Chair
man Of the Philippine Committee. Is the
nucleus Of the organization" In foreign
interests the members q the majority q
the Foreign Relations Committee are
chiefly in control while on everything
tha, Is real there Is a pretty compile
fierstan,iing-whether Il IS their Spe-
ciaity or not-with such meE az Hanna
and Allison and Spo0ner and -Aidvich
Mr. Quay has lost whatever place hs
nav have held as an organization leader
1t IS not unusual IN matters % business
legislation for the interests directly con
cerned in the proposal u form sa o.
rsnizstion. and employ firm % lawyers
70 handle the case. hess attorneys draw
the bill. get the beSs raa1 tl,ty can 70
introduce IL. ard then b-i1g 90 hsa- 81
the pressure they are able 70 muster -
have il recognized by the organization.
and so enacted eventually into law.