The Washington herald., 1910-05-15

At One Time Junketing Was Restricted to Sena-
tors, but Not So N0w.
By w. ID. BYNUM.

]
During Mr. Tyler's administration. in
lS4l, the House Of Representatives. by
an overwhelming vote, defeated reso-
luton for the appointment Of a special
I committee. 10 sit during the vacation.
and gather information for the use Of
the House, in contemplated revision Of
/ the tariff, at the ensuing session.
/ Mr.. Benton, in his Thirty Years in the
Senate. tells us that the resolution was
defeated for two reasons: First. that no
warrant could be found lin the Consti-
tuition for empowering committees to
perform the function OF members and
enjoy the immunities given 20 them
while going from and returning home
and while in attendance at sessions OF
! Congress. and, second, because Of the
abuses 10 which such a precedent would
be likely 20 lead. In commenting on this
subject, he said:
The danger Of degeneratng into fac
ton and favoritism WAS seen 10 be i'm
minent Committees might be appointed
at short sessions to perambulate the
Union for nine months in the year-spend-
ing their time idly or engaged in political
objects-draWing the pay and mileage OF
members Of Congress all the time with
indefinite allowances for contingencies.
II one committee might be appointed.
then as many others as the House chose;
II by one House then by both; # 10 per-
ambulate the United States. then all
Europe-constituting a mode OF making
the tour Of Europe at the public ex-
pense"
Fear Of Abuse.
In that day, the mere specter OF the
abuse 10 which a precedent might lead
was sufficient 70 cause the Overwhelming
defeat Of a resolution Of great importance.
as, at that time I'm our history. statistical
information was very meager on the sub
jet. But what a change has since
taken place in the moral sensIbilities Of
Representatives. and how listless senti-
ment has become 10 the proAigate prac-
uces of our national legislators.
As Mr. Benton says, the danger was,
that II one committee should be appoint
ed. then as many others as the House
might choose-f to perambuIate the
United States-theu 10 tour Europe. In
time, however, committees were appoint
TO sit during vacations and 20 make IN
yestsat.ons which seemed 10 require
them 10 visit different sections of the
country, and step by step the abuse has
grown, until we witness the fuIhUment
Of the prophecy Of Mr. Benton, upon a
scale entirely beyond the scope Of his
imagination. The most 7rofisate and
@
have been and are now being planned. in
the face OF the most shameful results 10
which the practice has led
SO gross has this abuse become that
committees have been appointed to lnves-
ugate expenditures % appropriations for
which they We're responsible. Other com
mittees have been devised. ostenslbIy for
the purpose Of reforming the methods OF
accounting in the departments or. for
accomplishment Of some other result. /
but in reality 10 allow the members TO /
sojourn az the capital or some other de- |
s.rable resort during the vacation period. I
at the expense Of the government. An I
Investigation of the vouchers Of the ex- !
penditures of many Of these committees
would reveal the fact that some Of the F.
members spent most OF the vacation al I
the most fashionable obstetrics I'm Wash /
ington or New York. and that their /
board was paid out Of the Federal Treas (
ury.
JunketS for Senator's Only.
The Senate alone used 10 enjoy the |
luxury Of travelling over the country. Z
making occasional stops at interesting I
points; as members of the House. having ,
20 stand for reelection every two years. /
were afraid 10 engage i'm these juuket- /
ing tours; but as they became more nu- /
merous and extensive, and no protest !
was made by the people. the Members /
of the House began 20 look with dis /
favor upon appropriation for the exclu- /
siye pleasure OF Senators, and 20 keep
peace I'm the family the plan was de-
vised of making all these committees .
and commissions joint affairs. and now
not single objection is raised in either
House TO the most useless and extrava-
giant appropriation.
The climax seems 10 have been reac hed
In the prohiEacy of the special commit
tee, appointed some years ago. 10 inves-
igate the subject of immigration. What
particular phase Of this question was 20
be investigated was not disclosed We
had had. for many years a bureau of
with a commissioner with a
good salary at It's head. and with innu-
ncrable agents and inspectors constant
y travelling over the country and over
Europe, and what information a spe-
al /
# Congress could obtain that the Off
'ials of this bureau had not been able
o gather could not be surmised.
Made IL Pleasure Trip.
Congress adjourned early IN the sum-
ner, after the appointment of this COM
nittec. and its members were at once
assembled at the Capitol to plan the
cope Of their work. subcommittee .
we're appointed and tour of Europe so ,
arranged that the work of each would g
'e performed at the most interesting
'laces, during the most delightful sea ,
ons then we began TO realize the ardu- g
us labors that were TO be performed
" the members Of this important body. ,
When they selected an influential mem i
er Of the press. at a salary Of $500 ?
er annum. as clerk. We became more D
eeply interested, and when they return
d, after spending the vacation in France, r
tally, Switzerland, and Germany, and p
ented spacious building at the CAPT y
al. and employed a large force to aid p
hem, we began 10 wonder at the masni- ?
ude of their undertaking. but when IL
fas recently disclosed that they had ex- p
ended SGS5.CCO and needed $4,000 more L. 7
omplete their task. We could only gasp. I
We confess that. with our limited in =