Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-29
Speech of Senator Gallinger.

Senator Gallinser said:
The first Congress of the United States,
when Rhode Island and North Carolina
had adopted the Constitution, consisted Of
twenty-six senators and siXty-five men,
bers Of the House Of Representatives. For
several decades after the formation of
the government it was possible and prac-
ticable, without the assistance Of COM
mittees, TO analyze and discuss all bills
in committee of the whole, and in that
way every member was fully informed
of their merits. Substantially all the
work performed by a senator or repre-
sentative was set forth in the official pub
LEGATION of Congress, and, through the
press. it was brought to the attention of
his constituents. The government was
pertinent, and interest largely centered
in its evolution.
with the growth of the country and
the corresponding increase in the size of
the details Of legislation have been grad
ually transferred from the floors of the
assemblies to the meeting places of COM
mittees, and the two branches of the ma
tional legislature have had TO depend more
and more on the investigations and re-
ports of committees for the information
necessary to determine their action. In
no part Of our proceedings is this more
marked than in the legislation for the
District of Columbia. Here we have
commission form Of government, with the
Congress of the United States perform
ing the functions of a state legislature.
I'm detail Congress makes all appropri-
atoms for the needs of a community of
approximately 10000 population, and in
detail Congress considers and passes upon
all measures looking to the comfort well
fare and happiness Of those people. II
the membership of the Senate were no
% in
be impossible for that body to give to
the wants of the District Of Columbia
greater or more careful attention than
they gave in the early days to the private
claim of the most humble citizen. The
labor, therefore. devolving upon the Dis
trict committees of the two houses of
Congress is SO vast and SO comprehensive
as to be appreciated only by those who
No Glory in Committee Work.
1.-THE committee work of Congress at
tracts no public attention. and is at
tended by no glory. Nowhere is public
service less spectacular, and nowhere
does the public servant show greater
fidelity to the interests of the country.
Answering the wants Of his constituents,
his work in their behalf has grateful &C.
acknowledgement. Initiating and advocat-
ing legislation, there is public knowledge
OF his work. Opposing policies inimic;ii
to the interests of the people. he is In
the glare OF the footlights. But for the
days and weeks that he spends in COM
mittee work. investigating and perfecting
bills, preparing reports that in concise
form will present to the Senate or House
the result of his inquiries, and informing
himself of every detail that he may be
properly equipped to debate the inca sures
in the body OF which his committee IL d
part. all too frequently his only reward
Is the consciousness that he mas done
his duty. OF the work done by the men...
bers of the District committees OF the
two houses that 10 especially true. for it
concerns the welfare of a people without