The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-07-10
CONcRESSMEN WOULD
STAY IN WASHINGTON
Could Clean Up Work, but Pre-.
fer to Duck" Campaign
Expenses

WASHINGTON, July with the
national conventions out of the way
and congress once more settled down
TO work, the question of adjournment
is being frequently discussed. While
a general feeling prevails that adj
journment is not far away, it must be
admitted this is caused more by a de-
isire on the part of many members to
get away than by actual conditions
confronting congress.
At the senate end of the Capt. d
there is an undoubted desire for early
adjournment among majority, in
duced by q desire to get away from
the excessive midsummer Washins ton
heat, as well as By the need for look
ing after things political at home. But
the senate is confronted with an i'm
mense amount of work. Several Of the
big supply bills have yet to be con-
|sidereed and disposed Of, among them
being eth postogice. naval, sundry civ
IL, Indian and general deficiency meas
ures, In addition, the Army and leg
islative bills, vetoed by the president,
sremain to be reconsideered. With va
rious senators insisting on vote on
numerous tariff schedules, the Lori
ner case and other matters, and the
prospect of a lengthy dispute with the
house over the attempt Of the lower
body to attach new legislation to the
various appropriation bills, the senate
would seem to have a programme at
least two months long. However, this
body has disposed of longer pro-
gromme in much less time, and could
undoubtedly do it again.
On the house side there is less anx-
|iety about early adjournment except
in individual cases. The average house
member realizes that as soon as con-
gress adjourns he must return to his
constituency and open his campaign
for reelection. This means a daily
expense of from $40 to $5o--saved to
him as long as he can remain in
Washington. Once at home he must
travel over his district. attending old
settlers picnics, church fairs and, 9TH
er public meetings, to, say nothing OF
the constituent who wants to borrow
ten or twenty" yhI. Ai
TT is worth at least $40 a day tc
me to stay in Washington, until the
first. of September said a Western
house member, because as soon. as
get home | must begin my campa On
Two months Is long enough for3that
and I have a big district to- cover
too"
The average congressman can con-
duct his campaign at long range, fol
the next two months, even better thar
he could at home. Here in Wash.
ington he can reach every constituent
through a speech in the Record, and
have it handled under his frank at a
fraction of the expense the work
would entail at home. Here he has
the advantage Of a trained office force
and proximity to the departments and
important files, impossible to reach al
home.
The house has really very little be-
ifore 1t that must be done. Unles:
it chooses to make a fight ON the
senate's objection to the house prac
tice Of attaching new legislation tc
appropriation bills, the house fcould
easily clear its decks in three weeks
at the most. But the chances are q
majority will be- willing to prolone
Gthe session in order to make pslitical
speeches for home consumptiom and
to avoid the expensive personal iyon-
tact with a constituency any louger
than conditions seem to make neces
sary. 9A e4A FI1n