The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-08
Halls Of Congress Deserted

W SOu0s CO. 0SOSuSS0
Washington. D. c., Dec. 30.-mme
diately on the adjournment CT Con
gress on Tuesday. the 23rd, until Jan
uary 18th, the President left fol
Pass Christian, Miss, to spend three
weeks, and nearly all of the repre-
sentatives and senators in Congress
east Of the Rocky Mountain States
have gone to their. homes, to remain
until Congress reconvencs.
The Idaho delegation will remain al
their post Of duty, and will, because
of the many important matters pend
ing in the departments be practically
as busy as when Congress is in SEES.
sion.
It is interesting to note that the
duties Of the representatives in Con.
eress vary according to location. In
tho newer states, the majority Of let.
ters received by senators and repre-
sentatives pertain to the public lands,
homesteads, and matters pertaining to
irrigation, power sites. Indian! affairs,
forest reserves, rights of way, etc.
The senators and representatives from
the older states receive no letters on
these subjects, as these questions
have long since been disposed Of. AS
a result, the delegations from the pub.
lie land states are required to do q
great deal more work and have less
time for the consideration of gen.
eral legislation than those from the
other sections of the country.
The record for punctual attendance
to their duties in Washington, on the
part Of some Of the delegations from
the older states, is far from credit
able. Many of the representatives
have been in attendance less than a
month during the last session of Con-
gress extending over a period of
seven months. Their correspondence
is attended to by their clerical force,
as only matters of minor Importance
require attention while the member
is absent.
The Eastern representative in Con-
gress, who Is not inclined to exert
himself and who does not take an
active interest in public questions,
can find plenty of leisure time and
take life easy, but all of the mem
bers from the Western states are
required to give their constant at
tention 10 business because Of the
immense correspondence which they
receive and the need of personal
attention to most of it.
Busy Session Anticipated
It is generally understood that,
Immediately after Congress convenes,
that the various committees Of Con-
gress win have weekly sessions and
legislative matters be given attention
in earnest.
ut is unfortunate" remarked Con-
gresham Smith. that the whole
summer should have been frittered
away as a result Of the determination
of the Democratic caucus to pass no
legislation excepting the tariff and
currency bills. 1t was feared by the
Democratic administration that, II
other legislation was taken up, pub.
lie attention would have been diverted
from these important measures, but
it does not appear that this is suffi-
cient reason for the committees of
Congress to refrain from meeting and
the determination to report no bills
to the House, excepting those first
passed upon by the Democratic eau.
Gus" AS a result of the do nothing
policy, business will be so congested
in the committees and in the House
that it will be impossible to secure
full consideration of hundreds of meri.
torious measures which are pending.
There are numerous bills pending
in the Committee on Lands which.
if enacted into law, would be of the
benefit to those desiring to
avail themselves of the various pub.
lie land laws, but as the appropria-
ton bills will, under the rules, have
the right of way, the opponents OF
these land measures can, by dilatory
tactics, prevent the consideration OF
these and many other important bills
which are pending.
To Pension Surviving Scouts
and Widows
Last week the Committee on Pen
sions held a hearing on the bill OF
Representative Burton L. French Of
Idaho, providing for pensioning tho
survivors of the Forsyth Scouts and
the widows Of the deceased members