The daily star-mirror., 1923-11-05
A CONGRESSMAN'S
VACATION DAYS
BURTON L. FRENCH TELLS OF
DEMANDS ON TINE DURING
RECESS OF CONGRESS-

among their closest friends. During
the summer the congressman made
many trips to communities through
out the northern part Of the state,
to deliver addresses and attend con-
ferences, but these trips were
short and for the most part he was
to be found at his office at the rear of
the First National bank, or at his
home While the summer has been a
busy one, it has nevertheless been en-
joTed, as change from the inces-
SAINT round of duties which confronts
a congressman during the congress
sional sessions. 1t might be recalled,
too, that congress, until the end of
the last session, had been in session
almost continuously for a number of
years, or since the beginning of the
war.
A Star-Mirror representative, no.
ticing that Congressman French was
about as busy as the ordinary busi-
ness man during the months when
he was supposed to be enjoying va
cation, was curious enough to ask the
congressman, on the eve of his de-
parture for Washington, just how
member of congress spends his va
cation. Mr.. French's answer made
us doubt whether a vacation really is
a vacation, when it relates to a con-
gressman who is inclined to the feel
ing that he owes his services to his
constituency.
"It would take a catalogue to con-
tain the answer to that question" Mr..
French said, though possibly brief
outline will suggest some of the act
ivities of member of CONGRESS- when
the CONGRESS is not in session.
Committee Duties Many
1.-THE immediate activities of any
member of congress depend largely
upon his committee assignments. AS
a member of the committee on ap-
preparations, and the two sub-com-
mittees on naval affairs and the in
terror department, naturally I have
given rather intensive study to every
thing that will come before these two
committees. l have visited and made
a personal examination of a large
part of the naval establishments and
bases, have inspected personally most |
of the proposed projects that will |
come before the congress during the |
next several years and likewise have
personally investigated many of the
interior department projects such as
reclamation matters, Indian schools, |
hospitals, agencies, the Alaska rail
road etc.
81 read in the paper the other day |
that over in the state of Washington
in highway district some $4,000 |
had been expended on the highway
that had never been approved or au-
thorized. Thank heavens, this was
not under the federal government, but
it illustrates what can happen if Of
ficials do not give the closest atten-
ton to the work with which they are
charged.
$50 then, members of the appro-
priations committee have welcomed
his long recess of congress for the
purpose of making Investigations they
ire largely responsible for.
Learn of Home Needs
"There is another type of work
hat has drawn heavily upon me, as
doubtless it has upon other members
If congress. During the last six or
eight years, the congress has been in
almost constant session. With the
'ecess of congress, the members nat
lrally desire to come into contact
With the people at home and learn at
irst hand the needs Of the commun-
ties that they represent. Again,
themselves desire to give
heir members of congress the sonce
ver'. In this connection, ! have
made something like forty addresses
md talks since last March in an
ndeavor to respond to the calls upon +.
no The groups to which I have
pokon rerresent all sorts of organ
religions, fraternal. political,
conomic.-such as producers of farm
and business organ'za-
ions. and. as well. groups in schools
nd universities, picnics and celebra-
ions.
Constant Study Necessary
"The third interest that draws
eavily upon the time of member of
ongress during his vacation is the
ecessity for constant student work !
lat is essential if the member of,
JuSIeSS 1S W uO JuStlCG W illDlS0ll VI
, his district or the country When
le legislative mills begin to grind II,
uring the regular session sometimes
everal important bills will be passed !
ithin a week or maybe within day.
would be physically impossible for
members of congress to study and
)me to satisfactory conclusion on /
lie measures that will be considered
he deferred examination of the
lestions until the assembling of the
,ngress. s
"This being the case, the member t
congress must utilize the recess t
,riod of the congress for student E
ork upon the matters that will be of h
e greatest Importance when the tt
shall convene.
Probably I should say that the Of b
&c routine is much less during the 81
cess than it is during the session s.
the congress and only this consid- n
alton makes it possible fora mern-' II
r to give attention to the three di- m