The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-18
Impressions of Congress Are
Given by Newest North
Dakota Member - Profess
sional Organizer Is De-
clared BY Him to be the
Worst Enemy of the
Farmer

AclaiC 10 lpouv lhS N'uiliS
in Washington as in North Dakota
but the climate isn't half so good
Congressman Thomas Hall, who
has returned here from his first
session in Congress, said today.
Mr.. Hall returned few days ago,
the House of Representatives hav-
ing adjourned, and probably will
remain here all summer. He has
been confined fairly close to his
home for few days with a bad
cold.
The first session of Congress
was very enjoyable. but it wasn't
all fun-there's plenty of work for
Congressman to do, and he does
not observe any short office hours
Mr.. Hall remarked.
II never suffered so much from
the cold as l did three weeks in
Washington during the winter sea
son." Mr.. Hall said.
"But the sun shonc, didn't it ~
he was asked.
"Never saw the sun for three
weeks" he replied quickly.
Mr.. Hall found a lot Of things to
surprise him in Congress. Men,
bers of Congress- are as rule, old
err men than he expected to find
the average being above SO, he
said.
The newest North Dakota Con-
gresham is feeling his way, too
He didn't make any speeches at the
first session he attended, from last
December l until March 4. But by
virtue of having served out the
unexpired term of Congressman
George M. Young he will enter
Congress at the next session az a
second-term Congressman and will
not have to run the risk Of being
haZed.
An Average Day
The average day Of a Congress
man during the session in Wash
ington was told by Mr.. Hall.
The first mail arrives about 8 a
M. and there is plenty of mail fol
"a Congressman.
"The subjects range all the way
from letters on how to raise mint
and what price it is to the loca-
ton Of missing soldiers. Locating
missing soldiers is quite task fol-
a Congressman's office force, many
inquiries being received, he said.
After half hour is spent ir
glancing through mail, it is $3.50 a
m. and Congressman begins die.
Eating. He may keep this up tt
1880 a. IN. or he may go to some
departments to get information, O,
be engaged on other business.
Then he goes on the floor of Con.
gress at noon-the daily time OF
convening-and probably will be
there until 5 or 6 o'clock in the
evening. Sometimes there are
night sessions.
He may go back to his office tc
sign letters he dictated in the
morning, or may have to postpone
that until next morning.
There are Congressman who
were not three blocks away from
the capitol all winter" Mr.. Hal
said. "They lived at the Congress
Hotel, and most of their time was
spent in their office or the capitol
1t was almost like prison"
Workers Go Ahead
But it is the workers who get
ahead in Congress-, he said. There
are all kinds, but Congress needs
workers and they are the ones who
exercise the power, he said.
Washington, he said, was an ex-
pensive place to live. Shoes are
about the only thing cheaper than
in North Dakota, he said.
Turning to legislation, Mr.. Hall
said that most of the talk in the
recent session was concerning farm
legislation. There was an cage,
desire on the part of Washington
officials to legislate in behalf OF
the farmer he said, and declared
that the farmers worst enemy was
the professional lobbyist-repre
senting some farm organization
Among these he classes Aaron Sa
piro, the California cooperative or.
ganizer, who, he said, had made 8
million dollars organizing farmers
j. w. Brinton, formerly a storm
center in North Dakota politics
was in Washington lobbying fol-
some organization, he said.
One Disappointment
Mr.. Hall said that passage o.
the Dickinson amendment to the
cooperative marketing bill was {
disappointment. The amendment
removed the requirement that CO.
operative organizations must make
reports on their financial condition
to the government. The farmers
are left to the mercy of organic
ers, Mr.. Hall said. He added tina,
the measure had not passed tn.
Senate.
The Northwestern delegation.
tried to get some action on thu
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence water.
ways subject but could not because
Of other bills ahead, he said, but
predicted that it would be one o.
the big subjects o. Congress in thu
next session.
Congressman Burtness Of th,
First North Dakota district VII
return to North Dakots soon an;
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