Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-07-14


Although there has been no let-up
in committee consideration of new
farm legislation, labor standards,
Federal reorganization and numerous
other matters, in preparation for con-
greSsiOnal action once the proposal to
reorganize the judiciary is out of the
way, the latter measure is now the
highlight of widespread interest. AS
this is being written, opponents Of
court changes are presenting their
case BY the time this is published q
vote in the Senate may be near.
However, developments are coming
so rapid that the subject must be
left to the daily press and the radio
which are keeping the public inform
ed on the more significant trends.
This opens the way for timely men
ton of subject of unusual interest
to those unfamiliar with the daily
movements of their members of Con-
gress In other words, the senatorial
day.
The senator's day begins at vary
ing hours. I have seen members of the
Senate headed for their offices as ear
ly as six in the morning. l have had
visitors knocking on my own door as
early as seven. But by nine o'clock
from ten to twenty people are usually
awaiting interviews, and the num-
ter increase up to noon. Some have
appointments and others await their
turn. The majority are hopeful of as
sistance in securing jobs and all feel
that their demands can be met. To
these daily interviews is added any
where from one to several hundred
letters, post cards, and circulars, the
majority requiring immediate atten-
ton. AS attention is given to visitors
and mail, telephone calls add to time
:'eQuired.
Many people believe that the pur-
pose of Congress converting at noon
is to allow members to have the morn
ing free. Such is not the case. The av-
erage member of Congress is on sew
eral COMMITTEES These committees
meet during the morning hours. It is
the time when hearings are held on
important legislation and when COM
mittee members confer on reports to
be made to their respective bodies,
Senate, or House, as the case may be.
And the Congress functions by com
mittees, the prestige of an individual
member being largely based on his
rank on committees. The new member
begins, always, at the bottom on a
committee list and moves upward
over a period of years to the coveted
chairmanships.
Senators, and representatives as
we'll, unless they have some impOr-
tant or pressing appointment in their
offices, go direct from committee
rooms to the floor of the Senate or
House. All endeavors to lie present
for the roll call.
Shortly after twelve, congressional
pages begin the daily trek from re-
ccption rooms to the wells of the Sen
ate and House, with calls for mem
bers. Constituents and even strang-
ers want time for interviews. Unless
the business on the floor is of ex-
treme Importance, the interviews are
granted. They result in every con-
ceivable request. Some are merely
friendly calls.
When free from duties in the COM
mittee room or on the floor of office,
the member must make departmental
calls. Advice is sought on pending
Federal appointments, contracts of
interest to the congressional mem
ber's state, and perhaps some parti-
cular phase of government activity
in which the member is interested.
And while attending to these Missions
the member must be in constant COM
municatiOn with his office with re-
gard to kilograms and telephone calls
Not the least of the time-taking de-
mands, is the necessity for short
chats with numerous persons encOun-
tered by a member of Congress when
away from his office.
Upon completion of the daily SEES
sion, then comes the time for read
ing and signing mail, answering tele-
always interrupted by telephone calls
and visits-sometimes running into
darkness.
Additional telephone calls and tele-
grams come well into the night, and
start again early the following morn
ing 1t is all part of the senatorial
day. 1t requires patience, energy and
an understanding of people. And the
real friend of congressional mem
Der is the person who understands
| the press of the daily routine and
realize the strain it imposes on an
| individual.
The time required for writing and
making speeches, as we'll as weighing
| the Importance of various invitation
to speak, is another chapter