Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-10-06

OO11l0 lille dSO S0V0Idl VI lily COZ
leagues, including a veteran of many,
many years service in the Senate
were discussing the new responsible
ties imposed upon senators, in face of
the fact that the constitutional duties
have remained unchanged. One rea-
son. of course, is the great expansion
Of Federal activities and the spread
Of these activities in the states. An
other is the direct election of sena-
tors, which has served to bring them
closer to their constituents than was
the case in earlier days when mem
bers of the Senate were elected by
legislatures.
Considerable interest was shown in
the discussion because of the popular
conception of senatorial duties as be-
ing almost entirely confined to law
making on the floor of the Senate.
Nothing is at greater variance with
the facts. 1t would be more nearly &C
curate to say that the time spent on
the floor occupies a comparatively
small part of a senator's time. The
more arduous duties are in connec-
ton with committee meetings, hand
ling mail, making departmental calls,
receiving visitors and seeking en-
ployment for constituents. 1t is all
these together that require greatest
amount of physical energy and time.
In addition, a senator must adjust
his schedule to have time to study
departmental reports, legislative pro-
posals and prepare a great variety Of
statements and speeches. And as peo-
MI +olyo int in,
government, as has been the case in
recent years, senatorial duties are in
creased through more correspondence
without any lessening OF other duties.
In writing Oh this subject. it is not
my intention to do other than indi-
rectly answer innumerable questions.
that have come to me from Nortn
Carolinians with reference to Senate
duties.
Unfortunately, few senators have
been able to devote the necessary time
to drafting Of a detail report on the
activities of their Offices If Eney
could do so, it would provide informa-
ton that would be, to say the least,
most surprising to those unfamiliar
with senatorial duties and certainly
most contrary to popular conception
of those duties.
Some years ago, Senator James w.
Wadsworth, Jr., of New York, now a
mem'cer! of the House of Representa-
tives kept a record for a period Of
one month. Although the period COW
cred was at time of normal Federal
activities, in the heyday of our
! national prosperity, and therefore can
be compared with present-day ac-
tivities in Washington, the facts dis
closed are Illuminating.
For example, in the monthly period
for which the record was kept, the
following was shown: Attendance at
fifteen committee meetings for a
| total of twenty-seven and half hours
| Twenty-Five departmental calls, an
| average of nearly one each day. A
total of 1041 visitors were received in
| the senator's office, an average OF
| about thirty-five daily. There were
1891 telephone calls, TIA incoming tele-
| grams and 81 kilograms outgoing
The facts with reference to cores
pondence were equally as interesting
In the month that Senator Wadsworth
| kept his record, there were 5571 in
coming letters and 3,423 dispatched
This means an average of 2O6 letters
received daily and 127 sent out 70
this must be added the fact that $50
documents were received for study
and 91O were sent out.
/ In quoting the data gathered ny
| former Senator Wladsworth, the pul
pose is to give a glimpse OF the Hiaa.-
fold duties imposed on a senator
office. 1t effectively answers the MANY
| questions that have come 10 iiie VIII
| reference to senatorial duties.
| There can be no doubt that II rec
ords were kept over period OF one
month in almost any Senate .ooay'
| the volume of work would De lar ~
excess of that shown in the Office OF
| Senator Wadsworth some years deo'
However in the absence of fresher IN
fornoa+ion that available is OF IN
There has been a particularly heavy
increase in visitors to Senate o1ilces
d,,r;ng recent years. This has beer
aartl,7 due to better Transportation
fao;l;ties at lower cost making II
,asier for people to come to WASH,
neton and partly due to expanded
,ederal activities making it necessary
For more people to visit their natlona!
capital.