The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-07-15

standards, Federal reorganization
and numerous other matters, in
preparation for Congressional action
once the proposal to reorganize the
Judiciary is out of the way, the lat
ter 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 vote in the
Senate may be near.
However, developments are COM
ing so rapid that the subject must
be left to the daily press and the
radio which are keeping the public
informed on the more significant
trends. This opens the way for time
ly mention of a subject of unusual
interest to those unfamiliar with the
daily movements of their members
of Congress. In other words, the
Senatorial Day.
The Senator's day begins at vary
ing hours. have seen members of
the Senate headed for their offices
as early as six in the morning. 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 number increases up to noon.
Some have appointments and others
await their turn. The majority are
hopeful of assistance in securing
jobs and all feel that their demands
can be met. To these daily inter-
views is added anywhere from one
to several hundred letters, post
cards, and circulars, the majority re-
quiring immediate attention. AS at
tention is given to visitors and mail,
telephone calls add to time required
Many people believe that the pur-
pose of Congress converting at noon
is to allow members to have the
morning free. Such is not the case
The average member of Congress is
on several committees. These COM
mittees meet during the morning
hours. It is the time when hearings
are held on important legislation
and when committee members con-
fer on reports to be made to their
respective bodies, Senate or House,
as the case may be. And the Con-
gress functions by committees, the
prestige of an Individual member
being largely based on his rank on
committees. The new member be-
gins, always, at the bottom on
committee list and moves upward
over period of years to the coveted
chairmanships.
Senators, and Representatives as
well, unless they have some import
ance or pressing appointment in
their offices, go direct from commit
tee rooms to the floor of the Senate
or House. All endeavor to be pres
ent for the roll call.
Shortly after twelve, COMPRESSION
al pages begin the daily trek from
reception rooms to the wells of the
Senate and House, with calls for
members. Constituents and even
strangers want time for interviews.
Unless the business on the floor is
of extreme importance, the inter-
views are granted. They result in
every conceivable request. Some are
merely friendly calls.
When free from duties in the COM
mittee room or on the floor of Of
flee, the member must make depart
mental calls. Advice is sought on
pending Federal appointments, con-
tracts of interest to the CongreSSion-
al members state, and perhaps some
particular phase of Government ac-
tivity in which the member is inter-
ested. And while attending to these
missions, the member must be in
constant communication with his
office with regard to kilograms and
telephone calls. Not the least of the
time-taking demands, is the necessi-
ty for short chats with numerous
persons encountered by member
of Congress when away from his
office.
Upon completion of the daily ses-
sion, then comes the time for read
ing and signing mail, answering tel
egrams, dictation to stenographers-
always interrupted by telephone
calls and sometimes running
into darkness.
Additional telephone calls and
kilograms come we'll into the night,
and start again early the following
morning 1t is all part of the Sena-
torial Day. It requires patience, en-
ergy and an understanding of peo-
pie. And the real friend of a Con-
gressional member is the person who
understands the press of the daily
routine and realizes the strain it i'm
poses on an Individual.
The time required for writing and
making speeches, as well as weigh