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Show CONGRESSMEN SEEN AS HARD WORKERS Banker Tells of Labor Put in by Members of Congress on Mass of Technical Measures "OUTLINING legislative proce- dure, Robert V. Fleming, President Presi-dent Riga National Bank, Washington, Wash-ington, D. C. gave the recent convention con-vention ot the American Bankers Association a description of the difficulties diffi-culties and problems confronting the law-nrkers. Mr. Fleming said In part: "The most Important part ot organization or-ganization of the two branches of congress is election of staudlng committees. com-mittees. There are 34 standing committees com-mittees In the Senate and 46 in the House. Thesis are the workshops ot Congress and Hie real work of law-making law-making Is done In Committees. "The task of legislating for 124,-000,000 124,-000,000 people is a tremendous one. Of recent years approximately 20,-000 20,-000 bills are introduced annually in the two Houses. Only a small percentage per-centage become law, but they must be weighed in committee, adopted or rejected, perhaps amended, reported re-ported out. and then considered on the floor. "Lawmaking involves about 99 of hard aud unspectacular work and about 1 of oratory. Few tasks appear ap-pear so easy and are so difficult as enactment of sound and satisfactory legislation. Few individuals in any Hue of activity work harder or longer hours than the chairmen of the important committees during a session. I have great sympathy for the members of Congress whose constituents con-stituents expect undivided attention atten-tion to every piece of legislation in which they may bo interested. From my personal observation, they earnestly and conscientiously endeavor en-deavor to do all that Is possihle. Public Hearings "When a bill Is Introduced, referred re-ferred to committee and printed, tbe next step, if It Is a measure ot considerable importance, Is to conduct con-duct a public hearing The committee makes an effort to listen to anyone who cares to be beard either for or against a measure, although witnesses wit-nesses are frequently limited as to time. Members f the Cabinet and other officials of the administrative administra-tive departments of the Government usually testify on measures In which they are Interested and furnish the committee information In executive session or otherwise. "Due to pressure of work aud the fact that It Is Impossible for members mem-bers of Congress to be technical experts on every subject of legislation, legis-lation, the committees are Inclined to give consideration to tbe merits of arguments presented in testimony testi-mony apd the recommendations of the Cabinet and other officials. It is therefore highly, desirable, both from the standpoint of Congress as well as those affected by proposed legislation, that tbe latter have an opportunity to llscuss frankly tbe effects of such legislation." |