the best laws and some of the worst are enacted through the
influence of the lobbyist. _Log-rolling_ is an important influence
in determining legislation; a member votes for the pet measure of
his fellow Congressman on condition that the latter will vote for
the bill in which he is particularly interested. Political
_patronage_ is a great factor in determining votes in Congress; the
power of members to recommend appointments, and the influences
exerted in their favor by the appointees, often determine the
question of their continuance in office. Consequently, there is a
great temptation to use patronage in exchange for votes. The use of
money directly in _bribery_ is difficult of detection, but other
favors and privileges of money value are no less effective in the
purchase of the votes of those members who are so unscrupulous as
to be open to such influences.


Debate in Congress.--It is now apparent that many other things
besides the arguments used in debate determine which bills shall pass
and which shall fail. In the House the time for debate is strictly
limited, on account of the amount of business. The chairman of the
committee reporting a bill generally has one hour in which to urge the
passage of his measure; for a portion of the time he may _yield the
floor_ to other members, both friends and opponents of the bill. Of
course, much more than one hour is given to debate on important bills.
Many of the speeches which are printed in the _Congressional Record_
have not been delivered; but they are intended for circulation among the
constituents of representatives, and for use as campaign documents. Many
of the speeches that are actually delivered receive scant attention; the
lack of interest in them is made evident by the noise and confusion
that very often prevail during sessions of the House.