Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-16
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

| TIE SENATE's CONTINGENT FUND-We ap
prehend that the Senate's joint resolution con.
stituting their Secretary discussing officer
requires closer scrutiny in the House than may
seem necessary on q casual examin nation It's
third section seems to contemplate making il
legal for him to draw out of the Treasury and
to keep on hand, large sums, for which there
cannot lie the slightest necessity, in view Of
the fact that the Treasury Of the United
States, the only proper depository for public
money in this city, is at his very elbow The
same section also makes it mis- duty to pay out
money on the auditing Of the Senates Com
mttee on Accounts, proverbially the loosest
accounting officers tunder the Government of
the United States. The country would open
its eyes if it knew for what the Senate lad
spent money from their contingent fund of
late years, and in what sums We take it that
for the present fiscal year they will spend on
this nominal Senate's pay, mileage and print
ing account, full half u million of dollars ,
The House Committee on Accounts are as pro
verbally careful in the scrutiny to which they
subject all bills they audit as the Senate are
the contrary. 1t would be well for the House
at least to insist upon an amendment to this
joint resolution, requiring that every item in
every account paid out Of the Senate S contn-
gen: fund should be clearly and succinctly
stated and sworn to. And. further. that all
the particulars of all such payments shall be
annually spread before the country in such
form as that all may inspect them who will
For our part. we are sick of hearing the Sen
ate called the - conservative branch of Con
gress The term as applied to them is gross
misnoner. 1t seems to US, that for years past
there has been sort of Free Mason's arrange
ment among the Senators, having in view the
purpose OF by hook or by crook changing the
character of the Government Of the United
States, in so far rs may be necessary to insure
individual Senators seat in the body rs long
as they desire one, and to secure for them M
questioned privileges and immunities not con
templated to be accorded to them in the let
ter or spirit Of our Government The great
mistake Of the last Administration was its
habit OF doing everything only with the view
OF satisfying Senators personally, without re-
spect to party even. Mr.. Fillmore seemed
never to refuse any office to Il Senator itor IA
friend) Wing or Democrat, provided only that
a Senator asked it. They band, too, to fgh
the battles Of any Senator, SO as to make it
very sure that he who dares question the
course of one member Of the body, runs a risk
of reaping the resentment Of nearly all of
them by their system OF paying for elabOr-
ate reports in the Mteihgenc2r and Uuion
they have crowded out of those journals the
proceedings of the House. SO as to make the
latter body appear of most insignificant i'm
portance in Congressional affairs Their caus-
ms, brothers and friends. and-toadies in too
many inStanceS-fll Government offices to an
extent or which those at a distance have not
the slightest idea. Indeed. many well in
formed persons here are under the impression
that much Of the bogus indi gnation anon 2 the
Senators against the Administration, arises
wholly from the fact that the President does
not seem19isposed TO look on the Senate as the
Government of the United States or to do his
best to help them to build up their class as
an oligarchy in the country, whose mods and
blinks shall be all powerful in building up or
pulling down all public men in all the States,
as the latter may pin themselves to Senator
sleeve, or refuse so to do.
We advise the public to keep a look out for
manifestations OF Senatorial Indignation with |
out stint as the President may seem inclined
to regard the Senate in his business connec-
ten with them, in the light in which old Jack
son considered them; this being evidently
his determination up to this time. If thew !
continue for ten years longer to go on rs of late
usurping privileges, voting the public money |
loosely, more especially for themselves and |
straining and striving on all occasions to erect
themselves into an oligarchy, they will force
the people to shorten their term of office, |
make them elective by the popular vote, and
forbid them from holding secret sessions ex- |
sept when requested so to do by the Execu-
necessary reform, indeed.