The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-02-16
In the United States Senate.
Youths Companion. ]

1t is interesting to mark the appear
ance and peculiarities of each Senator.
There are, Just now, fewer. eccentric
Senators than usual. Not many years
ago, there was one member Senator
salisbury, of Delaware), who spent
most of the time walking back and
forth over a small beat" in the rear of
his seat. When General Sam Houston
(the hero of San Jacinto), was Senator
from Texas, he was almost always whit
Ting when in his seat. AT present there
is no Senator who is remarked as engag-
ing in any very odd occupation of his
body during the sessions.
1t is well to remember that, dull as
senatorial speeches often are, they are
not without their use. In the House, a
debate can be ended, after a delay Of
not more than an hour, by vote for
"the previous question:" the previous
question being, Shall the main ques-
ton be now putt In the Senate, there
is no way of stopping debate on any sub
ject. Every Senator may speak as long
as he wishes.
1t sometimes happens that the ma
jority of the Senate are anxious that a
certain matter shall be quickly disposed
of. Although they can not force the
minority to vote at once, and although
they can not stop the mouth of any Sen
ator, they can effect their object in an
other way. The Senator who is manag-
ing the measure, announces that he
shall ask the Senate TO remain in session
until it has voted upon it. That means
an all-night session, unless the Senators
choose to waive their privilege of speak
ing.
This is the time when the talents of
the long-winded Senator's who are OPP
posed to the measure come into play
Five speakers, talking two hours each,
can consume ten hours of time. 1t is
only tiresome for the speakers and the
poor reporters. Nobody need listen.
The Senators stretch out for nap on
the sofas in the chamber and the retir-
ing rooms. After each speech, a motion
is made to adjourn, and then there is a
rushing about to find and awaken the
sleeping statesmen.
The motion is voted on, the Senate re-
fuses to adjourn, and another prosy
orator rises to waste his eloquence on
the night air. This goes on until there
are no more speakers to be brought up
and at last, in the gray dawn, perhaps,
vote is taken.
Night sessions were once national
scandal. There have been times, even
recently, when Senators were to be seen
intoxicated on the floor Of the chamber.
Happily, the sight is rarely, if ever, seen
now.
But we have almost forgotten the
Senator who is making long speech
upon political resolution. His speech
finished, the Senator moves to lay the
resolution on the table. The Vice
President puts the motion, and declares
the resolution laid on the table. Moth
ing Of interest follows. A Senator rises
and moves that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of executive business"
The motion is carried, and everybody in
the galleries gets up and hurries to the
door. If any one were to lag behind,
an officer would come and politely notify
him that he must retire, as the Senate
is "going into executive session"
Executive business" is that which
the Senate does secretly. 1t is OF two
kinds, actions on nominations to Office
by the President, and on foreign trea-
ties. While such business is being done,
the Senate sits with closed doors. Only
Senators and an executive clerk are
allowed to be present. The doors are
locked, the galleries are emptied and
closed, and the approaches, even, are
guarded
| Though the visitor may not hear a
great debate in visiting the American
Senate, he will have looked upon one Of
the most grave and dignified legislative
bodies in the world. The British House
of Lords, the French Senate, and the
German Federal Council, are the only
assemblages with which it can be COM
pared, and of these, the last is the only
one that distinctly resembles it.
The House of Lords contains many
able men, and many, also, who are not
qualified to be good legislators. The
French Senate is larger body than our
House of Representatives, and is far
more excitable and noisy. The German
Federal Council lacks little beyond the
freedom of the American Senate to be-
come its equal
The country may be proud of the
Senate. 1t contains, no doubt, some
small men and unworthy men, but, on
the whole, it is body of statesmen
worthy to fill the place they have
ron obaJ both ~, obaro otar and ability