Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-20
THE WAYS OF THE SENATE.
Dignities and COurtesies of that
Body


The United States Senate represents the con-
servattsm and the dignity OF the American pee
pie, and to be a member OF that body is an honor
second only to that OF being President OF the
United States. The Senate is frequently criti-
cised by fippant writers because OF its "heavy
dignity" but Instead OF being subject of crit
cism this feature ought to be-and is with think
ing peOp'e-ODe OF congraGdlatiOn. The Senate
is the permanent legislative body Of our govern
sway there that it exercises in the House. There
exists what Is known as the courtesy OF the
always strictly observed. This courtesy is
largely non-partisan in its nature and no Sea-.
tor would think Of violating ii. In regard to
I nominatiors 1t requires that the Senator'S from
shall be consulted upon the question OF coatir-
nation or rejection and their decision in all
ordinary cases determines the result. When the
administration-tfe appointing power-fS Op-
posed in politics to the majority, as now. the
custom is to submit the matter to the Senator or
Senators, If there are any, from the state affected
by the appointment This courtesy governs the
PROMOTIONS ON COMMITTEES,
too, and no Senator would ever think Of pre-
scribing any other rule in this respect. When
Senator is assigned to a committee his name
is enrolled at the foot Of the majority or minor
tty-accordfng to his pOlttfcs-and as those
above him retire he goes up For instance, when
TIE democrats got control OF the Senate it was
would become chatrmen OF the respective COM
mtttees. The highest name among the demo-
Gratis on each committee was promoted to the
chatrnarShip in all casSs except those where
the same Senator occupied that position on
more than one committee. This courtesy"
contributes largely to the well-ordered dignity
which the Senate maintains because it prevents
any scramble for preferment-and nothing Is
more undignifed in statesman than that.
RIGHTS ALLOWED THE MINORITY
Again, in the Senate, the minority are always
allowed three committee chairmanShips, with
the same privileges that attach to the majority
Each chairman Of the minority has the right to
appoint his own clerk and messenger, and these
minority. Then in the distribution Of patronage
the minority are always allowed share. The
dignity of the Senate always contributes to the
ba 81 9der IN that POO BODY There
permitted in the House. The courtesy" is
observed in all the relations between the Sen
ators There is never any clamoring for recog-
milton, as in the House. There is, in fact, never
any competition between Senators for the right
to the focr. On the contrary, willingness to
yield to another is always observed, and foreign
ministers and diplomats, after noting the deco
rum that marks the U. S. Senate, have invari-
ably pronounced it the most dignified and
courteous legislative body in the world. But few
alterations or scenes Of violence have ever
occurred in the Senate or on the floor Of that
chamber.
THE ASSAULT UPON SUMNER.
One Of the most notable was the attack of
Brooks, Of South Carolina, upon Senator Sum-
ner, and in this case the assaulting party be-
longed to the other House. While speaking of
error In regard to 1T that has been generally cir
culated. 1t was stated some time ago, and he
paragraph was published throughout the
G9aay that at Judge orr Of had
his assault upon Mr.. Sumner; that he had OBJ
tanned It from ex-senator Orr, of South Caro-
lima, who got it from Brooks himself, and the
cane was described as being OF hickcry with
heavy silver head. Captain EasSett, the vener-
able dooikeeper OF the Senate, says the cane
nged was made Of gp percn that j. broke
picked up and still has one of the pieces.
THE SENATORIAL sEAT-Boox.
In the Senate the method ~ obtaining the
more eligible seats is Of the same quiet and dig
nifllseId oitef that prevails in regulating other
matters. In book kept for that purpose the
senator has his name entered as choosing
certain seat whenever the incumbent shall re-
ure from the Senate or in any other manner
vacate it. The Senator may have to wait years
ior the seat OF his choice to become vacant; but
tfele Is no other way fOf him to get 1t, unless
the possessor voluntarily makes an exchange
with htm. And such thing as voluntarily va
eating choice seat never occurs.
PARTY LEADERS FRATERN1z1Na
The firm friendship existing between Sepators
Edmunds and Thurman, the leaders OF their re-
spective parties in the Senate, has often been
spoken of. They frequently "lock horns" in po-
Itlcal debate on the floor, but it never disturbs
their friendly relations. If one of them is de-
tanned by any cause, after the Senate adfourns.
the other waits for him and they go home to-
getber. This friendship has existed for years.
and no doubt, though his party gains Senator
by it. Mr.. Edmunds would have been glad to
have had Thurman returned from Ohio. During
the heated political debate of the extra session
one DAY MI. Edmunds said something unusually
sharp to Mr.. Thurman. 1t was apparent in an
instant that the Ohio Senator felt the sting. He
sat down. Mr.. Edmunds cut short his remarks.
and Immediately walked over to Mr.. Thurman'S
seat, and 1t was plain to be seen that he was
making an "explanation."