Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-02-11

THE WA VS. or THE SENATE,


THE WAYS OF THE SENATE,
The United States Senate represents
the conservatism and the dignity of
the American people, and to be a mem
ber of that body is an honor second
only to that of being President Of the
United States The Senate is frc-
quently criticised by aippant writers
because of its "heavy dignity but 10.
stead OF being a subject of criticism,
this feature ought to be-and is with
thinking people--one OF congratula-
tion. The Senate is the permanent
legislative body Of our Government
and partisanship is not permitted the
sway there that II exercises in the
House. There exists what is known
as the courtesy Of the Senate" and
though no rule requires it, il is always
strictly observed. This Courtesy Is
largely non-partisan 10 its nature and
no Senator wonld think OF viploting it.
In regard to nominations, II requires
that the Senators from the State TO
which the appointment is made shall
be consulted on the question Of con-
firmation or rejection and their decision
in all ordinary cases determines the
result. When the administration
the appointing power-is opposed in
politics to the majority, as now, the
custom is to submit the matter to the
Senator or Senators, il there are any,
from the State affected BY the appoint.
ment This courtesy governs the
PROMOTION OF COMMITTEES,
too, and no Senator would ever think
OF prescribing any other rule in this
respect. When a Senator's assigned
to Committee his name b enrolled at
the foot Of the majority OF minority
according to his politics-ind as those
above him retire he goes up, For in.
stance, when the Democrats got con-
troll of the Senate it was easy for any
body TO determine what Senators would
become Chairmen Of the respective
committees. The highest name among
the Democrats on each committee was
promoted to tho Chairmapship in all
cases 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 un.
dignified in a Statesman than that.
RIGHTS ALLOWED THE MINORITY.
Again, in the Senate, the minority
are always allowed three Committee
Chairmanships with the same privil-
eyes that attach TO the majority.
Each Chairman of the minority has
the right to appoint his own clerk and
messenger, and these Committee rooms
are entirely in the control Of the minor.
ity. Then in the distribution Of pa
tronage the minority are always al
lowed a share. The dignity OF the
Senate always contributes to the main
tainance of order in that body. There
is never the loud conversation on the
floor that is permitted in the House.
The courtesy" is observed in all the
relations between the Senators. There
is never any clamoring for recognition
as in the House. There is, in fact,
never any competition between Sena.
tors for the right to the floor. On the
contrary, a willingness to yield to
another is always observed, and For
eign Ministers and Diplomats, after
noting the decorum that marks the
United States Senate, have invariably
pronounced it the most dignifed and
courteous Legislative body in the world.
But few alterations or scenes Of vio-
lence have ever occurred in the Senate
on the floor OF that Chamber.
THE SENATORIAL sRATBooK.
In the Senate the method of obtain
ing the more eligible seats is of the
same quiet and dignifed order that
prevails in regulating other matters.
In book kept for that purpose the
Senator has his namo entered as choos.
ing certain seat whenever the incum.
bent shall retire from the Senate or in
any manner vacate it. The Senator
may have to wait years for the seat OF
his choice to become vacant but there
is no way for bin 10 get It, unless the
possessor voluntarily makes an ex-
change with him. And such thing
as voluntarily vacating choice seat
never occurs.
PARTY LEADERS FRATERNlZINd.
The firm friendship existing between
Senators Edmunds and Thurman, the
leaders of their respective parties IN
the Senate, has often been spoken Of.
They frequently "lock horns" in po-
litical debate on the floor, but it never
disturbs their friendly relations, II
one of them is detained by any cause,
after the Senate adjourns, the other
waits for him and they 60 home to.
gether. This friendship has existed
for years, and no doubt, though his
party gains q Senator by it, Mr.. Ed.
munds would have been glad to have
had Thurman returned by Ohio. Dur.
ing the heated political debate Of the
Extra Session, one day, Mr., Edmunds
said something unusually sharp to Mr..
Thurman. 1t was apparent in an in
slant 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 IT was plain 10 be seen that he was