The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-29
sugar and a few drops of lemon extract.
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Origin Of the Secret Sessions Of The
United States Senate.

Under existing rules two Senators can
close the doors of the United States SEN
ate at any time, even though all others
regard it as unnecessary. The original
rule, as adopted February 20, 1894, is
still in force as follows
con a motion made and seconded to
close the doors of the Senate on the dis
cussion of any bust 80 which may, in
the opinion of Senator, require secrecy,
the presiding officer shall direct the gal
leries to be cleared; and, during the dis
cussion of such motion the doors shall re-
main closed"
The only changes from the original rule
is that "closc" is substituted for shut and
senator" for member.
For some years after the organization
of Congress in 1889 the public were ex-
cluded from all deliberations of the Sem
ate, and that body sat regularly with
closed doors. The first effort to change
this mode of procedure and permit the
people of the country to know what that
august body did and said was on the Both
of April, 1890. when a motion was made
that the doors of the Senate chamber
shall be open when the Senate is sitting
in their legislative capacity, to the end
that such of the citizens of the United
States as may choose to hear the debates
of this house may have an opportunity of
SO doing"
But SO little respect did the fathers
of the republic" have for the people
that they rejected this proposition out
right. AT the two subsequent sessions
the same motion was repeated, only to
meet, on each occasion, the same fate as
when first submitted. On the 18th OF
April 1892, motion was made to admit
the members of the House of Represen-
tatives to attend the debates of the Sen
ate when sitting in its legislative capacity,
but that sense of exclusion which has
chung to the Senate and is still somarked
feature of the body, prompted the re-
lection of this proposition. A yea and
nay vote was taken, resulting in the de-
feat of the motion by vote of six ayes
to sixteen hayes.
1t was not until December 0, 1895,
that the Senate formally consented to
open its doors to the people, through the
rule quoted above in relation to motions
to close the doors was adopted February
20, 1894, simultaneously with resolu-
ton permitting the doors to be opened.
On the first day named December 8,
1880, the following was adopted;
Resolved, That in conformity to a
resolution of the Senate of the United
States, passed February "a, 1894, the
gallery of the Senate chamber be per-
mitted to be opened every morning, sub
ject to the restrictions in said resolution
mentioned;" j. G., to be closed on a mo-
ton having second.
Since 1868 the motion to proceed to
the consideration of executive business
has been one of those that can be made
while a question is under debate, and is
the second in importance. The motto
to adjourn is first in order while a deba II
is pending, and next comes the mott tie
to proceed to executive business, which,
when carried, closes the galleries and
puts the Senate in secret session. VASE
i9QtOH Star