Morning journal and courier., 1886-11-23
Tuesday, November 23, 1886.
SECRET SESSIONS.

The New York Times has opened cam paign against secret sessions of the Senate, and there is need of free expression of pub lie opinion concerning this matter. At the last session of the Senate Senator Platt, of this State, offered resolution abolishing se- cret sessions. He found little support for the resolution, which was adversely reported by the Committee on Rules, and defeated as quietly as possible. The Times very properly says of Senator Platt's action: It can readily be imagined how high sense of duty and how rare an independence of character it requires on the part of any senator to con- demn, in the presence of his fellows and in their own hall of legislation, a fayorite and long enjoyed rule of privilege, patronage and exem ption from public criticism and respon sibility by declaring it to be not only need less, but source of corruption and injustice. Senator Platt, therefore, deserves the thanks of the people and the gratitude of the public press for his courage and fidelity in bringing the subject of secret sessions before the coun- try. His speech on the resolution was, for moral courage, research and vigor of reason ing, the best speech made on any subject at the last session of Congress.
 There is little to commend in the secret session practice and much to condemn. The people have 8 right to know what their ser wants do and why they do it. There are over seven thousand officers subject to confrma- tion by the Senate, of which over three thou sand belong to the civil service. Perhaps one-half of the time of senators is given to filling public offices. All the votes, all the speeches and all the various and important action connected with these sessions is never reported or seen or known by anyone but senators or their subordinates. They are never understood by the people. A writer in the Times says: Every grade of appoint ments and removals made by the President, from ambassadors to postmasters, from judges of the Supreme courts and governors of territories to marshals and auditors, from members of the cabinet to collectors and postmasters, from major generals and ad- mirals to lieutenants and paymasters, with all the intrigues, the corrupt influences, the partisan schemes, the bartering of votes In the Senate and for votes for senators or their friends, the scandalous relations between a senatorial vote for nomination and another nomination made or to be made, which stand behind and determine the fate of so many nominations-all these things-together with all the views, relations between the confrma- tion of postmasters and collectors, and the partisan corruption with which senators may be connected in the States and cities where they are to serve, are covered in the lmpene- Irable, everlasting darkness and silence of these secret sessions, which senators have intsrposed between themselves and the press ! and the people.
 Senator Platt's resolution was supported
 by Senators Logan, Butler and Gibson at the l last session. It is to be hoped that this win ter it will have support enough to carry it | through. It is clearly in the interest of the | people.