The National tribune., 1886-06-24
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
"PArRsn IN CONGRESS.

Io
that belong in the same category with "fushes"
and fulls" and "jackpots," which furnish so
much diversion to the Congressional intellect
presents some features that are interesting, and
which many persons do not understand. A
Western Democratic Member, desiring to be
absent for a short time, few weeks ago, ar
ranged pair with, of course, Republican. A
copy of the Congressional Record containing the
proceedings during day Of his absence hap
pened TO reach one of his constituents an inno-
cent rustic friend, who read that his Member
was paired with a well known Republican, and
it grieved him to the heart So he sat down
and wrote friendly letter, containing few
words of kindly admonition. He said:
when you have TO be absent from your seat
and are compelled to pair, / would advise you,
as friend. to pair with a Democrat. i am
afraid it will hurt you among your friends to
be pairing with Republicans"
A pair" is an arrangement by which a
Member who desires, from any cause, to be abb
sent for time does not lose his vote. Among
400 men in active life, most Of whom have i'm
portant business concerns elsewhere, many are
being constantly called away on such matters,
aud others on public business or By reason of
sickness in their families. Members them
selves are frequently i'll, and good many go
away on short trips for pleasure and recreation.
No doubt the pairing system is great pro-
moter of absenteeism. Were it not for this
few would dare to 90 away when either body
is closely balanced politically, as advantage
might be taken of their absence to crowd
through partisan legislation. When such a
condition exists-as it does now in the Senate
the pairs are very closely watched. No
Member leaves without arranging to have a
vote on the opposite side withheld during his
absence
This idea is, in fact, the basis of the pair Its
original purpose was to prevent undue advan-
| tage being taken of the absence of political
opponents If a Republican wishes to be abb
sent day, or two days. or a week, he goes to q
Democratic friend and they arrange pair on
all questions having a political bearing that
may arise. During the time agreed upon the
Democrat will not vote upon any such question.
The public announcement of the pair is DEEM
| ed, by common consent, sufficient excuse for
| his not voting. As the one vote would Offset
the other it will be readily seen that the result
| is precisely the same as if the absent Member
were present and both voted. When the roll is
| called upon important questions, however, and
paired Member wishes to go distinctly upon
the record, he rises when his name is reached
and announces, for example: II am paired
with the gentleman from Alaska, Mr.. Smith.
| If he were here / would vote aye on this bill"
| Then when the name of the absent Member is
called one Of his colleagues usually arises and
/ states that Mr.. Smith is absent and paired So
| and so; If he were present he would vote no."
If the absence of Member is extended be-
| yond the time agreed upon the pair, strictly
speaking, expires and is not binding unless it
be renewed by letter or telegraph and this is
often done If the absentee finds that he cannot
| return within the time fixed. Sometimes a
| Member goes away without arranging pair.
This, in times of great political struggles, like
| those of years ago, is considered grave party
offense. It sometimes happens, however, that
this is unavoidable, as when q Member may be
called by telegram at midnight on a matter
iafI "a and In anah fhora 10 m
difficulty in apair being arranged by friend.
1t is an established rule that If Member abb
sents himself, under ordinary circumstances,
without pairing, he forfeits all right 70 this
privilege, and must abide the consequences.
This is not strictly enforced, as there is a gen.
eral feeling Of comfy among the Members on
| the subject. Each one feels that he IS at any
time liable to be so placed that he will find ii
necessary to ask favor Of the other side.
In both Senate and House each has CON-
mittee appointed for the session whose duty il
is TO look out for and arrange pairs. If a Mem
Der wishes TO go away and for any reason pre-
fers not to arrange pair himself, he makes his
, request of the committee, and the matter is
fixed for him. As has been said, political
, strife is the foundation Of the pairing system
although il is often extended 10 other questions
} IL is generally known what important measures
D are likely TO come up during the Members ab-
, sence, and these are specifically agreed upon
D If they are Of the same mind on any bill OF
D resolution TO come before the body, the Member
D present is free to vote. If the pair be for po
, litical questions only, the present Member may
vote on all others. Us if no pair existed. Some
\ times it is difficult TO decide whether motion
or resolution or bill be really party question
or not Many which do not come strictly
, within this class have political tendency one
: way or the other, Democrats being generally
ON one side and Republicans ON the other In
cases where pairs are arranged with carefulnes!
of detail, the parties agree upon friend whC
: shall decide as TO the character Of all suef
I questions, and the present MemberOf the pail
5 governs himself accordingly, voting or not yot
a ing, as the case may be. In the Senate old Mr.
: Harris, of Tennessee, generally acts as thu
: umpire" When, in such case the name Of
/, Senator is called who is paired with one absent
4 he arises and states the fact, adding that he i
: in doubt whether the question under eOnsidera
= tiOn is OF such nature that he is restrained
by his pair. Then the stately Tennesseean
, looking as wise and solemn as an owl, gravelj
! announces that in his opinion it is or is not
! political question and that settles it.
: The presiding officer Of either House neve
has anything to say on the subject Of pairs, be
Cause they are not officially recognized. /
the rules should be rigidly enforced PAL
: would not excuse a present Member from
Q voting. His obligations, though entirely per
sOnai, are, however, considered firmly bind
ing For Member to deliberately break
pair would be deemed the hight Of dshonor
{ 1t not infrequently happens that paired Mem
= Der viii thonghtlessly vote when. according q
a his agreement he should not. If he discover
his mistake, or his attention is called to it b,
another, he instantly asks that the record b
Q changed and his vote eaneeled. A Membe
Il who is in doubt as to the prc-iiety of hi
: voting often consults with the friends of tn
Q one with whom he is paired, in order that h
}, may not lay himself liable to the charge Of bat
II faith. In almost every case when a weil-de
s fined doubt exists the absent Member is givel
b the benefit OF it, The unwritten law on thi
: subject is, with very rare exceptions, punctiE
(. ously observed.
n Often Congressman is iudisp0sed, or he ma
p have business at one of the Departments tina
will prevent him from attending the session
and for these reasons pairs for single day ar
very common. These are generally announce
- by the Clerk after the reading of the journa
, After the call Of the roll on any important vot
: it is customary to read all the pairs, 50 tina
. there may be no mistake or misunderstanding
8 THE MOUNT McGREGoR COTTAGE.
IS Some months ago bill was introduced i
is the House to accept the gift offered by A.
re Drexel, of Philadelphia, of the cottage o
Of Mount McGregor in which Gen. Grant diet
ID The bill was referred to the Committee on Pull