The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-06
DEc.DENcE OF THE SENATE

Az ONNi NSsA hS'N'N VIZ
honor and prosperity of his country,
the present aspect of the nited States
Senate is cause OF sorrow. The SEN
ate has hitherto been looked upon
being more permanent than the House
rs n calm and reflective body, more
deliberate and less impulsiye in i 8
decisions than the House, thus stand
ing breakwater sgiinst hasly and
superficial legislation. The Senate OF
later yesrs appears to have become
afflicted with an unhealthy symptom
popularity called "the big head" The
high dignity Of the Senate seems to
have caught sort OF aristoc'aic
flavor; a tendency to arbitrary ac
ton; propensity TO think that
what the Sena'e does and counte-
narces, the citizens Of the country
who are lower down in the scale than
dignihed Senator's, ara bound to ac-
capt. Senatorial dignity has required
that each member of that illustrious
band Of Legislators must have his
private clerk, for whose services the
pubic money must pay. Why each
Senator requires Al toady in the shape
OF a clerk, when the Repre- sentative in
the House can do without one, does
not appear clear. The digniied Sem
ate also claims another privilege not
possessed by the House, that OF hold
ing, when they so choose, secret SEES
sions; sessions from which which the
public is excluded; sessions that de-
prlve the people OF knowing how those
who are semitic represent them do the
peoples business. The Senators claim
not Only privileges that add to
their power, but also privileges
that add to their prof s. Those
who choose or have opportunity
accept salaries fiom corporate bodies,
railways and others, to act as attorneys
working in the interest of their cor
porate employers, Imagine the fair
ness, the conscientiousuess, and the
nice sense OF honor with which the
dignitied Senators who are hired cor.
pcraion attorneyF, vote on a bill con-
Cerning the clients they are paid to
support and assist. With character
istic arrogance Senator's have pro
tested from their seats that a PROPOSE
ton to abolish this system OF com
bining public duty with private inter
ests was an attack upon the honor
OF the Senate. This at least shows d
consciousness that that honor is liable
to attack when II sloop5 80 far as t,
accept fees and salaries to compromise
public duty by becoming hireliug
bound to support private interests
High positions naturally seeks the full
amount Of power considered neces
sary to supportand still further elevate
it, This led the Senate, some sessions
ago, to strive to arroga'e TO itself 1
portion OF the power to initiate money
appropriations, power that i
lodged in the House. That failing, al
equally ambitious and indetensibl,
attempt was made TO interfere with thu
authority Of the President in regard Il
appointments to and removals iron
office, Happily they found in Grove
Cleveland an inhexibility Of principl
tina. battle the schemes of Senatorial
dignity. Now, a new attempt 10 made
an attempt to call into question tn
right of the President TO correct tn
senate's acts Of laundering or OF plail
injustice, by the interposition Of u
veto. The naughty dignity and lus
OF power exhibited by the Senate
! disgusting the people,who love neithe
the "big head" nor the atisiocrat