The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-06
ExECUTIvE SESSIONS.
How They Are Begun, and How the Case OF
Wiggins Is Considered.


Wiggius Is Considered.
! 'Gaths" Washincton Letter
The question of executive sessions is being de-
bated, and in high time Through contest be-
tween the President and his great Cabinet and
the old gangrene Senate as to whether any body
should give any body else information, or wheth-
er the matter of appointments should be settled
by the throwing of dice by two bodies which
never saw each other in the act, has come the
suggestion made in common sense that these ex-
ecutive sessions or closed doors are out of the
spirit of the age and partake of the old Inqu;si-
ton. Many of your readers do not know that
the United States Senate has hitherto had two
forms-an open form and shut form. You
perhaps visit the Senate and get seat in the
gallery to look on and all at once little man
in the corner rises and says: "Mr. President
move that we so into executive session. The
first thing you know you are chased out of the
gallery by door keeper, while Jim Cristie the
fat, confidential door-keeper below, runs under
the chairs and desks to see if somebody may not
be concealed there Everybody goes out and the
doors are shut and instead Of the usual clerk
taking down the proceedings they bring in Jim
Young, who is the executive clerk, with salary
OF $3 800 year. and jim sits up there in state
and takes down the libels.
Then, indeed, is the reign of manners The
presiding officer lights cigar. One Senator
put his foot the shoulder of the Senator be-
fore him. You can see how much party lines
prevail by the fact that Democrat is dancing a
radical Republican on his knee, and Republican
executes handspring before the Presidents
desk. The case arises of Virgins, who has been
nominated as colleetorof Stamboul. The Pres
ident has sent in Wiggins's name from having
read forty thousand names signed to petition
testifying him to be a Christian and scientific
man who has cared for his mother from his earli-
est infancy, and borne her upon his shoulders.
One OF the Senator'S from his State at once
arises and accuses Virgins of having been
horse thief. He presents letters from the mayors
of all the surrounding towns to the effect THAI
they would not believe Virgins under oath. His
political status is described as uncertain, and
that he is professional drunkard and is an in
curable keptomaniac.
Nobody knows exactly how, but all these re-
marks about Virgins somehow get through the
keyhole. Possibly there is Pan-eectric tele-
phone in there with Rogers poetcal improve
ment upon it. Virgins is sitting outside reading
a file of newspapers. He at once sends message
to the rival Senator. who forthwith gets up and
shows that Virgins has been three times bap-
tized. has taken holy orders. was champion Of
local option and is incapable anatomically Of
riding horse, much less of stealing it. This is
executive session at the commencement; few
persons have ever remained to the end. What
is said in there against mans character he has
means of proving for it is against the law
for anybody to tell what happens in executive
session The sneak has it in his power to make
such charges as he peases, and to dispose of
case. The sly Senator, by q collusion, in
some other way. can run his man in through the
executive sessions.
1t is charged that if these sessions were open,
statements against man to the effect that he
was a drankard might injure him in private life;
whereas, if said secretly, he would not DO IN
jured. But if he is a drunkard he has no bus
mess to occupy an executive position. A man
who cannot take care of his own reason has no
business to be intrusted with the public funds or
with the liberty of citizen. A man might be /,
Incorporate in legislative life and do no great
injury. but drunkard in an executive places
always invites rapine. Besides, if these nami.
nations were publicly examined, and it would
take no more time than it does at present,
hundreds Of men who apply for office would
never dare TO do so. Persons with black spots in !,