The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-04
The Advocates of Secrecy Grow More Secretiye
and Exclusive. but the Reform Is Sure to
Triumph in the Course of Time.
An Instance in Which the Jump of the
Political Cat Was Miscalculated.
Society Criticises the Presidents Neglect of
His Bride-Southern Anxiety as to Army,
Navy and Diplomatic Appointments.
SENATE SECRECY. -
A Proposed Reform That Is Certain 60 Tri-
umph, If Only Given Time.
Special to the IndianapoIia Jourpal.

Il
umph, If Only Given Time.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, July 3.-Whether anything
comes of the agitation for open sessions for
executive business in the Senate, one thing will
result shortly, and that is, the lines will be
drawn more taut between the advocates of
the proposition and the opponents of it. Since
Senators have begun to say openly that they
were in favor Of considering executive business
with open doors, and permitting the country to
know what they have to say about men and
measures, and are opposed to playing the sneak.
the opposars have been exerting themselves to
make more mysterious and secret what is really
done in the line of executive work. The result
is that just at this time there is greater
tiveness about Senators than has been observed
for many years. Everyone opposing open con-
sideration of executive business has taken
fiendish delight in frightening and browbeating
those who would be frank, and open, and honest,
and are driving them against the wall so COM
pletely that it is almost impossible to obtain even
the most pain and what should be public action.
During the consideration of the charge against
Senator Payne, of Ohio, in connection with his
election, or rather the allegation of bribery on
the part of others to bring about his election,
the inclination of opponents of open sessions run
to extremes. Members of the committee on priv
eges and elections having this case in charge
would even refuse to say when they intended to
have me eting and would deny often that they
had a meeting when they had just marched from
the committee-room. The chairman of the COM
mittee bluffed number of newspaper CORE
~
been disposed of. Even after the vote was taken,
and the last meeting held, and the committee
was ready to prepare its reports, Chairman Hoar
affected indignation when asked if the commit
tee had taken any action the Payne case.
What was true in this matter is true in nearly
everything else now taking place in the Commit
tee. Nominees to Offices are not permitted to
know when action has been taken by a commit
tee upon their cases. nor can they as
certain when their nominations have
been taken up in secret session
of the Senate, and two sessions
in secrecy must be held before the public can
ton. Senators are beginning to look wise and
to act mysteriously, and more of the legal impe
rialism of governments like Russia and Turkey
is observed daily. If this pomp continues to in
crease for two years as it has for six months,
the public will be excluded from the Capitol.
All this, however. is simply an outburst of the
efforts of the opponents to open sessions of the
Senate for the consideration of executive bus
ness, and when the question finally comes to a
vote it will undoubtedly prevail, and the people
will know more of what is now kept dark and
mysterious, and to which they are so clearly
entitled.