The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
The unwritten Law of the Senate
Losing Its Force.
Action to be Taken by Those Who
object to the Alabama Claims
Court.
The Death kneil of Executive Ses-
sions Said to be Tolling.
A Bond Call for SO, 1000, 900 to be
Issued To-day.
Especial to the PREss.l

Issued To-day.
Especial to the PREss.l
WASHINGTON, March 21.-The unwritten
law which for so many years prevailed in the
Senate, that new man must not be heard
upon any subject until three or four years of
service, has of late years steadily lost its
force The present debate upon the Ed
munds resolutions has brought to the front
two new men, who if the old custom had
prevailed would have kept silent for year
or two yet before showing the Senate of
what stuff they weremade. They are Kenna
OF West Virginia, the youngest man in the
body, and a comparatively new member,
and Spooner Of Wisconsin, who took his
seat for the first time on the 4th of March
last. AS these men proved themselves to be
two of the finest speakers now in the Senate,
it is difficult to conceive why they should be
kept silent by any antiquated custom, and it
must be considered fortunate that the prac-
tice has fallen into state of "innocuous
desuetude" Senator Kenna's speech has
already been mentioned. Senator Spooner
began his speech on Thursday, and although
feeling quite i'll and in bad voice, he held the
attention of a large audience, both in the
gallery and upon the floor, for over an hour
and half. On Friday he resumed and
spoke for fully as long time. The galleries
while he was speaking resumed the crowded
condition they were in during the first two
days of the debate, and which they did not
have during the earlier para of the week.
Spooner is not a man you would pick out for
an orator or even for very smart man. He
is short in stature, being the Smallest man in
the Senate by all odds, with muddy COM
plexion, and straight and rathF stiff brown
hair. He has recently shaveniOff his NOUS
tache, thus adding TO his boyisl appearance,
and winning for him from sonf source the
title of the "Kid of the Senate! But like
the proverbial singed cat, he is better than
he looks" and his speech of Thursday
and Friday proves that the reputation he
brought with him from Wisconsin, of being
fine orator and brilliant and effective
debater, was not misplaced.
The Alabama Claims Co lirt.
The officials who last summer dSallowed
the expenses of the employees of theCourt of
Alabama Claims, on the ground tlat they
were unauthorized by the act of Congress
which established the court, are re-
ported to be highly resentful of the
passage by the House last wsek Of
the bill extending the court ard pro-
viding for the payment of those penses.
1t is said they will present their iections
to the Senate committee when the bi is COR
sidered there.
Executive Sessions.
In the minds of great many the S1eath
knell of executive sessions in the Settle is
already tolling, and the time is not ia dis
tant when they will cease to be. The more
the question OF the abolition of th lstar
chamber methods is discussed, the slore
general is the popular feeling shown to.5e in
its favor The press all over the coyptry
advocates it, and among the SenatorS2ew
acquisitions in its favor are slowly but 81 ely
appearing. Senator Platt'S resolution iRs 70
duced some time ago, to consider execu I'VE
nominations in open session, still lies OF Re
Senate calendar, with an adverse rtpzt
from the committee on rules against it,ptt
when it is called up it is believed that qtae
a strong showing will be found in its fave.
The desired result may not occur during tkS
session, but the chances are that anothG
year will see the secrecy removed, and thu
entire business of the Senate, with the ex
ception, perhaps, of treaties and one or two
other matters of like nature that ought tc
be kept quiet, will be done with open door-
Three times during the past week an effol
was made to introduce executive business In
open session-frst by Senator Blackburn
who reported some nominations from his
committee; then by Senator Evarts, who
presented a petition for the confirmation OF
Mathews. the successor Of Fred Douglass
and last on Friday by President pro tenn.
Sherman himself, who laid before the Senate
a letter of the Secretary of the Treasury In
reply to resolutions adopted in executive
session The latter case was an accident, as
the letter was not marked executive, and the
reading was stopped as soon as it was dis
covered to be executive business, but il
created quite a sensation for time. 1t is
not so clear that the other two cases were
accidental.
The Blair Bill.
The House committee on education does
not seem to care much for the opinion Of the
other members of the House, for on Friday
in spite of the resolution Of the House re-
questing them to report the Blair education
bill at once, they voted to postpone for one
month consideration of the Blair or any
other education bill. Such ceolnesS is re-
freshing, to say the least
Work Before Congress.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-Mr. Edmunds's
resolutions are likely to be brought to final
vote in the Senate about the middle of the
present week. The pending question is
upon the Van Wyck amendment to consider
the nominations to which the resolutions re.
late in open session. 1t is possible, how
ever, this amendment may be withdrawn
that course having been suggested by Sen
ators who are heartily in favor Of the prin.
ciple the item embodies, but do not think il
best to mix the matter with the issues raised
by the resolutions or to dispose of it as a
party question. Should II be WltndraWn
the subject of secret sessions will be brought
up soon after the Edmunds resolutions are
disposed of.
The unfinished business of the morning
hour is Gen. Logan's bill to increase the
efficiency of the army. Senator Frye hopes
TO ma an opportunity uulluB bHO WON "
begin the discussion of his fisheries resoln
ton.
In the House of Representatives tomorrow
the bill to grant a pension to the WIDOW OF
Gen. Hancock and several other private pen
sion measures will be brought up as unfin
ished business of Friday evenings session
The Indian appropriation bill Is likely to of BE-
passed tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday, ano
the post office appropriations bill viii ther
have the right of way and is expected TO ruI
Though the week.
The business for the morning hours this
week will come from committees on wal
claims, District of Columbia, civil service
reform and American shipping naval affairs
or so many of them as may be reached un-
der the call.
Matthews to be Rejected.
WASHINGTON, March 2O.--It is now prob
able that the nomination of james G
Matthews of Albany, TO be Recorder o.
Deeds for the District of Columbia, will bt
rejected. 1t will be reported adversely by the
committee on the District OF. Columbia mex
week. In an informal vote upon it in coln
mittee yesterday three Democrats voted t(
report adversely.