Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-09
OPEN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.


ing taken up. Senator Hoar of Massa-
chusetts said
The resolution before the Senate involves
two very simple questions
In deciding whether it Will be for the
advantage of this nation to make a Darl
gain with a foreiun power it is for the
public interest that senators should talk
over the matter among themselves with
out admitting that power to hear what
they say 2
In determining whether the Senate will
advise and consent to the appointment of
seven thousand three hundred public Off
GERS is it for the public interest that sena-
tors should talk over together in conf.
dence the character, the quality the
ability of the men proposed
These two functions, from the begin
ming of the government until this hour,
with rare and extraordinary exceptions,
have been performed as they are per
formed now. The authority of the Senate
itself, of the men charged by the States of
this Union with these important duties,
with their experience of a hundred years,
is in favor of the existing practice, ana, as
the Senator from Connecticut has well
shown, of an increasing strictness in its
observance.
deny that there is any public senti-
ment which favors a change of our rule in
this particular. | know that it would be
extremely convenient for the newspapers
:
the convenience of 50 large and intluen-
tal body of men as the conductors of
the press deserves the greatest cOnsdera-
ton. But, with one exception, ! have
never yet seen or heard from a single per-
son in this country not connected with
newspaper who felt much interest in the
subject or who thought the change de-
slrable.
An absolutely decisive proof that there
is no public desire for change i'll TINS re-
spect is this There are nineteen states
where the advice and consent either OF
the senate or an executive council Is re-
CURED for the appointment of certain
officers. In only one is it the practice to
deliberate with open doors. Nowhere Is
there any popular demand for change.
The function Of selecting men tor i'm
pOrtaut executive employment l. a COM
mon one. The great university, he col
lege, the school board, the directors of
corporations great and small, private
firms, the PRESIDENT and cabinet are con-
stantly performing 1t. The suggestion
that either should discuss these things in
the presence Of the public would every
where be received with derisou. No
man, so far as know, ever dreamed that
cabinet discussions of such things should
be open. There is no possible reSemD lance
between the claim of the Senate to have
access to the facts which appear IL the
public archieves of the government and a
demand for removing the veil OF conf
dence from such discussions whether in
the Senate or the cabinet.
Mr. President, the advocates OF TINS
new rule can not point to spot on the
face of the earth, with one possible eX-
ception, where either of these two tunc-
lions asserting to treaties or select
ing officers for appointment, l. per-
formed bya deliberative assembly whose
discussions are public. That Is the uni
versal experience of mankind. Nor can
they find anywhere any disposition to
make them public outside of the artlhclal
pressure that it is now attempted to put
upon the Senate.
But it is said the Senate is unpopular,
that we do not see ourselves AS others see
us, that we are losing the confidence of
the people. Even my wise and sober
friend from Connecticut seems To THINK
that this silly stuff about the American
House of Lords has some claim 10 our
serious consideration. | believe, on the
contrary, that the Senate OF the nlted
States never performed more perfectly It's
constitutional function and never stood
higher in the estimation OF the people,
from the Inauguration OF the constitution
until this hour. | think my friend from
Connecticut misunderstands the sentl-
ment of the American people when
he thinks they undervalue the senate.
/ They know too well the history OF the
Senate. Is not the senate alive ana alert
to all new questions; TO the demands Oh
/ q
peoples will Is it not so in this day and
This generation as never before 1t was,
| ii is true, intended by the trainers OF the
| Constitution as Il certain conservative ana
restraining force. Every part OF our legs
/ latiVe and administrative system l. meant
to give voice to the will of the people.
/ Here YOU have its deliberate WILL IT. sober
second thou ht. But am willin- 10 take
+ the history of the Senate from 1861 ID TINS
hour, and challenge anybody TO show that
/ il has not been the leader IN accom-. pIlsn-
ing and III trying To accomplish all the
great reforms demanded by a people the
law of whose life is progress. Was the
/ Senate behind hand in the great and OIL
giual policies which subdued the rebellion
and saved the Union? How was IL win
/ the great amendments to the consul
tuition? The thirteenth amend
ment first passed the senate;
The fourteenth amendment first passed
the Senate. The fifteenth passed me
| House first, but passed the senate the
very next day. The law which restored
snecie payment was matured and first
passed In the Senate. The national bank,
ing act, the retunding act, and "A hundred
others have had their conception ana
their original passage here HE great
modern homestead law was lhtr0uAceu III
the Senate and in the House, and the sen
ate contributed its share TO its hhaI per
lection. Who matured aud passed the
civil service reform act When was the
presidential succession bill tash'ohed
What legislative body III TINS country
more entirely reflects the best and most
advanced public sentiment at TINS mo-
ment, than the Senate
The constitution declares that each
House may determine the rules OF ITS
proceedings, =" and that leach House shall
keep a journal of its proceedings, and
from time to time publish the same, eX-
= cepting such parts us may be IN their
] Y.
of tho constitution rightly referred this
whole question to the discretion Of the
Senate No experience can by any posi-
2 bility be as valuable as the experience OF
the senate itself no Judgment can he like
I its judgment no authority like Your au-
thority IN determining the convenient
, rule and method of your proceeding.
l This is answer enough TO those gentle
e men who tell us that public opinion re-
. uuireS us to alter our rules. The trainers
, of the constitution were men OF large eN
y perience in public bodies where Legislative
l and aNpcutiNp functions We're blended.