Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-04-05
Last aUeek'S letter.

The political fight between the
senate is aboutsto close, and every
body is glad. No questions will be
asked by non-partisans at least, as
to which side backed down, if both
sides will only unite now and get to
work at the business of the session.
The whole affair has been a dreary
squabble over matter that was of
small consequence to the people.
Senator Colquitt of Georgia and In
gals of Kansas will speak to-day
and then if no other senator signi-
fes his desire to be heard on the sub
ject, Senator Edmunds will ask for
vote on his resolution that the
senate shall not confirm until the
papers are supplied.
The contest for open sessions of
the senate is not dead but only
sleeping. The question has not
been overshadowed by preparation
for the discussion between the presi-
dent and senate. 1t will yet come
up for debate. There is prevailing
opinion that the senate possesses too
much power. 1t is the least demo-
cratic of our institutions. Senators
not coming directly from the people,
are not truly representative with
reference to population, and being
elected for terms of six years, they
have less regard for their constitu-
ents' wishes than the members Of
the lower house. They have special
powers of confirming nominations,
making treaties, and impeaching
high officers of this government.
They have maximum of power and
a minimum of accountability, and it
is felt that this is situation not to
be intensified by secret sessions.
Senator Jackson, of Tennessee,
said his only objection to open ses-
sions was that an open discussion
would take more time than a secret
one. Senators would be speaking
to the galleries all their time. They
would feel the necessity of explain
ing their votes to their constituents.
This he thought, would be particu-
| larry the case where senators from
one state took opposite sides of 6
question.
The democrats do not complain
that MI. Cleveland has not made {
sufficient number of removals. They
concede that he has been pretty &C
tive in this direction. Their com
plant is that he has not made part,
appointments. 1t is claimed that h,
has pretty generally ignored the par
ty leaders in making his selection
and has named men whom no on
ever heard of. He has raked oh
securities to fill the Federal vacancies
Therefore, ii is said there is n
possibility of his denomination b
his party. He has chosen to lg
more the men who rule convention
and they mean to ignore him the frs
time an opportunity offers. Mean
while, however he will have the e2
perience of being president in tn
fullest sense of the word during hi
term. And who can say that tn
, position Is not really the most indie
pendent one?
The bill to abolish the extravagal
practice Of having congression
committees accompany the remain
of deceased senators and represent
tives to their place of burial NEE
with general approval.
, In many instances these funer
excursions are productive of inc
dents anything but respectful to Il
dead. No congressman who h
ever served on one would be willil
to have his own demise celebrat,
:. by junketing trip. A COMPRESSION
committee once took the remains
an Iowa member to that state. T
J. widow was on the funeral train, al
), the escorting committeeman becar
g so noisy and hilarious that the la'
n was constrained to send request
'e them to please be quiet. A sena.
L who was recently very sick here So
Is to his wife: eff / die, you and t
Ia children take me home, but don't
IN them send any committee along"
10 1t is probable that the next pre-
ef dent of the United States will be
OF augurated on the 3Oth of April
Ky stead of the fourth of March. 7
es proposed amendment to the consti
n ton relative to Inauguration d.
OF was first suggested by Robert
nd Winthrop, re-suggested by Hora