Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-04
THE AMERICAN LORDS.
WastcCul Extravaganza OF Sena'
t0rial Swclis.

Ereia ne Baltimore Sun.
VsurNGrON, ay D. A few days ago
Seuor Allison rose in his seat and pre-
seul a petition from various citizens ct
his ate Of Iowa praying the abolition Of
the merican House OF Lords. The body
Of web Mr.. Allison is u member is most
Appropriately characterized. There ia no
othelegislative body in the world which
has much pretensi0n, exercises 50
mucpower, assumes so many privileges,
, or cos the people whom it helps to gov
ern smuch money. This body OF IS men
cOsts1e people of this country close on
10 100000 per anuum. Every one Of
them IS at least one clerk paid out of
the pubic treasury, not lew have Two.
When Senator is chairman of a commit
tee hlslerk or clerks are put down in the
otiicialegister as clerks OF that commit
tee; thclerks OF the other Senators are
properl designated as ''private secre-
tares.' At every exit from the Senate
chamb6 are two attendants always on
hand tOpen and shut the doors as Sena-
tors wax in aud out. Such eminent and
exalted members as MIR. Edmunds and
Others, n addition to their clerks, have a
bOdy-gard assigned to their committee
rooms, Who is on the Toll as a ''messen-
ger" Wherever you go in the Senate
wing o. the capitol you actually stumble
over TIN Swarms of attendants who are
kept atpubhc expense TO minister to the
personal comfort of Senators. The wages
paid to many of these are in excess OF
what il accorded in private employment
TO hilh character OF skilled labor. 1t is
a wonder that Senator Allison did not
blush scarlet when he held that petition in
Mora in,
spence to the extended and just criticism
on tue enormous expenses of the
Senate, he offered a resolution for an in
Yestisation of the whole subject, with the
protested design OF looping off useless
expenses, and bringing the cost of main
tanning Senatorial dignity down to a
somewhat more modest figure. His reso-
luton was adopted, and he was put at
the head OF the investigation committee.
His committee has done absolutely moth
ing. For the sake OF show, the form Of
discharging a very few minor employees
was gone through with, but in a short
time the vacant places were all filled
again, and the roll OF Senate en-
plOyes is now larger than it was when Mr..
Allison introduced his resolution. A few
weeks since Mr.. Edmunds brought IN
motion to give anOJner clerk to the COM
aittee of which he is chairman at IS per
lem. His motion was carried without
bjectiOn, the Wanted senatorial cOur-
sy," Of which he and his associates are
, proud, not permitting any. Yet there
e at least twenty-five sO-Called "cOm-
ittee clerks" who altogether since the
st Monday Of December have not per-
med public labor enough to make an
sht-hOur day, any one of whom could
We been assigned to duty on the judi
ry Committee If its business really
ded another clerk, which may well be
bted. CheeTed by the experience OF
Edmunds, President pro tenn Sher-
and Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman OF the
hmittee on Commerce, each asked for
ther man for his special purposes, and
a, of course, got him. 1t would seem
q a good time for Mr. Allison to yet
committee OF retrenchment to work.
tibave had years rest, and might
n themselves with some vigor now.
british House of Lords consists OF
0HemberS, no one of whom receives
alOmpensation. The salary list of the
ebyes of the House OF Lords is { As sos,
or round numbers less than $500, 900
penum. Tne United States Senate, or,
as. AllisOn's constituents say, the
AEcan House Of Lords, is composed OF
sety-six members, who personally
drarOm the public treasury $4l3. 600 per
N"AAIs liN &c AfAtSs VI TIC dhlOuAb IT,
qul for the pay of those who serve them
fors year call for $32l, 1921, or 100000
m0than the British people are called
upoo pay the employees OF the House OF
Lori with "a mem 0ersaip nearly seven
timereater. 1t would not be well TO
graEhe prayer of Mr.. AlhsOn's cOnstit-
uentnd abolish the Senate. The wis
dom the founders OF the government in
proving for the equal representation OF
the stes has not seemed TO be less strIk-
ing dime rolls on. While the system
may ave its imperlections. its advan-
tagesre too strong TO be lightly surren-
dereG But 1t is high time for the Senate
TO pae in its unrepubiican and undemO-
cratiess umptiOns OF privileges and pow
ers, hits not only initiating but far eX-
cellinthe aristOcratic legislative bodies
OF tht old world. in surrounding itself
with army OF useless subOrdinates,
and treturn TO the ideas, practices, sim
pie AL Unpretending methods which
were prmeriy characteristic Of that body,
and hitting the character and genius Of
our iEtitulipnS