Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-06-23
yagaries of DemocrRtic-Hepu BE-
ttcsu Government.


the HERALD.
yagaries of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
iican Government.
The most judicious amongst our
public men and publicists recognize
the fact that there has been great
warp in the original scheme for the
constitution Of the Congress Of
the United States. The Senate
was organized primarily with a
view to admitting Of the States, ire
spective OF the size of those common
wealths, putting their veto upon any
rash and revolutionary legislation Of
the House OF Representatives, which
was designed az distinctively popu-
lar body, liable to run into excess
and quite likely to be volatile and
capricious. With this regard the
senators OF the United States were
invested with all the majesty which
inhered in the idea OF State sover-
eighty. Their terms were also made
three times that Of the member oil
the House, who was expected to
come fresh from the people, and who
was consequently replaced st an in
terval of two years. The idea OF
the fathers was profoundly sagacious
in theory; but, like the best laid
plans of mice and men, in practice
il was apt to gang aglee. Even the
Senate has been diverted from its
original constitution. In that body
the States were supposed, no matter
what disparities might exist as to
their wealth or population, TO be co
equal. Every Senator was to count
as unit in u vote upon any ques-
ton. Rhode Island, in the idea Ct
the trainers OF the Constitution, was
to be equal to New York. The SEN
ator from the one State was, in the
contemplation Of the law, to be equal
to the Senator from the other. This
theoretic proportion has in practice
been greatly disturbed. The Sen
stor who has been elected and re-
elected 10 his place, and who hap.
pens to possess either the endowment
Of intellect or the grace OF gall, 3"
has succeeded in multiplying the pow
er OF a dozen other Senators, even
though these latter have been from
States each one OF which vastly
outvied his own in all elements
which give dignity to repre-
sentative. Thus ii will scarcely
be disputed that Hon. George f. Ed
munds, representing the sterile Com
monwealth OF Vermont, as TO which
Stephen A, Douglas, himself Yer
monter, remarked that it twas good
State to emigrate FROM" has, ever
since the retirement of Roscoe Conk-
ling, welded ten times the influence
which has been exerted by the New
York Senators multiplied by three.
This was certainly not the design oil
the Fathers. II is, besides, not a
wholesome element in democratic
republican government. In view OF
such fundamental warp OF the orig.
inal plan in the legislative depart
ment of cur government il is small
wonder that the Senate has grown in
insolence until il meditates the sub
version OF the whole efficacy and vigor
Of the Executive department of the
government as outlined in the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
But the most distressing features of
these warps from model slngularly
pure and sagacious is to be found in
the violent dislocations which are to-
day disclosed in the actual administra-
ton of the House OF Representatives.
Here was to be found the last recourse
OF the people. In bestowing upon
this body the power to originate all
bills relating to revenue it was in
vested with the ultimate sovereignty
Of the nation, although the Vice
President was titularly, and in the
event of the death of the President
actually his superior. This really
august body, although its duration
was short, was majestic because it
represented the latest phase OF the
popular preferences. In the theory
of the Constitution OF the United
States John Jones, elected from the
22d District OF New York, the other
day, and though he should serve for
but a single term, ought to be
as potential as John Smith, elected
from the Fourth District OF New Jer-
sey, though the latter should have
been returned again and again to
Congress. In practice, however, this
is not SO. The House of Representa-
tives has become so thoroughly Bar
nacalized that, although an incipient
Daniel Webster or Henry Clay should
be returned to it from the wealthiest
and most populous district of New
York, he would practically count for
nothing until he had served two or
three terms, and demonstrated his
ability to make his personal force felt,
The complete insignifcance to
which new members of the House OF
Representatives OF the United States
have been reduced is much facilitat-
ed by the aristocratic and even
despotic spirit which characterizes
the organization of the committees OF
the House. Ii through the power OF
party organization, narrow-minded
crank manages TO get control of an
important committee any Represent
alive, no matter how wise and lumin-
ons his views may be, can be utterly
crushed out. As to his best measures
the process known as "smothering in
committee" is applicable. No re-
gard is paid to the constituency he
represents. The whole question, I'M
der this new, revolutionary and posi-
lively aristocratic organization Of
what ought to be the peoples assem-
bly,, is, "How long has this man been
here, and does he stand well with the
Chairman Of such and such commit
tee 2" Rules OF doubtful wisdom
and efficacy have so multiplied that
q clear-headed man, who represents
a vital reform or demand of the peo-