The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-17
THE FIPTIETH CONGRESS.
The Senate Talks About Printing Public Doc
umenfa and Scorer Sessions

resolution offered by Mr.. Plumb. some weeks
ago, directing inquiry as TO the causes of ineH1-
Gent mail service. was taken up and agreed to.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Henderson.
some days ago, requiring the Secretary OF War
to furnish to Senators. their request. lists OF
persons to whom copies of the record of the re-
belion are TO be issued, was taken up. Mr..
Ma1derson said that since offering the resolu-
ton he had a conversation with the Secretary
of War, who expressed his readiness TO supply
the information asked, and said that the refusal
to do before owing to a rule OF the de-
partment not established by MIN. Somewhat
unfortunate results. Mr.. Henderson said. so far
as the comfort of Senators concerned, had
come from the discussion of the question or
public documents, some days ago. His own
mail and the mails of other Senators were mum
dated with requests for documents. among
them the records of the rebellion There were
no copies of that document within his gift. and
never had been. the whole issue of that valuable
publication having been monopolized by the
members of the Forty seventh Congress
Mr.. Cullom remarked that he was having the
same experience. and that many of his letters
suggested that perhaps the documents might be
got from the distinguished Senator from MIS-
souri, Mr.. Vest
Mr. Henderson went on to discuss the ques-
ton of printing and stated the number of copies
of the various documents printed undar the Law.
His own idea of the matter was that the distri-
button should be made under some executive Of
ficer-say a superintendent of documents; mat
they ought to be taken from the printing office
to some adjoining building and from there DIS
tributed.
Mr.. Vest said that every day and every hour.
since the discussion last week, had confirmed
him In the belief as to the unquestionable waste
of public money in the way of printing docu-
ments. He did not want the public money
thrown away on trash.
The discussion was further continued by Sem
ators Aldrich, Cockreli and Teller. The latter,
in the course of his remrrks. laid some stress
upon the fact that matters in the departments
were kept secret, and be protested against there
being any secrets. the people being entitled TO
know what their servants were doing. Extend
ing this idea to the Senate itself, he declared
that he considered secret sessions of the Senate
to be entirety unrepublican. except, perhaps.
when there was treaty pending which ought
to be considered in the secrecy Of executive ses-
sion. There was moro reason why the ques-
ton of confirming executive appointments
should be considered bshind closed doors than
there was why the Senate should legislata be-
hind closed doors-as it had once done.
Mr.. Plumb asked him whether he thought
the Cabinet meetings should also be open.
While the Senator about it, he might as
well go over the whole subject
Mr.. Hawlsy also suggested the secret deliber.
atoms of the Supreme Court and asked whether
they also should be public
Mr.. Teller replied that what he insisted upon
was that when the secrecy of department
made an adjudication of a question, that adju-
dication should be made public He did not
claim that when the President called his Cabi-
net about him their discussions should DO pub
lie. but he did say that when the Cabinet came
to a determination, that dissemination was the
had right 20 conceal it, and each mem
Der of the Cabinet ought to be COM
PEELED to take the responsibility of
the advice given to the President And so. if
there was any subject which the Senate de-
sired to consider in private. and which ought to
be considered 10 private, the doors. on tins APP
piication of two Senator's might be closed; but
as the matter determined, every
Senator's vote should be made known The
question of the Senator from Connections a
trite one, and not new or original 1t had been
asked by people who did not consider the differ
once between the process of arriving at a con-
cluson and the conclusion itself. The Supreme
Court flied its decons when they were made. and
the position of each member of the coure upon
it was known But yet, no one knew how
members of the Senate voted questions
of infinitely more Importance than the
questions presented to the Supreme Court. If
he could inform his constituents how he had
voted on this or that nomination. it would be
satisfactory to them, and ne should be ashamed
of himself if he ever cast vote in the Senate.
secret or open that he would not be willing to
have published.
Mr.. Hawley-Then the Senator is satisfied if,
after the Senate has an extra session, the result
is announced.
MIR. Teller am not: but am satisfied That
there ought to be an improvement of the pres
ent method. am satisfied that if could say
to my constituents that voted and so on
such and such a nomination, they would be sat-
the people-a treaty in which the whole people
of the United States are interested, and yet we
sit here with closed doors and refuse assume
the responsibilities of our votes for rejection or
ratification.
After further discussion, participated in by
Senators Vest Henderson, Teller, HawIey and
German, the resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Morgan offered resolutions, which were
adopted, calling the Secretary of the In
terror for information as to smuggling the
Mexican border in consequence of the Mexican
free zone and calling the Presid emit for copies
of correspondence with the Mexican government
on this subject.
Mr. Sawyer was. at his own request. excused
from further service on tie committee edu-
cation and labor, on the ground of his time be-
ing otherwise fully occupied,7 and Mr. Riddle
berger was appoln ted in his stead
MIR. Teller introduced q bill to establish
land Office at Folsom. n. M. Referred.
One hundred and eight private pension bills
were passed, and after an executive session the
Senate adjourned till Monday.
Semi-Poiiticai Debate in the House..
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-In the House. on
motion Of Mr.. Dockery. of Missouri the Senate
amendments were concurred in to the House
bill providing for the appointment of eleven
division superintendent of the railway mail