The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-26
SENATE CUSTOMS.
Ex Secretary George G. GOrham Narrare
Some of His observations.

o6NAte COS IOMS.
Ex Secretary George G. GOrham Narrares
Some of His Observations.
Debate in the Senate is entirely free.
The only way debate can be cut off by
the majority and a vote on a measure
be compelled is by refusing to adjourn.
If the minority is a small one, con-
tinuous session of two or three days
and nights will usually bring it to
terms. In such case members OF the
majority can relieve each other and
get some rest, still leaving enough con-
stantly on guard to vote down an adj
jOurnment.
If the minority weary of speech,
there is still another method for OBJ
strncting vote, and that is by alter
nate motions to adjourn and go into
executive session. These motions are
always in order and are not debatable,
and the yeas and nays can be ordered
on them every time by one-fifth of the
Senators present. Sixteen members
are one-fifth of the Senate as it is now
constituted. A minority strong enough
to keep that number always in the
Senate chamber without any being
continuously deprived of rest could
revOlutiOnize the Government.
When the debate begins the effect is
to relieve Senators from further atten-
ton to the business in hand. Some
member, charged with the subject,
commences a speech to which half a
dozen may listen some of the time.
others commence writing letters to
their constituents, some go to their
committee rooms, and still larger
number repair to the clOak-rOOm to
smoke, tell stories and do little log
rolling for measures of their own. The
two clOak-rOoms open directly out of
the Senate chamber They are spacious
and comfortable, well supplied with
sofas and easy chairs. The Democrats
use one Of these and the Republicans
the other There are legends of an
olden time" when some of the old boys
of the Senate INDUCED themselves in
a cOnvivial way in some of the COM
mittee rooms, but the better opinion
now prevails that they are all very
circumspect. In the Senate restaurant,
where the sale of liquors and wines is
strictly forbidden, the sinful caterer
appeals from the rules to the higher
law, and serves whatever is called for
This is an Improvement upon the time,
not twenty-five years ago, when liquors
were dispensed from regular bar in
the Capitol, in an out-of-the-way room.
known us the ''hOle in the wall"
Itwas my fortune for eleven years to
have access to the Senate in secret ses-
sion as secretary of that body. Slow
as the Senate is in changing, | saw two
hundred different men sit as Senators
during that time. When | left it to
make way for one of the opposite
party, then dominant. it contained but
four who had been members when |
entered its service. My observation in
the executive sessions of the Senate
lead me to the opinion that the aver
age man, like the average boy, be-
Raves himself better before folks than
he does in private groups. Not that
any thing goes on behind the closed
doors of an unseemlv character. The
proceedings are as orderly as at other
times, bearing little relaxation in
way of moving about and smoking
But men do not always vctts as t s, "
swould under tbs public eye. Scenes
from the School for Scandal are
sometimes enacted by the picking to
pieces of private character, and, on
the other hand, unsavory regulations
are sometimes mended by the PARTIAL
ty of strong, personal friendship.
1t is fact which is not generally
known that the Senate sat at all times
with closed doors during the first six
years after the Government went into
operation under the Constitution. Not
even the members of the House of Rep
resentatives were permitted to invade
its hiding-place. A resolution pro-
viding that 1.-THE doors of the Senate
chamber shall be open when the Sen
ate is sitting in their legislative ca
pacity, to the end that such of the citi
zens of the United States as may choose
to hear the debates of this house may
have an opportunity of so doing" was
voted down April 80. 1890, just one
year after Washington's first inaugu-
ration, and the same proposition was
rejected at the two following sessions.
On the 18th of April, 1892, some bold
and venturesome Senator made a mo-
ton to admit the members of the
House of Representatives to attend the
debates of the Senate when sitting in
its legislative capacity. 1t received
but affirmative votes against 16 in
the negative. On the 9th of Decem.
Der 1875, secresy was abolished except
in cases when specially ordered. IN.
Y. Sun.
0uorrnate Mada - 0o~o.