Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-07-23
SENATE CUSTOMS.
George G. Gorham Narrat,
some Of Ills Observations.

aecretsry George G. Gorham Narratss
some Of His Observations
Debate In the Senate is entirely free.
& 1e only way debate can be cut off by
< majority and IA vote on measure
eompeled Is by refusing to adjourn.
The minority is a small one, con-
Nous session of two or three days
y nights will usually bring 1t to
ms. In such case members OF the
some rest. still leaving enough con-
+ Atlv on guard to vote down an adj
Eminent
y q the minority weary OF speech,
56re is still another method for OBJ
11fucting vote, and that is by alter
&te motions to adjourn and go into
0k4cutive session. These motions are
0&6ays in order and are not debatable.
l1& the yeas and nays can be ordered
hem every time by one-fifth OF the
htors present. Sixteen members
one-fiIth of the Senate as it is now
tituted. A minority strong enough
keep that number always in the
ate chamber without any being
tinuously deprived OF rest could
plutionize the Government.
hen the debate begins the effect is
<l(&blieve Senators from further atten-
to the business in hand. Some
nber, charged with the subject,
Mmences speech to which half a
.1f11&ra lpfan nf tho TINA
lers commence writing letters to
81 constituents. some go to their
1mittee rooms, and still larger
}1&nber repair to the cloak-room to
IKE, tell stories and do little log
Hing for measures of their own. The
w cloak-rooms open directly out Of
Senate chamber. They are spacious
&@4 comfortable. we'll supplied with
N66as and easy chairs. The Democrats
one OF these and the Republicans
i91Other. "There are legends of an
&@ften time" when some of the old boys
the Senate INDUCED themselves in
p0nvivial way in some Of the COM
03ttee rooms, but the better opinion
a60W prevails that they are all very
01fUumspect In the Senate restaurant,
Ml6ere the sale of liquors and wines is
lffIctly forbidden. the sinful caterer
epreals from the rules to the higher
s}nS& and serves whatever is called for
&h@ is an Improvement upon the time
6ot twenty years ago. when liquors
4 MSfe dispensed from regular bar in
IN capitol, in an out-of-the-w way room.
k4own as the "hOle in the wall"
was my fortune for eleven years to
heVe access to the Senate in secret ses-
&Qn as secretary of that body. Slow
~ the Senate is in changing, saw two
614dred different men sit as Senators
Ifing that time. When | left it to
4ke way for one of the opposit e
&ty, then dominant. it contained but
NH who had been members when
nntered it's service. My observation in
1ho executive sessions of the Senate
ieed me to the opinion that the aver
re man, like the average boy, be-
3tNyes 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
pr0ceedings are as orderly as at other
ftlnes, bearing a little relaxation in
0aH OF moving about and smoking.
U&fmen do not always vote as they
would under the public eye. Scenes
from the 'School for Scandal are
tonaetimes enacted by the picking to
places of private character, and, on
the other hand, unsavory regulations
are sometimes mended by the partiali-
sty of strong, personal friendship.
IL is a 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
resentatiyes were permitted to invade
lts hiding-place. A resolution pro-
vlding that "the doors of the Senate
chamber shall be open when the Sem
ate Is sitting in their legislative Ca
pacity, to the end that such of the citi =
~<@Aeo "a VIC ~ hluCd oN1UCo dS illtLf CtlOOSt
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 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
but6 affirmative votes against 16 in
the negative. On the 9th of Decem-
Der 795, secresy was abolished except
N cases when specially ordered. N.
\. Sun.
Overcoats Made OF Paper.