Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1890-02-21
Washington Letter.
February II, 1890.

Randall, who row lies in the
shadow of death at his little home
100 G. ST. 8. W., has absolutely no
property, and should he be sum
moned to the unknown bourne to-
morrow, would leave to his wife
and children from thirty years
service in Congress nothing save
an honored name, has again
brought into prominence meas
ure which was thought of and dis
cussed years ago, but which as yet
has never taken any definite
shape. 1t is, to allow members of
either House of Congress to retire
on half pay, if they so desire, after
twenty years of service in the
National Legislature. The sub
ject is delicate one to discuss
with Congressman themselves, and
many of those who were approach
ed by the writer to ascertain their
views, were very cautious in say
ing more than in a general way
approving plan that would allow
a member whose service in Con-
gress merited such recognition,
to accept it honorabIy, while
others were outspoken In favor OF
it. ave retire CUR Army and
Navy, we allow our Federal
Judges to accept half pay as COM
pensation for past services. Why
should we not make the same pro-
vision for men VINO had spent the
best years of then life in framing
our country's laws, and providing
for her welfare?" remarked one
member. [ believe if such meas
ure were introduced in the House,
it would pass. 1t is more doubt
full however that it would meet
with the same favor in the Senate,
especially with the older members
the ones that would be benefited
by 1t. 1t is curious to remark how
jealously the Senators who have
been here longest guard the pres
tige which their senior service
gives them. There is Edmonds,
the Gather of the Senate who
took his first oath to support the
constitution as a Senator in 1886,
} he is as punctually in his seat
when the Senate is called to order
} for prayers as he was twenty years
! ago, he is as prompt in the dis
charge of his duties on the floor
and in the committees as when
: Vermont first honored him with a
Senatorial toga. The same may
be said of Morrill,, his Colleague
: who is last to leave the Senate
chamber, and is frequently q,
work in his committee room when
all about the Capitol is still. "Oh
( no, we don't want to retire" re.
marked one of their number. The
fact of the matter is, the longer
we stay here the more we get at.
, tached to our labors and to one an.
!; other, and any suggestion that WE
l should accept an honorable retire.
:, ment, 1 am afraid would not find
favor with the older members. >
However as the proposition as
presented leaves it purely optional
!, : with the members eligible to ac.
! cept the privilege, it mag be tina.
If presented to the Senate as q
, House Bill, it would not be SO OBJ
Z jectionable after all. Last week
it was my good fortune to witness
, the bringing in" of chat code OF
Rules" now as well known to the
country as McGinty himself.
, This was done by the committee
Oh rules with as much pomp and
, ceremony attending as in the bap-
, tism of an infant king. The afore-
:. said rules were laid on the Speak
er's table (not in the parliamen-
, tary sense) but literally. They
: were deliberately read by the
clerk, and then and there began
the attack and defense on the first
measure of the session, which has
called out the whole fighting
, force of the House. With the
Democrats it was not contest in
which they hoped to gain a single
vote. Well they knew that Reed
had shut up every avenue of es-
cape for even the smallest Repub-
lican. They could not hope to
, win, and di not care to do more
, than enter their protest against q
system of rules which they claim
, makes the House virtually an in
strument in the hands of its speak
er; and this they did in manner
to do credit to themselves.
With the Republicans it was a
: victory won before the battle was
fought. They claim that this bold
step is justified by the necessity
for majority rule, and say that
ours the responsibility. and be
ours the right to control the leg
islation of the present session.
The vote was sstricly :party one.
and the House, it is hoped, will
now begin 10 reduce its calendar.
: The Ohio ballot box forgery case
was brought to a sudden and un-
expected close, for time at least,
on Wednesday last. TIE occasion
of which was a personal alterca-
, 4in,, lat,aar o. L..t ]