The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-21
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
Described in Vivid Language by the
Senator from Kansas.
rcom the Kansas CITY Times.


nosed of two senators from each state. They
are chosen by the legislatures for term of
six years The number Of states is now
forty-two, aud when the senators from
Montana are admitted the whole number OF
senator's will be eighty-four.
AT the organization of the body in 1889
its members were divided by lot into three
elssaes The seats or senator's of the first,
second and third classes were vacated at
the end of the second, fourth and sixth
wears respectively, so that one-third might
be chosen every second year. This classiti-
catian has been preserved and thus OF the
present membership the seats OF twenty
eight viii be vacated in 1891, twenty-eight
in lSQS and twenty-elght in 1895, the terms
ending at noon on March l. If vacancies
occur during the recess of the legislature of
the state by death, resignation or expulsion,
then the governor appoints for the III
teTval.
Congress has power to make or alter the
regulations for choosing senators, but can
not change the place prescribed by the
state. For many years there was great ir-
regularity in the choice of senators by the
legislatures and the intrigues of party
leaders sometimes prevented an election al
together. The evils became so fragrant that
congress passed an act July 25, 1886, to regu-
late senatorial elections. Each House is re-
quired to vote viva voce on the second
Tuesday after the organization OF the
legislature. On the next day the two
houses are to meet jointly. Should it then
appear that the same person has received
majority in each house this fact is stated,
and he is elected. Otherwise the joint
meeting must take at least one viva voce
vote each day while the legislature remains
in session until some person receives ma
jolty of all the votes, quorum OF each
house being present. Should vacancy
occur while the legislature is in session the
same course of procedure begins on the
second Tuesday otter notice of the vacancy
is received.
No person can be a senator who has not
reached the age OF 80 years and been nine
years a citizen of the United States He
must also be, when elected, an inhabtant of
tse.state for which he has been chosen.
The Senate chamber is in the center of the
north wing of the capitol. IL is an impos-
ing room. surrounded by lobbies, approaches,
a id corridors. IL has no exterior openings,
and is lighted through stained and orna-
nlented glass panels IN the ceiling. 1t is
constructed wholly of metal and masonry,
severe and simple in its colors and decora-
tlo1s. 1t is ll3 feet inches long, so feet
8 inches wide, and SO feet high. Its CALLER
les have accommodations for about 1000
spectators. Ventilation is secured by a sys-
tenn Of revolving fans, driven by engines in
the basement
The Senate meets on the first Monday in
December annually II daily sessions be-
gin at 12 o'clock, and are opened by brief
prayer by the chaplain. Tne president
takes the chair. and the journal of the pro-
ceedings of the previous day is read and ap-
proved. Messages from the President, COM
munications from the heads of departments,
bills from the House of Representatives,
and other formal matters are then laid be-
fore the Senate and disposed of by reference
TO committees or otherwise. This is sue
ceeded by the presentation of petitions and
memorials, the reports of committees, the
introduction of bills and joint,
which is technically called
morning business" and morning hour"
continues until 2 o'clock. Should any time
remain after the conclusion of morning
business bills on the calendar are considered
subject to objection, with debate not ex-
ceeding five minutes by any senator desir-
ing to participate in the discussion. At 2
o'clock the Senate resumes the considera-
ton of the unfinished business of the previ-
GUS day, if any, or proceeds to the calendar
of general orders, with the right TO un-
limited discussion, which continues till the
adjournment, which usually occurs from
TO 6 o'clock
The business of the Senate is conducted
chiefly by forty-two standing and eleven
two readings are referred The most i'm
portant of these are the committees on the
judiciary, appropriations, privileges and
elections, foreign relations and finance.
When reported favorably bills are placed on
the calendar for future consideration; if I'M
favornbly they are indefinitely postponed.
Some of the committees are superfuous.
and are retained to give the chairman the
use of a room and salary for q clerk and a
messenger. The committees are appointed
by the Senate, and not by the presiding
officer, as in the House.
The Vice President is ex-officio the presi-
dent of the Senate. In creating the Office
of Vice President the trainers of the con-
ssitution evidently had originally in view
only the emergency that might arise by
the death, removal, resignation or inability
OF the President. They supposed the prob
able duration of two lives would cover the
contingencies of a presidential term, and
empowered congress to provide for pos
sible vacancy in the Office of President and
Vice President at the same time.
The constitution made 10 pro Vision for
paying him salary. 1t made No specific
arrangement for his election, declaring only
that the person having the highest nu Der
of votes in The electoral college, after the
choice of President, should be Vice Presl-
dent 1t affixed to the office no qualifications
OF age or citizenship, except by an inference
~ iCAAOto Ouab III lCUt, DJ the JWeiIGh
amendment it was ordained that mo
person constltutionally ineligible to the
Office of President shall be eligible to that
of Vice President of the United States.n
Neither the constitution nor its amend
ments, nor the statutes of 1892, provides for
filing vacancy in the Office of Vice Pres-
dent. There is no lineal succession. Once
vacant, it remains so until the next cleo
toral college chooses a successor. The Vice
President was thus placed in position
anomalous and undignified, without definite
functions. having no duties at the seat of
government. where his presence might
seem irksome or offensive, like a
poor heir apparent waiting for the
death of his ancestor to come into
the estate. A weak, vain man might
like the title and the empty honor.
A bad man might aspire to the
place for the opportunities it would afford
him to conspire against the honor or the fe
of the President, whose power be might in
herit by this criminal ambition. But few
men who were really qualified to meet the
intentions of those who created the office
would, under such conditions, be willing to
accept It, The only Importance of the in
cumbent must rest upon the death or degra-
dation Of his chief. His fortunes must have
their root in the ruin of the President
Potentially important, actually he must be
nothing except in the occurrelc ice of events
that would awaken national sorrow or