Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-03-22
DIGNITY OF THE SENATE.
WALTER WELlMAN HOLDS IT TO
BE A HOLLOW, HOLLOW SHAM.


WASHINGTON, March 20.-We hear .
great deal of late about senatorial dignity
and the protection thereof. A most Sc
rious committee Of this dignified body is
now at work trying to ascertain the
names Of the unholy wretches Of news
paper men who print facts which the
senators think ought not to be printed.
1.-THE dignity Of the senate must be main
tanned at all hazards" say these aristo-
Gratis Of the national legislature, "even IL
we have TO put in Jail the whole news
paper outfit" As II the dignity Of q
great body like this depended upon the
action Of o few newspaper writers, and
could be maintained by locking those
writers behind iron bars for performance
OF their duty to their employers and the
public. There Is nothing new In all this.
Ever since II was born the United States
senate has been striving to keep up it,
dignity. 1t has paid more attention to
dignity than to brains, and In consequence
has constantly degenerated. There has
not been really brilliant senate since
the days OF the war. These old chaps
who spend half their time thinking up
new devices for maintaining their dignity
are as matter OF fact commonplace lot.
OnrortunaJeiy Tor iJseiI the senate
started I'm ON this campaign of eternal
dignity the day 1t came into the world.
At first it was going to hold all its ses-
sions In secret, and actually did 80
until Il discovered that an election to the
senate was like the burying OF o man
alive. There were newspapers In those
days and sensible men running them, as
now, and the old time newspaper men
concluded that the dignified, secret and
stupid senate was not worth bothering
with. They published no reports, rarely
mentioned the names of senators, and,
after three or four years of that sort Of
experience, SO much Of the dignity OF
the body as was embodied In the secret
proceedings was reluctantly abandoned.
Early in its career the senate sought
to borrow little dignity from the Office
Of president Of the United States; il con.
strued the constitutional provision con-
cerning appointments to mean that the
president must personally confer with
the great senate about the men whom he
wished to appoint to places in the gov
ernment service. Washington did for q
time go to the senate chamber for the
purpose Of holding these consultations,
but his good sense enabled him very
quickly to perceive that such methods
were beneath the dignity Of his Office,
and he soon discontinued the practice;
still, to this very day the senate keeps
in its standing rules the clause, "When
the president Of the United States shall
meet the senate In the senate chamber
for the consideration Of executive busi-
ness, he shall have seat on the right Of
the presiding officer"
The senate had no sooner been called
into existence than it endeavored to lift
itself upon a pedestal above the other
branch Of congress. This was strikingly
shown in the effort which the first sem
ate made to compel the house Of repre-
sentatives to bow the knee to senatorial
dignity in the matter OF transmitting
messages between the two houses. The
senate insisted that its communications
70 the house should be sent by the hand
OF one of its employees, the secretary, who
was deemed person Of sufficient inn
portance TO wait UPON the common
members OF congress. When the house
had q communication to make TO the
august senate. however, a committee Of
members was to take the bill or resolu-
tion in their hands, and with uncovered
heads and cautious tread approach the
senate door. There they were to be an
nounced by the doorkecper, and. as salvs
for the wounds caused their pride BY
serving u the capacity q menials, were