The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-21

v
nothing suffers by his neglect. He may
never appear in his seat, never take tie
oath Of oftice, or even b. in the country,
and no public interest suffers, aud no pu lie
busioess is delayed.
In the absence Of the president the Sen
ate cnoosss n president pro tempore, who
holds the Office until another is ch sen. The
President pro tempore was formerly in the
line Of presidential succession, but is re-
moved, together with the speaker, from
that category by the law of 1887, SO that in
case OF the death of the Pres dent the de-
scent IS now through the Vice President and
the memte-s Of the cabiaet. the object be
ing to prevent the change OF politi-
cal administration in the term
for which the executive was
| chosen. If the Vice Presi lent dies
or fills the Office of President the president
pro tempore receives an addition to his
salary equal to the difference between h
compensate n as a senator and that of the
| Vice President, which is 5000 The SEN
ator who is chosen president pro temp re
retains his right to vote and debate on all
questions and has no casting vote IN case of
a tie. He eau name in open Senate or in
writing a senator to perform the duties of
the chair, but for no longer period than one
daily session, except by unanimous con-
sent.
The president of the Senate is the custo-
dian of the electoral votes Tor President and
| Vice President OF the United States, and
opens the certificates TO be counted in the
presence of both houses in the February
| preceding the expiration Of the term.
The Senate has exclusive power to try
impeachments, which are proceedings to
remove the President, the Vice President,
and all civil officers of the United States, if
proven guilty of treason, bribery, or other
| high crimes and misdemeanors- When the
| President is tried the chief justice of the
supreme court presides over the Senate, as
the Vice President could not be 'disinter-
ested, although he might be impartial.
Executive sessions of the Senate are held
for the consideration of business connected
with the executive department of the gov
eminent, consisting principally of nomi-
nations for Office and treaties with foreign
powers. These sessions are usually held
with closed doors, the galleries being cleared
of visitors, and all persons being excluded
except senator's and such clerks and other
officials as are requisite, these being pre-
viously sworn TO secrecy.
There Is no other parliamentary BODY
that habitually holds secret sessions, the
reason being that the Senate is the only
legislative assembly that possesses executive
functions, and shares with the President, or
head of the nation, in the exercise of execu-
tive powers. These sessions are a con
tinuation Of the deliberations begun by the
President and his cabinet, or by the diplo-
matte representatives of our own and other
governments, which are confidential in their
nature, and for prudential reasons are
not made public until the Transactions are
concluded. When nominations are con-
firmed or rejected and treaties ratified the
result is announced through the press or by
proclamation of he President, but the votes.
speeches, and other proceedings in the cab
met and in the Senate are not disclosed.
After a sufficient interval has elapsed the
journals of the executive sessions are
printed, the publication at this time coming
down to the year 1869.
The alleged wits of the newspapers, when
times are dull and other sources of recre-
alton fail, are accustomed to disparage the
Senate by describing it as ''cub of mill
ionaires" and the american House of
Lords, intimating thereby that wealth is a
condition precedent TO admission, and that
it is a superf1uous and unnecessary part of
our political system. Upon occasions of
public excitement and discomfort no appeal
is more effective from the stump or in the
resolutions Of Jacobins and anarchists than
the demand for its abolition.
These denuncations proceed from mis-
apprehension of its relations to our govern
ment, which has been defined as IAN indis-
soluble union of understandable states" The
Senate represents the states in their corpo-
rate capacity as distinguished from the
nation the great body of the people, whose
powers are expressed in the House of Repre-
sentatives. 1t is a permanent and endur-
ing factor in our complex system, so
far as anything can be permanent
amid the fluctuations and vicissitudes of
democracy. It might be eliminated by an
amendment TO the constitution, but that in-
strument, which permits cha lges in other
respects by the concurrence OF three-fourths
of the states, also provides that no state,
without its consent, shall be deprived of its
equal suffrage in the Senate. 1t is thus an
indispe lsable element in the adjustment of
power between the greater and lesser states
Rhode Island, Delaware and Nevada prac-
tically disappear In the vortex of the House
of Representatives. but in the Senate they
are not inferior to Pennsylvania, Illinois
and New York.
1t is placed beyond the reach of popular
rancor and is builded, like the President.
the supreme court, and the House of Repre-
sentatves, upon the solid rock and founda-
tion of the constitution.
The Senate is In no sense analogous to the
English House of Lords, whose members are
hereditary peers, created by the crown, and
representing nothing but precedent and
prerogative.
1t is undoubtedly true that from the enor-
hiouo AEatlSlOu VI us powers, que TO the
small number of states and the prodigious
aggregate of population. senatorships have
become the chief objects of desire to men of
force and ambition. The states themselves
recognize the Importance of able member
ship in that body, where all the states have
an equal representation, so that their infiu-
ence depends upon character and ability
rather than upon numbers. Thus the tenure
of office becomes more secure, and terms in
variably grow longer and longer for those
who render faithful and efficient service.
Naturally enough some men of fortune,
some who have achieved great success in
practical affairs elsewhere aud are without
special aiming or aptitude as legislators or
publiclsts, are sent to the Senate from states
requiring the service that such representa-
tives can most efficiently render; but the
imputation that wealth has special infiu-
ence here is incorrect. The number of mil
lionaires in the Senate has ALWAYS been rel
| atively small. The great majority of Sem
ators are men of moderate estates and
many OF them are dependent wholly upon
their salary for support.
A century ago seats in the Senate were
regarded with indifference; but there are
few men in any state in the union, of what
ever station, profession, occupation or es-
tate, who would not now consider an cleo
ton to the body a coveted distinction and
honor. Its dignity will constantly be aug
mented with the development of natio al
resources and power. Its iufiue ace will dis.