The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1890-12-26
THE CHANGING SENATE
n IS NOT NOW so SELECT AND
ORDERLY As IN FORMER DAYS.

Capt. Bassett-Tho Old Desks-Morril
Sits ut Daniel Observation-Disclosures
Ambition--Reed and the Next House
He VIII Be tho Only Ex-speaker.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-The Republic
an side of the senate chamber is now
thickly populated when all the senators
are in their seats. So many new states
have been admitted in the northwest
and so many senators have come here tc
represent them, that the senate chamber
is gradually coming to look more like
the house of representatives and less like
the small, select and gcnteel senate of a
half century ago. Fifty years ago the
senate was only little more than half
as large as it is now. Then there were
tifty-two senators, now there are eighty
six. Fifty years ago Michigan, now re-
garded as one of the old states, was the
youngest sister represented on the floor
Of congress. With the advent of these
new senators from the far west and the
increase of the number of senators has
come great deal of disorder on the floor,
80 much that Senator Ingalls,, who is the
senatorial mentor in matters of order
and decorum, felt it necessary the other
day to rise and appeal to the senate and
to the presiding officer not to permit the
traditional good order and quiet of the
ancient body to be destroyed.
But the character of the senate is grad
ually changing, and will no doubt con-
tinue to change. It is becoming less
dignifed, less aristocratic, less formal,
and the standard of ability and charac-
ter Of its membership is not as high as
1t was years ago.
It is singular fact. which I discov-
cred the other day by accident, that the
chair in which Henry Clay used to sit in
the senate chamber is now occupied by
one Of the young and inexperienced sem
ators from the west. Old Capt. Bassett,
the veteran senate employe who has
charge of the furniture and pages on the
floor, keeps as his own secret the iden-
tity of the chairs and desks which were
once used by such famous men as Web
ster, Clay, Calhoun, Benton, Cass and
Others These old chairs and desks have
been carefully preserved, and once they
were pointed out to visitors, but as relic
hunters began to mutilate them it was
found necessary to conceal their identity.
Senators Morrill, and Edmunds are the
only other persons about the senate
chamber who could point out these fa-
nous desks, but am able to state, with.
out any violation Of confidence, that Mr..
Morrill, himself uses the chair and desk
which once belonged to Daniel Webster.
Senator Edmunds, by the way, has one
ambition which is not generally known.
He hopes to live long enough and re-
main long enough in the senate to
eclipse the record made by Tom Benton
for longest continuous service ever
known in the United States senate.
Benton was member of the senate for
twenty-nine years and seven months
continuously. Henry B. Anthony, of
Rhode Island, served twenty-five years
continuously, and April next, if he
lives. Mr.. Edmunds will complete his
quarter of a century of continuous serv-
ice. Senator Sherman has served long
or than Mr.. Edmunds, but not continu-
ously. 1t isquite probable Mr. Edmunds
will live to eclipse Bentons record. He
is still hale and hearty, not so very old,
and about his reelection as many times
as he likes there is not a particle of
doubt.
1t is enough to startle one to look at
this venerable old man, Capt Bassett,
and to think that he was here in this
body thirty-6ve years before Mr.. Ed.
munds came. Yet such is the fact. It
was Dec. 5, 1881, when Bassett, then a
mere lad, took his place as one of the
two pages employed by the senate. He
was appointed by Daniel Webster, who
was very fond of him, and here h- has
been, as boy and man. ever since. He
told me the other day that when he was
a page the boys were required to wear
uniforms. but finally tho blue cloth and
gilt buttons We're abolished on the de-
mand of a senator from one of the far
western states probably Ohio or Ildiana)
who thought uniform inconsistent
with our simple democratic notions.
Capt. Bassett says he was the second
page employed by the senate, and that
the first is still living and employed in
one of the departments. Next Deem
Der, on completing his sixty years of
service il the senate, Capt. Bassett will
give to the world book of his expert
ences and recollections. It will probat
bly, be very interesting recital. The
good captain wants it understood, how
ever, that he does not intend to tell all
he knows about the senators with whom
ne has been thrown in contact If he
we're to unburden himself without re- !
'erve his book would create a sensation.
Capt. Bassett is the only man about
he Capitol who can remember the time
when it was customary for representa-
ives to wear their hats in the hall dur {
ng sessions It was not till 1928 that
his custom, borrowed from the English
house Of commons. was discontinued. {
Tor time in the early history of the s
louse ladies were not admitted to the I
gallery, but finally gallantry and justice J
,revailed, and after serious discussion |
f the question, which at that time was I
described as 'momentous," the ladies c
narQ NOT only admitted hut a pa11orv | q