Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-03
In CONGRESS FOR FUN.
Bessie Bramble Thinks That EI-
presses 1t Well Nowadays.
TOO MANY AUGUSTUS CESARs
Are Rattling Around in Seats Intended for
Real Statesmen.
HARR1S0N'S RIGHT TO KILL DUCKS
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH

WRITTEN FOR THE prsPArcH1
The spectacle of the Senate of the great
United States refusing to confirm the ap-
pointment of worthy man to minor Office
in Pennsylvania at the dictation of one of
its members, famous as a State "boss," is
lesson in politics that brings to mind the
Senate of old Rome when under the thumb
of Augustus Cesar.
Augustus was a shrewd, sagacious and far
seeing man who understood human nature
He, while pretending and protesting an ar
dent desire to maintain the honor and purity
of the Roman Republic, yet so managed the
Senate as to really become dictator and
emperor. He wa. master of political in
trigue. He professed the utmost humility,
when full Of towering ambition. While
prating of freedom and the rights of the
people, the imperial purple was in his
vision. He expressed the greatest devotion
to the constitution, but had no scruples
About subverting and DESTROYING it. 1t is
quite likely that the Roman Senate saw
through his desires and designs, but for
their own safety they made no demur, and
simply used their power to play into his
hands.
Is it possible that the Senate of this coun-
try is also subordinate and subservient to
political dictators? Is it to be believed that
its members are so trammeled and bound by
that mysterious thing called Senatorial
courtesy" that they cannot muster up
enough courage to confirm a nomination
made by the President, because the so
called Gear" has announced that in def
erence to his personal wishes it must be
chung up?"
1t Has Been Well Considered.
The strange part Of it to an outsider is
that President Harrison and Secretary Fos-
ter and others had their heads together over
that appointment of Collector in Pitts
burg for months. It was postponed under
one pretense and another over and over
again. The political pros and cons were
evidently subject of profound thought and
serious discussion. 1t was slept on not for
one night only, but during the silent
watches of many midnight hours. If the
fate of the whole United States had been
pinned upon its consideration, it could
hardly have been considered more. If the
plum of the Presidency had depended upon
the way the cat jumped in that Pittsburg
appointment it could hardly have taken
more time for careful deliberatIon.
Fitness, capacity and character are pre-
sumed to be tests for office, but it appears
there is good deal, after all, behind all
these, since there has to be so much dilly-
dallying and shilly-shallying over so simple
a matter. Both OF the prominent candidates
had stacks of recommendations and legions
of friends in their support. The President
and Mr. Foster seemed to be in the position
Of the man who had too many girls and
sadly exclaimed:
How happy could be with either
We're t'other dear charmer away.
Day after day, week after week passed,
and they could not make up their minds. In
less time, Thomas Jefferson, with all the
direful consequences of revolution in view
in face of the power of England, in sight
of the destruction and calamities it might
cause to the country-composed the i'm
mortal Declaration of Independence, and
had it adopted and signed. Cromwell and
his Parliament made much shorter work of
condemning and beheading Charles I of
England.
The impression Delay Created.
An old saw says: 'There is luck in
1eisure;' while another warns that 'Delays
are dangerous. By the long lingering over
the appointment Of the Collector of Pitts
burg, the President created the impression
that while he was opposed to favoring the
candidate of Senator Quay, he was yet un-
decided as to going against him. 1t gave
rise to the idea that political appointments
were to be doled out rather more for the
furtherance of personal ends than through
concern for the public good. 1t gave
strength to the assertion continually made
shat 'a second term" dominated the minds
of the officers of the administration, and
everything had to be considered with lefer-
ence to that ultimate state of things-so
much to be desired and sought after
However for veal or for woe the candi-
date indorsed by Mr.. Dalzell received the
appointment, and now it is proposed that
the Senate shall defer to Mr.. Quay in this
matter, and refuse to confirm the nomina-
tion. Things have come to a queer pass
when the Senate of the United States can
be controlled by one member to further a
small personal revenge, or to give a slap at
the President. Some of the Senators of the
country seem to imagine they are put into
Office for tun-that they have little to do
save enjoy their honors and have a good
time. They do not seem to imagine that
their time and brains are bought and paid
for BY the public to attend to affairs of
State. Senator Hill goes off ''galivantin' "
all over the country working up for HIM
self Presidential boom, when his duty
requires that he should be in his seat attend
ing to the business OF the position to which
he was elected.
HilI Didn't Gain by His Trip.
Such fagrant neglect of the requirements
of his Office will hardly recommend him for
the higher place of the Presidency to which |
he aspires 1t is neither creditable nor re-
spectacle that Senators should go of fish
ing, or hunting, or electioneering during |
the time they should be at work in the in |
terests of their constituents. A poor laborer |
not at work for even day is 'docked" for |
lost time, but the Senators and Represen- |
tatives off, at times for weeks, draw their
pay Just as if they had been on duty.
By the way, nothing has been heard as
vet from the humane societies as to Presi-
dent Harrison leaving Washington for a
weeks sport at shooting ducks. The MEM
bers of these societies are greatly shocked
at the cruelty Of killing small birds for
adornment, but why should it not be as bad
to kill larger ones for fun? Why should |
not censure be visited upon Senator Quay,
whose constitution and well-being require
that he should go South every winter to