The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29
THE SENATE is PECULIAR.
IT'S NEWS r. NEVER OFFICIAL AVID
rs SUBJECT TO RETR1CTIoN.


Closure Not Likely TO Re Ordered-som
| ofthe Ssnate's Queer Euies-The Youure
Senators Shaking Up Thing. Forc,b,y.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 2a-No othor Legislative
body In the United States Ia Mt nil I,
be compared with the Senate. famous
statesman from New England declares tina
1t was the purpose OF tho patriot father,
to have 1t as peculiar as It is. He says that {
dstrust OF tho people undcrlnid al that the,
| did In the formation oil our Government The,
had all been born and bred under monarchica
| rule. and. In devislng q republican form o
government. they were certain OF everything
| except the masses. or tho common
sense and patriotism OF tho people thoy
had their doubts. Therefore they hedged
tho popular will round about with
lot OF barriers such as tho creation OF a SUI
preme Court whose Judges sat for ife the
establishment OF q six-ycar term in the Sem
ate; the making of the Presidential term four
years In this statesman's opinion the true
principle In republic should be to have all
officials return to the people every yenE To
uso his Language. All officials should be
taken out OF pickle once . year. looked over.
and returned II they are doing WE'LL"
However TINT may be. the Senators feel So
cure for six years. and that fact breeds an
atmosphere about the Senate chamber and tho
Senators that Is not noticeable In any other
body except the United States Supreme Court
but that is another story-an oven more
remarkable one. From the moment
visitor enters the Senate side OF the
Capitol he secs a plethora OF attendants
whose business is to consult the desire
OF the Senate for privacy. and to combat the
freedom and independence OF the public One
keeper for n door Is not sufficient for tho pur-
pose There are always two men ut each door
and others sit or stand in the corridors They
keep the crowds away They keep the way
clear for the Senators. and. latterly. II Sem
ator takes his friends into public room to
show 1t to them the doork ecpers turn all 9TH
ers out. The newspaper correspondents are
the only men who are free to pass these guar
dams OF the great sanctum: but that is true
only OF those who are regularly listed. and
when special reporter Is sent to Washingto
he cannot get the privileges OF the Hobbies
without permit that needs the endorsement
OF Chairman OF one OF the Senate's com nit
tees after it has been granted by the Press
Committee.
The privileges OF the press amount to very
little when they are obtained They give a cor
respondent the liberty OF the halls around the
Senate chamber Not only may he not enter
the chamber or the cloak room. but by re-
cent decision OF the great mon he may not
send his card in to disturb them. or course
the correspondents get what they want, and
will continue to do 80 while tho Government
keeps its republican form. but under the rules
all that they possess is a part Of the gallery
over the Nice-Presidents desk. Tho reporting
ot the speeches and routine procedure on the
ioor is done by the stenographers of the
United Press. and the work OF the spe-
MI 10 hot 80
md calculating these reports and tho
movements that go on behind tho
scenes. This is not straightforward mat |
err as 1t is anywhere else. News is OBJ |
aimed by absorption. and is next to never |
authorized. The Senators still feel answer |
Ib!e to their home papers. and so It happens |
hat each correspondent knows two Senators
Who do not find it advisable to snub him or to
ie to him. He has other Senators who arc his
PERSONAL friends and who have not got their
luman nature crusted thick with false and
IN American notions. To these he can 60 at
ny time in the Senate Hobbies or at their resi-
ences for the correct news. Unlike any other
ublic men. these Senators do not disclose tho
ews outright, saying thus and 80 Is tho
ruth" but they leak it out In a whispered,
Indirect way. with the understand that
hey are not to be quoted. and that they will
OF be responsible for it II 1t is published.
Most Senators. and all the older ones. are 80
eeply impressed with that senatorial poppy
ock which they call tradition" that they
re afraid to be frank. afraid to let the others
now that they have been talking to the press
nd violating senatorial dignity" Though
hey have had plenty OF proof that they can
bly, upon the correspondents not to betray
lem. they nevertheless nnhesitatlngly go
ack upon their own honor whom they are
uoted after having spoken publicly and with
ut reservation-if the situation changes or
ley become more calm and wish they had
een more circumspect
The bare idea OF the secrecy Of an executive
'ssion is nonsensical IL important news ia
ade during ona Often such sessions arc
erely taken for rest or to kill time and to
cad off debate when the leaders are planning
'me one OF those agreements by means OF
hich this ancient body manages to do busi-
'ss In spite OF Its traditions. That there ever
'uld be secrecy about such an executive $685.
on as the last ono. whom the Van Allen ap-
ointment was confirmed. is notion well
lited to the imaginary sanctlty OF tho Senate
1t long ago the proceedings at an executive
ssion were revealed In print. as they always
9 and must be II the business OF the people '
OF enough importance for the Senators to !
'ssip about 1t. In this case some exception 9
As taken to the publication.
The Senate ordered an Investigation. which
cupied more than 100 days and led to the +
animation OF a great number OF the corre- 9
ondents. All the correspondents respect. t
lily declined to tell how they got their news. 9
the face of conduct like that the same Sem C
ors who were protected will not hesitate to- II
brow to deny having used the words that 8
BY dictate and sec written down before their t
es. or that they use before twenty men, as a u
'stern Senator has done within a week. "
senator Harrls's recent statement. that no a
airman who offered to order vote in the g
nate. regardless OF the rules. would n
Q to do 1t" calls attention to another Senate A
cuiarity. and that Is the too common a. Il
mption that Senate traditions will be up-
Id by violence when bunkum ceases to warn II
ay those who would seek to disturb them
o statement astonished the public. but be- Ii
Q 1t was published at all it had been stated
,eral TIM s in the presence of tina renort.r