The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-04
SEATTLE. sAruRDAr. soE a..
rnE nrcLIxE or the SENATE.

THE DECLINE OF The
The extra session will be rsFnora5ie u
the history Of the country not alone %
cause OF the importance Of its Work u ss'a
passage OF the unconditional silver psI-
chase repeal Law. but chiefly because g
the decline Of the United States sepase =
the good opinion of the country. an7
house promptly responded 10 the can %
public opinion and passed tbs BIZ shs
senate, on the othes hand, allowed ilsea
to sink to 3 position Of legislative an
areiism; Il absolutely lost the power y
action, which Is the fundamental fnnctioH
of Legislators. 1t lost the power o.
action not because it did no. possess Z.
but because il refused TO exercise It ether
through isck Of intelligence o. desire o.
moral courage. ant it oaly conseassd %
act when the stress Of penile opinion
forced il TO DO 50.
The United States senate has been com
pared TO the English house of lords. Ihs
resemblance Is most slight and superficial.
The house OF lords could DO Transformers
or even practically abolished through ths
crown and the house Of commons, Niiie
the United Slates senate could only p
abolished by revolution. so impreguae'Y
il it intrenched within our written coisti-
tuition. The house of lords depends fer ito
existence on precedent, which vas
violated in the days Of the English COM
monwealth, and may be violated again.
The American senate IL the outcome Of
election, while the house of lords rests
upon hereditary privilege. As the sale
guard of state rights the senate Is more
firmly imbedded in the Federal eonssisu-
ton than the house ofrepresentatiyes Itself.
The house of representatives could b
altered by constitutional amendment
but even a constitutional amendment IL
poweriess to change the fundamental
feature Of the senate By depfiving the
smallest state in the Union Of eq1aI
representation with the largest state.
The smallest state N the Union cannot
be deprived of the same number OF
senators a. Is awarded New YORK, except
by its own consent. which of course
would never he given. This pro-
vision puts tho senate outside the
range even of constitutional amendment.
The United States senate possesses sxecn-
tive power. while the house Of lords has
none. The lords cannot turn out min
lister, while the commons can By vote of
lack of confidence or by rejecting a cab
met measure. Our house Of representa-
tives las no executive poser except lis
indirect control over appropriations. but
tho United States senate has executive
functions which are directly exercised. lis
consent is necessary for all treaties and for
tho appointment of all Federal functions
aries above eertain grade.
Tho members of the United States SEN
ate represent the rights reserved 70 The
several states. II is body practically IN.
destruetible save by revelation. and IL
ought TO be in practice and conduct - Il
Is in theory, a most iigniaed and autha,.
itatise body. Nevertheless il Is tais hAlv
which vas once the admiration Of n.
greatest statesmen Of Europe ana Ana.
lea as the strongest column of the pah.s
political structure erected ~ the eaas.I.
tutioEsl convention of t7S7. that has H..
come n clog on the wheels # royern,as.e
and has submitted s4pineiy TO The vaa.
and lash OF handful Of obxtruet,an,.,.
and made popular government. an sb;s..
of contempt and derizi1n before The w,-i.
The United States senate has reaesss nj.
derlorahie condition because many ~ -.
members have forgotten that the rst..a
constitution declares il zeli-oriainea -.
promote the general welfare ana 10 .....s
she blessings OF liberty. nee to tiv IN -.
face Of the general welfare for The ,,,,-
pose NJ serving particular and psrsa.,,l !.
terests. Pros. Ven Hoist state. 80
the shame % the senate when hr savs.
"Nhoevsr says government. s.s.
and 10 put the possibility o. aeanr ). - :
mercy 81 every member OF tie fsss.i = IS
is virtually 10 abandon tie tisAs = a. ~
''If the rules Of the senate are =, g..
that some senator. who prove ths,rs 'si..sa
devoid of the required sense az hs>,.sS -
duty. can and DO turn them inta : .,. "a
of reducing the senate To the ehar.,...-.s -
debating society. white the ean~s,,.. = =
has created 1t an integral part of - "a 90
making power, II Is the imperative -, -
tutiona duty Of the senate ~ s Sseasss>
&hcIi. That \ the true tsspe ,,,vs - -. =
the people 81 the United States -. = s,se
have legislature always and IN - - .
every question calling tor les-szIa,see..ss sa %
WITHIN ths constitutional n5xs-s - aud
EFsss. or are We Ia have enc os,Iy - US
80 far as every senator, IN hIs ssses ,,s Aaa
ure. Is graeiously inclined 10 lei =. f ss
onef' "ase
The United States senate has hA., 80.
Of conduct that Is dangerous a. vr,.l -
spicsole when IL behaves With ..sl -
becility and vulsarity as 10 a5n.1,l.s :. 80
reverence 81 cur people for : NJ, s 80
portant par; 81 cur political sYste,, = -.
senatorial conception q aats aas - -
was stated As follows by tie vrs.s 49,
der Hamilton: az
THAT man should have -.
private life ot recalling Il > scent : - - Ii
because II the business "a xkErh -. seFeE.
Gagged he has 30 other object 49,. = = = ess>
the appreciation So hss pztnes..i = k@ia
the case Hllh the seBstarsp sssls
the tScat - tae stataF NJ ssspx
agent o. she Tnlou aad he 5. 10y : N
Term services necessary Tor -. -, - - -
hole. though his state shoals - -. !. sias
them" ''*~ e014sla
This vas the siew of the sr... n.
Webster, WHO, when rsgaiadsi On "a. = e. 3.