The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-27

1875 when the new constitution went
into effect, seventy OF the senators were
elected for life. The chamber Of depl'
ties had the selection 81 these men in
the first instance, bnt the understand
lug was that as vacancies occurred they
would be filled by the senate itself. But
this arrangement the nation has since
abgogated. France has no nse Tor HE
senators, and we are glad OF II, She
still has a few Of these left, but they are
dying off steadily, and the species will
soon be extinct. A third Of the senate
is subject to renewal at the end OF every
three years. Consequently the senate
is never an entirely new body and IN
view Of the fact that the other houaels
subject to complete renewal, with the
chance OF sweeping changes, at the end
Of every quadrennium, this Is emphatic
ally wise arrangement.
POWERS OF THE CHAMBERS,
The powers enjoyed by the two cham
bes are equal in ordinary matters, but
in the raising Of supplies or the chang
ing OF taxation in any way, the initia-
tive rests very properly with the direct
representatives OF the people, By
custom, too, it has come to pass that the
chamber OF deputies is the body to
which the cabinet dcfers. An adverse
vote in the senate is not noticed, but
such action on the part OF the other
house is sure to be followed byminls-
terial designations. In the annual
stipend allowed them, senators and
deputies are on tho same footing Each
man receives from the state Sl,SOOa
year, n sum which bears no comparison
with the salary paid to members Of
Congress in the United iStatess but
which is at least an improvement on
tho English system. for there nothing
is paid. Those who like to dwell upon
the good side OF things tell us that this
payment OF nine thousand francs year,
brings u seat in the national council
within reach, pecnniariIy speaking, d
the poorest citizen, but those who sec
the bad side as well as the good, think
the pay wretchedly inadequate, and
attribute to this fact the susceptibility
OF French deputies to such seductions
as are held out TO them now and again
by the promoters OF questionable hnan-
cIal schemes.
Forthe transaction Of the business
the French congress divides itself up
at the beginning OF each month into u
number OF groups. This division ls
made by lot. In the senate there are
nine groups, In the chamber OF deputies
eleven. Whatever may be laid upon
the table is first considered in commit
tees OF tho whole by these various
groups, each group then appointing a
certain number, who meet afterwards
with representatives from the other
groups, to consider the subject as Il
special committee, the report OF this
special committee coming finally for
acceptance or rejection before the
chamber itself. To be valid every
measure must be carried by majority
OF all the membera-not simply major.
ity OF those present and voting. In
taking n vote, the usual method, il the
subject is too important to be disposed
OF by show Of hands, is to cast ballots.
The papers used are. white and blue,
the former meaning for and the latter
against. Each ballot is endorsed with
tho name OF the deputy or senator cast
ing it, and when the question to be de-
cided Is OF great moment, the ballots,
instead OF being gathered up by tellers,
are deposited with imposing formally
in front Of the tribune.