The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-04-05

Rtors and representatives abroad to act
on commissions. He SAID:
The constitution provides that no senator
or representative should be appointed to
any civil Office under the authority of the
United States, and that no person holding
any Office under the United States should be
member of either house during his con-
tinuanCe in Office. A. practice, however,
seems to be growing up Of establishing Ger
tain public duties or functions that were, in
all respects, analogous to those performed
by civil officers, Nand imposing them upon
members Of either house. The president Of
the United States has, within the last year,
sent abroad senators whom their colleagues
esteemed-men fitted for the grave and deli
cate responsibilities imposed upon them
to represent the United States in dealings
with foreign nations. It is a very serious
question in my mind whether such functions
were not those Of civil officer, and whether
all the reasons that the trainers of the con-
stitution had in the prohibition, which I
have quoted, did not apply to such cases.
This great honor bestowed by the president
is accompanied with the incident of jour
ney to Europe, support in Europe in lux
ury or comfort, and an opportunity to enjoy
the delights and pleasures Of the best for
eign society, which men Of wealth, however
well occupied in their private affairs, eagerly
seek at a large personal cost to themselves.
After thus stating his constitutional
perplexities, the worthy Senator Hoar
bethought himself Of his courtesy, and
fearing lest he might have wounded the
sensitive nature of Senator Allison, who
was sent abroad by President Harrison to
enjoy luxury and the delight Of the best
foreign society" at the expense Of the
government, proceeded to patch up the
breach Of courtesy as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: am sure that the hon.
orable senator from Iowa does not for a
moment conceive that there was any ele-
ment Of personal disrespect in the observa-
tions which deemed it my duty to make.
If l were to state far within bounds my
regard for that senator, his modest nature
would suspect me Of gross Aattery. / have
no doubt when the senator undertook his
functions as a representative of this govern
ment at the Brussels conference there was q
general opinion of the people of the United
States that he was the fittest person within
our borders who could have been selected
He had not only the special gift which that
function required, but his service upon the
finance committee here had made him,
more than almost any other person who
could be found oonverssnt with the perplex-
ing and difficult subject with which he had
to deal. But I made up my mind some
time ago that it would be my duty to call
the attention Of the senate to this grave and
serious matter.
To this commingling of admiration fol
brother senator and duty toward the
constitution, Senator Allison fittingly re-
piled, and then affairs of state swept
smoothly on within the sacred precincts
of the United States senate chamber
With such pleasantly do the senatorial
servants of the people while away the
time until the hour for executive session
arrives, when they retire from the gazt
of the vulgar outside public and discuss
the pros and cons in the careers of the