The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-01
TIE SENATE AS IT Is.
Elegant Surroundings Of the Pampered
Body That Defies Public Opinion.
1Frou, the New York Sun.

From the New York SUM- -
WASHINGTON, October 20.-A Sens-
tor was showing the Presidents room
to 8 little group of backwoods' constit-
uents to-day just as the reporter of the
Sun was being taken in to look at it.
An old negro funkey stepped in the
doorway and barred the reporters pro-
gress. ..- -r.r7
"You can't go in there" said he;
"there's a Senator in there"
"Wel, hang the Senator" said the
guide of the New York man. 81 won't
bother bim. I want to show the room
to my friend"
"You can't do it, sir" said the old
servant, "I'm very sorry, but it's q
new rule, and I-cannot break it. After
this no one will be allowed to intrude
where Senator is"
That little incident serves aptly to
lead an account of what Senatorial dig
nifty and traditions have developed
into. This is not an era of distress with
the United States Senate, whatever it
may be to the country at large. Else
where business may be paralyzed, in
dustry may be crippled, money may
be tied up and ont of circulation, but
these conditions do not prevail in the
north wing of the Capitol at Washing
ton. In view of what is public and
patent with regard to the Senate, the
weakness of that body is amazing. It
is bold as we'll as foolish for such an as
sembly to defy public opinion or to OBJ
struet the popular will, for it would
never dare to Invite scrutiny OF its
methods or surroundings
The Senate chamber itself is eecu-
liar and difficult to describe. 1t is really
building in building. Its own walls
support the galleries. which rise back
ward to other walls of much larger
chamber. None Of its doors or en-
frances reaches the outer air, for the
whole great chamber and its galleries
are surrounded by corridors and cloak
rooms. The floor of the chamber is
usually heavily carpeeed. It has a
green carpet one year and red carpet
the next, but for this extra session a
q mating was put down. The floor is
made in steps, so that each semi-circle
of Senators sits higher than the others
as the distance from the chair in
creases. The desks are the only plain
and simple thiaggs in the room, for the
walls are ornamented with a success
sion of gold panels and of gold pillars.
The only extraneouS ornament upon
them is the famous gold and blue clock,
whose hands the Senate sets backward
or forward when it pleases. At the top
of the walls the galleries begin, and
they reach to other walls equally Law
ishly strewn with gold. The ceiling
represents roof of massive gilt tim
bers, panelled with stained glass. p.
Patrick Henry and John Adams and
Webster are often mentioned as spirits
that hover in the sacred presence of the
Senators. But none of the great pa
triots Of ante-tellu.n times ever saw this
splendid chamber. It was not finished
and used until 1859. The truly great
Senators Of our history knew no such
magnifcence. They sat either ia the
simple chamber where the Supreme
Court now holds its sessions, or over in
the ancient district prison building,
now turned into the residence of Mr..
Justice Field. The reverend fathers of
the republic did not know the paiatiaf
temple Of the fliousters and the new
human windmills, who for near three
months have failed to do stroke of
legislation while legislation was most
needed. Neither did they know the
afHuence, the lordly repose, the palatial
elegance, the lavish use Of the peoples
money, or the mock royalist notions Of
caste and place which now obtain in
all the chambers surrounding it. All
this the great gilded hall, which they
never saw, may truly be said to typify.
A now common symbol of speech de-
ciares that all eyes are on the Senate.
Let US interpret the statement literally,
and :ell the public what it sees there.
It has been said that the chamber is
surrounded by other apartments. The
first of these are the cloak rooms, which
fully enclose the great assembly hall.
These cloak rooms, though they are
the property Of the public, are held
sacred, and no one is admitted tothem.
They, are splendid saloons, each one
set with soft-padded sofas of leather,
with great mirrors, with open fires,
with beautiful Golden chandeliers, and
with carpe' in which the Senatorial
feet sink luxuriously. Just lately,
while there have been night sessions,
light luncheons have been keptin these
CLOAK roon,s, ready at the. cali of any
hungry Serator.
!. Both of the Houses of Congress maiu-
,Sain restaurants. The one belonging
h.sthe Representative is called res
tojarant. The one belonging to the
" aooe.e has the word "Refectory" let
f finssayold over the doorway. Ap-
putssy the Senators are too great to
d bins restaurant. Their "refectory"
LthreS the large and busy room in
St buF the clerks and the public are
& was ted to eat. 1t is a ford and
eretafs apartment, accessible through
cht ~ room, for the Senators will
d .St@where the people do. This
tic d refectory of theirs might be
ou.tA bit Of Versailles, Indeed,
) Maintenon's rooms scarcely
10 much elaborate and gorgeous