Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-01-27
A Tribune Correspondent Writes of
His Impressions on the Making
of Senators.
Aud Tells of How Things Appear
From a Hard Seat in the
Gallery
and Representatives Play q
Sort of Leap Frog With the
Situation.
Some llnpres ,iOns.

ana tne verge Oh expectancy ana WaJcneu
the senators aud rep esentatives play leap
frog with the senatorial situation and the
anxious candidates. 1t was a pleasing
occupations. AS far as the eye could reach
there were to be seen men of massive
frames and wondrOus intellects, men
whose whole beings are replete with uncut
laws, some of which will weigh more than
carat and which are clear white and of
the first water. These men have been
selected from the thousands who inhabit
this state because Of their superior abilities
in the line of law and senat0r-making.
They assemble in Bismarck biennially
(which being translated means once in
two years. and reside among us for two
months, during which time they introduce
bills and say "Mr. Speaker" and adjourn.
The state takes a kindly interest in
them, and gives each one of them SIS a day,
desk with a green cover, a chair to sic
on, and some paper on which to jot down
tlceting ideas. The railroads, too, take an
interest in some OF the members, and give
them passes over the roads. This is done
by the railroad company as a mere matter
of philanthrophy, and not with any selfish
motives.
was acquainted with a man once who
was a humble business man, without any
influence, whatever, but who had paid in
thousands of dollars in freight bills to the
railway companies. He tried for eight
years to get a pass. and finally received a
half-rate permit, by the use of which, after
being elected from the train seven times
by suspicious conductors, he managed
to make his journey. He assured me,
after he had ridden home in a freight car,
that he knew railroad companies always
gave away passes philanthrOpically and
without any selfish motives. He was so
emphatic in his statements that l could not
but believe him.
But all this is depression.
1--WE will now return to the hero, whom
we left in a sad plight to use the language
of the novel writer. There were a num-
hall besides myself. Some OF them sat in
cushioned chairs among the members, and
talked cOnfidentially to them. l once
thought, innocently, that this was a privi-
lege accorded every one, but l have since
letirned that such is not the case. | started
in a cushioned chair myself, but l was
halted by a gentleman who occupies the
same position in the legislature as st.
Peter does in Paradise, who took me quite
firmly by the collar of the coat and asked
me hOarsely, in a sort of semi-tragic wills
or made q motion to ALLOW me to sit there.
1 booked at him sadly for a moment and
told him that the only bill which had ever
been introduced, relating directly to me-,
was introduced by a mosquito, and that
the benefit thereof had accrued directly to
him and not to me. He (St. Peter) seemed
pleased at my versatility, for he laughed
teebly and then pointed up stairs and told
me that a generous state had provided me
a place up there. Aud so l went. [ did
not stop to argue with him for fear should
be mistaken for a senator and made the
receptacle Of some startling political
secrets. This would have been embarras.
sing to one Of my inherent mOuesty and
timidity.
l was intensely impressed with the
mode OF construction Of United States sen
atOrs, as it was for the first time unfOlded to
my rapt gaze. One man calls off the names
of the members, and they answer the name
Of the candidate for whom they wished
to vote. Only members OF the legislature
are allowed to vote. | learned this from a
bly, %ensconced in the pit OF my stomach, and
blew tobacco smoke into my face. l saw
several senatorial candidates on the floor
who, l feel certain, would have been de-
lighted to receive an opportunity to vote,
but they were not asked; l felt a little
oul Hl oCu gu tulSS uSAlNk n UlIO DIX uldu
why it was. He looked at me for a mo.
ment. and muttered something which
sounded suspiciOusly like ''damafOOlany.
way," and | forbore questioning him fur
ther. He seemed bored: Perhap, it was
because of the board on which he SAT. (Chis
joke is not original with me. 1 heard it
once from a clown in a circus who was
afterward mObbed by an enraged people).
After the voting is through with, and
the caller asks "are you all done changing
your votes, g~entlemenw the votes are
added up, and the speaker reads the re.
suit. Ii it looks bad for either side, some.
body moves to dissolve the Legislature, and
the members vote on this. They voted
four times yesterday, before the members
would agree to DO dissolved.
tickle, and after the votes are taken, and
everything is being added up, they arise
and wish to change their votes. | was not
able to see the 0bjectof this, until 1 was told
by n kindly stranger. who turned and
looked ut me, partly, l suppose, through
goggles, that there was always a good
deal of change used in senatorial elections
Then | understood, and laughed heartily
at his joke.
There is some betting, too, Oh the result
of the election. l rode 10 the capitol in
base burner hack (they cali it base burner
because it is always cOaled) and AZ W I
rode along one of the gentlemen expressed
the opinion $25 worth, not necessarily fot
publication, that Mr.. Casey would not bt
BE- elected. His name was William. Mr.
futile, who was the other occupant Of the
conveyance. differed with him to the eX-
tent of Two los anu q s, and they
placed the whole sun in my hands
This explains an abnormal and
altogether unnatural fullncsS In the region
Of my pocket book, and as l gaze upon til.
fluffy pile of bills, L am no longer In Tho
dark as to the reason so many cashier.
migrate to Canada and Mexico. l wa.
rather fOrcibly informed by the two
gentlemen above mentioned, before thu
money was turned over to me, that ! was
under no circumstances, to consider 1t a!
belonging To me, ! was merely to taxi
care Of it and deliver it to one or tho Other
OF them after the election had been dc
cided. This pr0visO robs tho bills of
great deal of their natural beauty.
TIE SHAREHOLDER.
A new Methodist church is being
erected ut Forman. The Unitnrians oc
cupied their new church in Fargo tn
first time Sunday.