The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-24
SENATORS ARE SACRED.
New Rules to Guard Them Against
Contact with the Populace.
Ths Opea-Door System Resulted In Fre-
qnent interruptions of the Mem
bers by Trzm7s and Sight
Secrs of All Sorts

Senatorial exclusiveness is growing
thicker.
Many complaints have burdened the
columns of far-oa. papers during the
year of the increasing tendency OF the
members Of the American house of
lords 20 erect barriers between them
selves and the great public. Time
was. says the Washington News, when
a citizen could find access to the ear
of a senator with his complaints and
hobbies and suggestion, about as easi-
~ as he could reach representative,
and that is no more difficult than to
get audience with any very busy busi-
ness man.
When the senate was in actual ses-
sion the dOorlSeeper would carry in
card-the drop a-pasteboard in the
observation-disclosures process
which still works over at the house
unless the member happens to know
that you have little private bill, or
want to get a relative into office, or
perchance Mr.. Reed is on his feet. or
new story is being told in the environs
Of Mr.. Kilgore's seat
One innovation which marked the
beginning of this session is being re-
marked upon at the capitol Formerly
the box-like historic chamber which so
inpresses the casual visitor by its
tawdry, theatrical gliding, was thrown
open for whoever cared to enter at
all times when the senate was not in
action.
The privileges of the public have
been slightly curtailed this session by
a new custom, the closing of the doors
TO visitors at nine o'clock in the morn
ing and keeping them closed until the
senate has adjourned in the afternoon
Few people in Washington have fin
ished breakfast at nine o'clock, none
OF them 60 TO the capitol before that
hour. so that inspection of the SEN
ate chamber by visitors will hereafter
be limited to the view from the CALLER
les, which are always open, except
when the senate is in executive session
No more tourists from the far states
can take home with them the story of
how they sat in the vice presidents
chair and curled their limbs under the
desk where Roscoe Conl5ling and other
great men have sat.
The grumblers say that this new Gus
tom is right along the line with other
rules established by the last one or
two congresses - the instructions to
the doorkeepers not TO take in cards
during the morning hour consecrated
to general business being one.
This privilege to visiting constitu-
ents and the general public of thrust
ing in a card and then leaving in huff
If your senator did not choose to come
out smiling with any stretch Of his
time at your disposal to listen TO the
merits of your pension bill, or hear
how You had always wanted to say
that you had shaken hands with him
has been greatly curiailed of late.
During the last session one senator
accused another of having ordered the
doorzeepeTs not to bring in cards while
he was speaking, a step which IS fre-
quently taken by the veterans, and
which the younger senators are con
strained by senatorial courtesy TO Re-
quiesee in.
But there is a senator's side to the
latest established custom Of closing the
doors during the morning hours before
the sessions have begun. Several sen
ntors End II convenient almost every
day to attend to their correspondence
at their desks. One who is almost al
WAYS TO be found IN his seat writing in
the morning since change of admin
istratiOn turned over his committee
room to democrat is the venerable
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont The dis
tanee Of the Maltby, where the repub-
Hcan senators have their private rooms,
leads several to the custom of making
Offices of their desks.
Under the old rule of open doors the
whole populace was at liberty to touch
elbows with any senator who happened
to be at his desk earlier than 1i:95.
There were no restrictions of race or
personal cleanliness. Beer-soaked
tramps and loving couples on their
wedding trips strayed in 10 stare and
comment They stood around to make
remarks on the few senators visible,
made audible remarks about their
books and pointed with umbrellas and
canes, as the visitors to art galleries
are warned not to DO.
These things were the penalties of
prominence, but they were not alto
gether pleasing to senator's, and they
were growing worse as the numbers Of
visitors TO Washington increased. Con-
sequently the edict has gone forth this
session that the Open-mouthed pOpu-
lace shall be limited TO the galleries il
its senate sightseeing. Many win g.
away to declare that the senate is
elevating itself above the people and
that democratic simplicity is q thing
of the past.
But senators say in self-defense: In
the name of democratic simplicity are
we 20 be on exhibition like the animals
of menagerie?'