New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
THE SENATE CRITICISED.
REPRESENTATIVE DISCUSS THD FAIL
INGs OF THE DELIBERATIvE BRANCH.
TO PRESERVING ITS DIGNITY AID TOO LIT
TIE TO LEGIsLATToN-AN AMUSING
STORY RELATED BY COLONEL STONE

TIE TO I.IGIsIATTON-AN AMUSING
STORY RELATED BY COLONEL STONE
[Di TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNn.l
Washington Dec. "a number OF Representa-
tives and others were chatting In tho room OF the
House Committee Appropriations recently. and
the conversation turned on the Senate and It's
shortcomings as q legislative body. Colonel w. A.
Stone Of Pennsylvania especially severo and
pungent In his criticisms. Among other things. he
said:
81 think tho Senate. as q body. ought TO realize
that the people Of tho United States have generally
begun to regard It as sort OF House OF Lords
chiefly engaged in the difficult. II not impossible.
task of trying 10 preserve It's own dignty-which
is mighty easily ruGied. Why. remember - story.
and q true one. too. which illustrates it. One day
Senator Thurman. who had strong convivial
streak entered the Senate chamber ard found =
Senator whom he heartily d.siked engaged In the
delivery Of a speech. The odd Roman frowned.
shifted ard seated himself beside another SEN
ator. who had been lulled into q sweet sumber by
the statesman who occupied tho floor. Now, 1t
happened that the somnOlont Senator had been &
brakeman a railroad In his younger years. and
whom the Ohio statesman. to emphasize his disgust
drew out his famous red bardana and blew a long.
shrill note his bugs. 30 loud and piercing that
It startled tho drowsy pages. the sleeping Sen
ator who perhaps had been dreaming Of his brake
man days, sprang TO his fest and rapidly whirled
his revolving chair until he had set his brake and
completely shattered tho dignity Of tho Senate be-
fore he realized where he was
Yes" continued Colonel Stone "the Senate has
paid 80 much attention to its dignity In recent
years and 30 little attention to Its legitimate
duties that the country has lost is fast losing
respect for It. Why. people say in that body a
single member who knows how can obstruct ana
actually defeat any measure to which ho Is op-
posed whether It be an affirmative act Of legis-
lation or a bill to repeal law. In their opinion
too the personnel Of the Senate has greatly de-
teriorated or it would have changed It's rules
amount oi Of time spent in debate the body could
be brought to vote on pending proposn.ioil mon
a new State with 50c0o or 10000 Inhabitants. is
admitted into the Union, the people straikhtway
send their best man to the o blouse s 1a o Pre-
noxt best to the United States Senate; where they
"Oh. Colonel now you are going too far" inter
r1,pted Chairman Cannon, who had been trying
tTos s"P there are good grounds for many Of tho
criticisms showered upon the senate on acCos' r
r Hut think II is due TO the fact that that body
has grown large that the methods . o. & doing
which answsred beSs we as Wien #
does are out Of date and wholly inadequate
that these mshSas S 0ugh' and no Sst the en
sto is culpabe for not having Done so But l G 90
thss tsa From h. @ Of the
S2sy hS WIZ vs onss4 sf1 thsn
sSst number In the present Senate, ~
ora th. your
your POM ner - who now compose the Senate. your
SSson Ss sss ' ana ,nsy not Ss.n nasy
Ing 10 .a svia ac. SSnd opinions
:ns tss s..s sis