The herald., 1896-02-15
The Matter With the Senate


What is the matter with the United States
senate? What, indeed? If the truth must
be told, it is body in decadencs. The
moral and intellectual tone of the senate
are both falling far below old-time stand
ards. Men who have only been ten years
in Washington, daily attendants upon the
sessions of congress and familiar with the
characteristics and capabilities of most of
the individual senators. can easily make
a comparison which is odious to the senate
of the present day. Those who have been
here fifteen years, as have a number of
writer's for the press. look back upon the
senate and the senators of that day al
most with tears in their eyes.
Then the senate was, indeed, "the
most dignified legislative body on
earth" Such its members are still wont
to term it. but the words are sarcastic.
Then every man of the senate was a man
of national reputation. Now there are
only few senators whose fame really ex-
tends much beyond the borders of their
own states, and in many cases their repu-
tatiou is as politicians or spectators or
money makers or for something besides
craftsmanship. Where are the Conklngs,
the Thurmans, the Fessende IS, the Wades,
the BecKs, the Trumbulls, the Sum
ners, the brilliant, broad and
chamber. There are senators of ability
and high character, but the dry rot APP
pears to be i'll them, and the pail of party
ism, of narrowness OF of slothfulpess
seems to be hanging over one and all.
Rarely, indeed, does the debate rise to a
respectable level. If the cranks are not
exploiting their single ideas the brawlers
are engaged in personalities sadly out of
place in the senate. The upper branch of
the American Congress has fallen on evil
days.
1t is matter of general comment that
the senate of today is inferior to the house
in ability and character. This may not be
literally true in the sense that the average
in the house is higher, for perhaps it is not.
But the senate is SO far below it's former
standard that the discrepancy is painfully
noticeable. ami the house, always more in
mites for mediocrity to display itself,
shines in contrast. The house always
has the advantage of leadership.
There is always a guiding hand,
policy. The leadership may not al.
ways be strong, or the policies
wise, but there is something that is def
mite and understandable, something that
is respectable and responsible. The senate
today is practically the antithssis of this in
every sense. 1t has no leadership on either
side. IL there are any strong men in that
body, possessing personal force and in
lluelCo etlougu 10 pOlnt q way and COM
mand following, they have not shown
themselves. They are inactive or silent,
and the once respectable and admirable
body simply drifts along, the small fry
muddying the surface and nothing of mo-
ment or usefulness being done.
1t is no longer a great honor to be a
member of the senate. The day has gone
in which to sit on the floor is to attain the
summit of political ambition in this coiln-
Try. Many men of experience and capacity
admit they would prefer seats in the other
house. if only seats there were held by a
longer tenure. 1t is the six-year term that
makes the senate SO attractive and gives
membership in 1t greater charm. Many men
who hold seats in the senate came hither
without previous training in public life
Not a few of them are wholly unfit for the
tasks which they have assumed Some of
t1em are not even fit to be representatives
of districts in the lower house, or de,erates
fcom territories with the right to speak but
not to vote. In the change that has been
going on in the senate for some years past
the great men of the body appear to have
come down to the level of the upstairs and
accidents and purchasers Of honors, in
etead of lifting the recruits I'D to their