The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-29

Washington, Jan. 2s.-There Is only
one better point from which to view the
United States senate than the press
gallery and that is the vice presidents
chair AS i cannot hope to be vice
president. and possibly would not II
could. / must be content today with the
view from the press gallery Facing me
are the seats, arranged amphitheatric-
ally, in which the 30 members OF the
senate spend an hour or two OF every
legislative day. l look down on the
desks where they write when the bust
ness is uninteresting and on three of the
doors through which they enter and
leave the chamber. Directly opposite
are the doors OF the cloakrooms-those
safe retreats from boresome debate,
those cyclone cellars in which the sem
ators escape the storm OF oratory when
- gets the floor.
have no doubt you can oil in that
blank for yourself II you are at all ia
rniliar with the affairs of the senate.
IL you can't. IL must remain a blank.
for ! will not.
Some years ago one Of the wits on
the other side OF the capitol furnished
us a bonmot which would have illus
trased that blank in another congress.
He said that the only thing at the cap
itol more tiresome than a call of the
house was the Call OF the senate. Mr..
Call is not member OF the senate now
and his successor as chief bore i'm the
upper house of congress l shall not
Eame. / have no doubt you know him
by reputation.
Ninety-one seats face me. not all of
them occupied or assigned. There will
be 30 senator's. representing 45 states.
when all the states have chosen their
representatives. Just now some are
lacking from the seats at the ends Of
the semicircular rows. j have 10 lean
forward in my seat TO get view OF
those tail end desks. They do not come
easily within the range OF the vice
presidents eye. That is why they are
rot in demand. The privilege OF at
tiacting the presiding officers attention
i5 always precious to a man In any leg
islativc body.
Length OF service counts in the as
sisnment of seats. That is why find
such veterans as Morrill, OF Vermont.
Cockrell of Missouri and Allison Of
Iowa right under me as l look down
from tho gallery. Edmunds sat for
many years down there in the front
row. BLACK Jack" Logan not far away.
As I recall them. the senate looks
empty without their comma nding pic
turesque figures. How much moro bar
rem must il DC 10 the men who look back
10 Blaine and David Davis and the
giants Of a generation past
When these men went out Of the SEN
ate. the younger members applied To
the custodian Of the chamber-it was
Captain Bassett in those days--for re.
nj Ia
and seats just vacated. And as the
older members were first 20 think OF
this advantage the senate class ranged
itself according 60 length OF service and
moved up ono seat with each vacancy
That is the way the supreme court ils-
tices do. and YOU can know in a mo-
ment who has been longest on tho
bench by observing who sits at the
right hand OF the chief Justice
Within the sweep OF my eyes as / sit
here in the gallery are the strong men
OF the senate. Age and experience do
not make strength in all cases. but they
are necessary 10 IL in so conservative
body. BESIDES. the fact that man
eomes back 10 Washington again and
again chosen 10 represent a sovereiea
state, is pretty good proof Of charac-
ter. Wealth counts for something in
old ones. but not long. Ohio sent Payne
10 the senate and later Brice. but not
Tor more than one term. Hanna comes
from Ohio FOR a double term not be.
cause he is wealthy, but because he 10
great national campaign manager,
with n recent record of success Han
ma predec cssor, sherman. came back
10 the senate again and again but not
az n rich man. He was a poor man
when he first came 20 congress and no
made his fortune in the city OF WASH
ington by wise Investments i'm real es-
tate and in street railroad stocks.
sherman. Brice Payne and Hanna
four millionaires--have represented
Ohio In the senate. Another millionaire.
John Il. Mclean. was 10 have succeed
cd Hanna II the Democrats had won
the state last fall. Two OF these men
Brice and Payne, have helped to man
tain for the senate the reputation of
the "millionaires' club" How ridicu-
lousy inappropriate that reputation e
Is proved by the study Of the men who
sit below me There is the father OF the
senate. Justin S. Morrill, Of Vermont.
who lives i'm the little village OF STRAIT
ford in the plain but substantial dwell
irg which he planned for himself when
he was married. lie s not even "A rich
man. There is Francis NJ. CockreU of
Missouri. who has lived on his senator's
salary ever since he came To congress;
George q. Vest OF Missouri. who could
not afford to bring his family % Wash
inston l. years ago, but who has made
little fortune I'm speculation since: Ar
thur H. German OF Maryland. who was
senate page and who came 90 con
Eress comparatively poor. though h.
has made enough money since 10 Ls ia.
dependent William =. Alliseh "a Iows
sh0 is comfortably nxsd but not rich