The times., 1898-01-05
UNwRITTEN SENATE LAWS.
Interesting PAPER by Mr.. George c
Gopham

!
The opening meeting of the Mems Club
of the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church was held last night In the lower
rooms of the church. The meeting was
not public, but each member was allow ed
to bring one friend. Aftef a talk by Presi-
dent George c. Gorham, on the unwritten
laws of the United states Senate, refresh
ments were served. The club, although
just started, has a membership of about a
hundred.
Mr.. Gorham said: II have chosen the
topic OF the United States Senate, With a
view TO calling attention 10 some of the
peculiar customs and methods of pro-
cedure in which it differs from other parli-
mentayy bodies.
The Constitution provides that each
House snail make the rules TO govern its
proceedings, but the Senate is governed
almost as much by usag as b Y written rules.
One of the most 1nbentiing OF these un-
written rules is to do nothing which it
has never done before
The Senate would DE scan daiized to
see q mallet with ahanSlle In the hands of
its presiding officer the instrument used
being a small piece'of ivory, something like
mallet, without handle.
There are legends Of an oIden tilna.
when some of the old boys OF The Senate
indulged themselves in a convivial way in
some of the committee rooms, but the
opinion prevails that they are nov all
very circuInspect. But fiji the Senate res
taurant, where the III lie of wine ana iuuur
is strictly forbidden. the sinful caterer ap-
peals from the rules 10 higher law, aud
serves at the table what IL called for.
About twenty-five Years ago, liquor was
dispensed from regular bar, known as
the hole in { he wall.' 7Cr
Perhaps the feature OF the Senate by
which II is best known TO most people is
the secrecy % its executive st ss.ons, whicn
is at once an offeDse and a delight. IL
offends the American sense Of the official
accountability, and delights the love OF
mystery. 1t is as precious to the Journalist
as disease 10 the physician. How tame re
the reports OF the open sessions In com
parison 1t was my fortune for eleven years
to have admission to the Senate in secret
session, as secretary of that body, and /
saw two hundred different men sit as
Senators during that time.
1T is fact which is not generally
known That the Senate sat at all times
with closed doors for the first six years
after our governme ent went into operation
under the Constitution
THE Senate is grand body-these
ninety men, the choice OF forty five States.
Ii is the concentrated wisdom, folly and.
indifference OF those States, with their
seventy millions of people.
Il believe our Senate is equal to its
day and its duties. and no fear need be
entertained that the American Senate will
come short in its share of progressive
civilization
The officers and standing committees Of
the Mems Club are as follows.
Organization of the Mems Club -Presiderf.
George {. Gorham; vice president. William
b. Gurlay; secretary, Walter G. Clephane:
treasurer, Philip b. Larner.
Chatrman of Standing Committees-These
with the president, pastor and pastors as
sistant, constitute the executive commit .e:
Reception, Lee Latiner; program, Charles
Moore, strangers, A. j. Halford; Sunday
evening, Charles Gurley; Bible study, Ito
be nominated by the Young Mems Class);
$. / Irvine.
Judge Harlan, of the Supreme Court.
and Gen. Breckinridge Were among those
present last evening.