Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-22
PUBLICITY IN SENATE.
Growing Tendency to Do Away
With Secret Sessions.
A CAUSE OF POPULAR DISTRUST.
Many Older Members Prefer Omen
Discussion Of All Questions Two
Walker mud the New Members.

Rcformcrs In This Mattcr-Dr. Mary
Walker md the New Members
WAsmNGroN. March Ill Special l. |
There is a growing tendency in the |
United States senate toward publicity |
concerning matters OF an executive ma
ture. II was but few years ago that
in every case which came under the
head of executive business of the son
ate and which WAS considered in Sc |
crct session there was II great deal of |
secrecy ma intained in form. if not in
nctuality All this is quite different |
now. A notable instance of this was
the publication Immediately of the
amendment 10 the Hay-Paunccfote
treaty. together with the report in IA
vor of the adoption of that treaty. 4
year ago the vote rntifyng tho peace
treaty of Paris was also Immediately
made public. Nothing of this kind
would have been possible few years
ago. 1t is not known whether this is
due TO the fact that the publication OF
executive business after each session
is certain or that the senate has come
10 the conclusion that it is much bet
ter TO take the people into their conf
dcncc rather than TO attempt to keep
things secret. | know that a great
many senators feel that The dstrus; Of
the senate originates in many cases
simply because the people have an idea
that many unpopular acts are covered
up in executive session.
Want Open Sessions.
10, Co.. - l.,
open sessions on every question. Some
of the new senators when they first
come here also believe that open SEES
sions would he best but IA n general
thing they change their minds before
they have been very long members of
the body. 1t is understood that it
would not be just the thing to have
open sessions in some cases. especially
in tho matter of nominations. as the
character Of a presidential appointee is
sometimes discussed rather freely.
Then. again. there may be times when
matters of vast importance affecting
foreign nations are considered in ex-
ecutiVe session and things are said
which ought not to 60 out IS official ut
teranceS OF men holding the important
places Of senators. one Of the men
who have long been advocates of more
libcrality in the matter Of executive
sessions is Senator Teller. He has nev-
er ceased to believe that much of the
business that is done behind closed
doors might as well be in public. one
of the reformers in the matter of more
publicity was David Il. Hill When he
came to the senate. combinations We're
not announced by the scnat" until TWO
executive sessions had passed. 1t was
upon Il motion of Senator Hill that the
rules were amended so that these CON
, iirmations were announced Immediate
ly. Senator Hill was also Instrumental
in having q number of other traditional
requirements of executive sessions re
moved. and convinced many senators
HAT no damage was done when "A great
deal that was transacted behind closed
doors appeared in the public prints.
No More Investigations.
1t has now been nearly ten years
since the senate has attempted to i'll
vestgate how executive sessions he
come public. The last time ii was al
tempted il proved such Il roaring farce
that no senator really wants to conduct
an Investigation Of this character. 1t
4 is known that several resolutions have
been Introduced by senators directing
the committee on rules 10 make the in
vpStigatiOn, but. aS these are never
voted upon in the senate ami as the
committee OH rules has no desire TO
iUt lti tt,r
ever comes of them. No senator de
Sres TO start il Oh his own responsible
ity and attempt to get out of the news
paper men the sources of their iufOr-
nation. 1t was the late Senator DOlph
of Oregon who tried TO compel the
newspaper men to give M this nfor-
( nation and after conducting an inVeS-
tgation for two or three months utter
~ failed 10 make any impression say"
to provoke general cnmity of the news
paper men here. who nearly always
took occasion To remind him in an I'M
pleasant manner Of the investigation.
DIR. Mary Walkers Bill.
With every session of congress there
appears NJ the capitol sooner or later
that quaint. eccentric individual. Dr.
Mary Walker, TO the older employees
about the capitol the small figure of
this strange woman, attircd in long
trock coat and suit of black, a beaver
hat. heavy shoes and cane. with the
one mark of fcminnity, the shawl
thrown over her shoulders. is instantly
recognizable, and if any doubt exists
a good look ut her wrinkled, line mark
ed face will leave no question as To her
identity. This year Dr Mary was
waited into the capitol with bill IN
der her arm. After working for some
time without finding Il member to in
troduce it she finally had an audience
with new member who did not know
her except ny reputation. He promised
to introduce the bill. When he came to
read it over he found that il provided
that "wherevor the United States had
jurisdiction there shall be no oNecu-
lions but Imprisonment for life shall
be substituted" This was more than
hn had haruuinp1 for and after think