The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-10
FpOA OTHER PENS
ABOUT THE SENATE.


The most conspicuous and notable
body OF men in the United States is the
senate, and while it would be impossi-
BILE, short Of a small volume, to give any
individual account of them, some few
facts in regard to them as a whole
will be useful in forming the impress
sion which everyone must have and
which should be as correct as possible.
There are 90 senators from 46 states,
beginning alphabetically with Aldrich
and ending with Wetmore. All but
four were born in the United States.
One was born in Norway, one in Eng
land and two in Canada. Since the re-
cent death of Morgan and Pettus, OF
Alabama, and Whyte of Maryland. the
only man in the senate past so years
of age is Stewart of Vermont, and he
is a newcomer. He is SO. Next come
Allison and Cullom at 70. Frye at II
and Plat at rs and after them the
average is not Very high, probably
about 55. Five senators served in the
Union army and four fought against
them, which is great change in the
past decade or two. For many years
after the war almost every southern
senator had been a soldier, and many
northern ones. The old men are pass
ing with the old issues. Whether their
successors will be equal in courage and
moral fiber to the men trained in ac-
ton on the field as well as in mart and
forum remains to be seen.
When it comes to education, we find
one who says he educated himself, two
graduates Of West Point, q whose
training was limited to the common
schools, which speaks we'll for their
efficiency; IL call their education acad-
emfc, which presumably amounts to a
high school course, and 4S are gradu-
ates Of colleges and universities. Look
ing at their domestic status we find GA
have wives with them, 10 daughters or
other relatives and Is are wholly with
out female protection. Classified by
occupation, is doctor, an editor, 2
are bankers, 2 farmers, 16 business men
and the remaining 20 lawyers. Few will
diSagee with the opinion that there is
too large a prepOnderance Of the legal
profession to be fairly representative
of the people. Most legislation con-
Germs business in some way, and it
would be good thing for the country
if the constituencies would get into the
way of sending more business men to
look out for their Washing
ton Post.
THE CAT AND THE COURTS.
A Massachusetts judge has rubbed
the fur the wrong way and evoked a
storm of indignant protests by hold
ing as a matter of law that, under or
binary circumstances, there is no pro-
perty value in cat. 1t appears that
a number of cats were killed by bull
dog and the owners Of the feline pets
brought suit for damages. The Mas
sachusetts judge held that the cats
were, in the eyes Of the law, "ferae ma
ture," which means wild beasts, and
therefore legitimate prey to be cap
tured and killed by all who chose to
pursue them. He further held that the
owner of a cat could not follow it to
private property, as that would be an
act Of trespass, and besides that, not
being property, the cat cannot have an
owner, as the term is recognized in the
law.
While it is true that some savants
have been contending that the harm
less, necessary cat is menace TO
health, dangerous to have around the
house, the world has acquired the habit
of looking upon the animal with more
kindly eyes, and 1t will take more than
the pronouncement of a judge on the
bench to change the opinion. The cat
formed a part of the domestic circle
before the beginning of human record.
For centuries the cat has been purrlng
it's way into the affections of the do
nestle circle, and the dictum OF the
Massachusetts, judge, If it has any eff
feet, will probably give impetus to a
movement to have the cat recognized
by law as property, a distinction that
was conferred on the dog, only after
years of agitation.-Omaha Bee