Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-25
Some Things You Want to Know
The American COngress-The Earlier Congresses.

duct from the pauper labor and the more
abundant rags Of Europe.
Mr.. Madison rushed into the breach with
a compromise measure, supporting the de-
mand for the "outraEeously' high tax Of
II cents a gallon on spirits, but opposing
the paper schedule. Such was the gist Of
the first days debate I'm the annals Of the
American congress. II appears that the
lawmakers have not developed great origin
ality In argument since that time, although
notions Of size have expanded in the ratio
Of the growth Of the country. When the
first congress was quarreiing over a tariff
Of 10 or Is cents a gallon on rum, what
would have happened II some seer had ap-
peared 70 predict the rates Of the present
day, when spirits are subjected to a tariff
duty Of S2.25 a gallon in addition to an in
ternal revenue tax Of S1.102 Can one
imagine the CONSERVATION?
The First congress had no political party
divisions. The question Of whether or not
the constitution should be ratified had
divided the people into federalists and anti
federalists. The federalists were victorious,
and none but members Of that faction were
sent TO congress, the opposition being OPP
posed to having a congress at all. But by
the time the second congress was selected
there was a division, the people naturally
separating into two sections, one led and
inspired by Thomas jefferson and his doc
trines, the other inspired and led by Alex
ander Hamilton and his deeds. The JEFF
fersonian party took the name Of anti
federalists, although it was not the party
formerly known by that title. Eventually
this name was changed to democratic-re
publican, and finally. to distinguish the
party from the National Republicans, the
popular name became Democrats" But
It was not until after the civil war that
the party officially dropped the d~esigna-
ton Of Democratic Republican,
The first congress was made up of an
aristocratic element which represented
the people. The voice Of the common
people was not considered as being Of great
weight. The house Of representatives was
the important body, the best men being
selected for that branch OF the legislature
which most resembled the commons in
England. The senate was made up, for the
most part, of respectable mediocrity, and
senator's entertained the notion that moth
ing was expected Of them except to ratify
the ordinary actions of the house, and to
interfere only In case the house threatened
the liberties Of the people or the constitu-
ton. The senate exercised much more power
under its franchise Of executive rights
than It now does. The president made ap-
polntments literally with the advice and
consent of the senate" All sessions Of the
senate, both executive and legislative, were
secret. In the third congress the legisla-
tive sessions Of the senate were made
open, unless otherwise ordered. The ex-
ecutive sessions have always been closed,
and this circumstance has led to the com
mon error Of referring to all secret ses-
sions as executive sessions" Even now
the senate sometimes holds secret legisla-
tive sessions.
President Washington came to the senate
chamber and actually discussed executive
matters-appointments and treaties-with
that body. AS there were only twenty-six
senators when every one was present. it
was more practicable than It would be
now that there are ninety-two members of
the upper house. The president usually
visited the senate at least twice a week
and he always made a speech. He dis
cussed legislative as well as executive mat
tiers, and delivered in person the views Of
the executive, such as are now transmitted
by message.
The house at first selected its commit.
tees by ballot, but in 1880 it invested this
power in the speaker-the beginning Of the
development Of the power Of the speaker
ship and the present legislative system.
In the Second congress Jonathan Trumbun
was made speaker. During his term the
birth Of the political parties took place,
and in the Third congress the antl-feder.
alists defeated him and elected Mullen
berg by a small margin over Theodore
Sedgwick Of Massachusetts, the federallst
choice. In the Fourth congress the anti
federalists had a small majority, but there
was a split in the ~party-the first Of a
lone line-and the federalists succeeded in
electing the speaker, Jonathan Dayton of
New Jersey. Dayton was reelected for
the Fifth congress.
In the Sixth congress the federalist ma.
Jority elected Theodore Sedgwick speaker.
He was a violent partisan and an lmplaca-
BILE foe Of democracy. He cast the decld.
ing vote which placed the sedition law on
the statute books and thereby struck the
blow which forever lost control Of congress
to that social and political aristocracy
which he loved so well. He was the center
Of the first great congressional battle.
ny Frederic ]. Haskin:
Tomorrow-HThe American Congress-
The Revolution of 1901