The Washington herald., 1909-02-14

frame OF the iumbsrman Senator from
Wisconsin IS incased in 4 very inexpen-
slve sack suit. in sharp contrast to the
/ ily-of-the-held attire of some OF his
colleagues. but he has taken millions OF
dollars enough out Of the Northwest
woods so that he can afford 70 be plain
and transformations in attire He knows
what kind Of trees make shingles. both
in the abstract and concrete. and not
wtthstanGing the amazing gyrations OF
his legislature. is extremely likely 10
serve another six-year term in the Sen
ate II any contest against him on the
ground Of a technical Ilegality in his
election is brought 70 the attention Of
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons OF the Senate. there can be very
little doubt as 70 the result
Recalls Days of DinEIey.
The preparation Of the present tariff
bill reminds me of the days and nights
when Nelson Dingley was immersing his
whole soul in the soundless depths Of that
abstruse question. He was created
without the sense OF humor. and a joke
might as well have been IN the fourth
dimension Of space as far as his ability
20 discern il was concerned. I boarded
car down town one morning with him
and Private John Allen. al on our way
to the Capitol
'Dingley, said the sage OF TupeIo.
do you realize that yeur tariff bin is
constructed solely IL the interests OF vast
aggTegations of wealth, and that Il IS
terrible injustice 20 a man with small
capiial?' The Maine statesman vebe-
mently disagreed with this proposition.
and used every economic argument to
controyert il. Meanwhile Private John
asserted the truth Of his statement, and
demonstrated II then and there Here
Is an Illustration right at hand" said he.
have only a nickel aud must nav If
for one fare, while you. who have q quar-
ter, can invest it IN six tickets and Sc
cure one free" In all seriousness Ding
ley labCred 10 convince John that his
/ bill really was not responsible for this
I hardship but John maintained flstlv
aggrieved and offended demeanor. and
when We arrived al the temple Of fame
the joint debate was still On
An Executive Session
To the uninitlated. the proletariat. the
great unwashed, al OF which includes
pretty nearly everybody, an executive
session Of the Senate is q fearful and
wonderful thing Like everything else
which is not understood, Il Is fIIed with
dire and other possibilities. The great
world outside wanders past the closed
doors, and wonders Just what grand.
gloomy, and peculiar tragedies are taking
place beyond the pale OCCASIONALLY a
Senator stragsies IN or out. and his per
son IS eagerly scrutinized for marks Of
the fray.
At times a voice from the DEPTHS IS
heard, rising in iucoherent volume but
minute after minute and hour after hour
passes and there comes no sign Al in.
tervals one 0f the very fen attaches who
have right 10 the fioOr in executive sss-
sion daShes msdIy out on some e-rand
OF tremendous import. and the hvstand-
ers gasp in apprehension as he appears
and disappears 20 sight Meanwhile the
dooTkeepers maintain the most strenuous
vigilance and YEARLY answer countless
inane questions. while the pages u1sg
tag around the corridors OF study the
schoolbooks which they always have with
them
As a matter OF fact. an executive seS-
sion Is only school let out. and the foot
light posing forgotten for a space- s
considerable degree Of inf0rmaiity takes
the place Of the sedate open session. and
Senatorial dignity is very suddenly and
largely forgotten among ourselves
Pastures assuring comfort rather than
the admiration OF the galleries are as-
sumed, and cOnventionality is thrown 70
the winds. Cigars are instantly lighted
and vigorously operated by al VINO use
the weed in that form. and the forum Of
the greatest legislative body IN the world
takes on the aspect Dwell, nearly am
thing but the Senate as i Is known 70
fame. Some OF the Senators retire -
the coatroOms. taking care 10 remain
within sound Of a possible bell call for
vote, and there reEale each other with
a variety OF stories such as are nowhere
contained IN any liturgy.
When everybody so desiring has ex-
pressed his real denatured opinion 81
the man e0r subject under discussion
either the button connected with the efeo-
trio cali bells Is pressed four times in6i-
eating adjournment. o. FIVE times de-
noting an open session after an execr-
tive II the latter the statesmen dunn
their cigars. brush of the ashes assume
a dignified pose once more. and t~v IN
look as the galleries expect them to
iheFeicfe the next time you wander I'd
against an executive session OF the Sen
ate don't wonder II a human sacrifice *
taking place within but understand that
the big boys have discarded the naiesfi,
and marvellous and are having q good
time all by their lonesome.
The other Gay a rank outsider observed
pisoursing Clerk Nixon entering the
Senate during an executive session Ia
being one Of the few employees thus priv
ileged- and asked an attache why Nixon
vas necessity 70 the proceedings.
Wei, answered the official. 7 reckon
he has been sent for TO act as bs7le-
for the game Very likely somewhere
IN GeezeTiand OF Gath IL 3 now being
told that something awful with cards
was taking place somewhere within the
hitherto supposedly halOwed precincts
But. speaking OF Congress distance
always lends enchantment 10 the view