Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-26

7HE Senate Of the United States
called by George Washington
1.-The saucer In which the tea OF
- the House brew is cooled" is a
legislative body differing In
many respects from any other in the
world. 1t is the most powerful factor in
the American governmental machine
There are things which the President and
the Senate may do without the assent OF
the House OF Representatives. and things
which the House and Senate may DO
without the assent of the President, yet
the President and the House IAN do MOTH
ing without the assent of the Senate. me
Senate is vested with a measure of all or
the three powers of the federal govern
ment-legislative, executive and judicial
1t exercises legislative power as one or
the branches of Congress, and it's concur
renee is necessary to the perfection of all
kinds of legislation. 1t exercises execu-
tive power under the constitutional man
date requiring it's advice and consent 10
make the nominations of the federal ON
GERS by the President effective. 1T IS
further exercised by the constitutional re-
quirement that no treaty shall become ell
fective except it be ratified by two
thirds vote of the Senate. The judicial
power of the Senate arises from its con-
stitutional authority to sit as court OF
impeachment when federal officers are
tried for high crimes and misdemean-
orS."
Without the advice and consent of
majority of the Senate no federal officer
can be clothed with the authority to act
as such. Without the affirmative APP
prevail of a two-thirds majority of the
Senate no treaty negotiated by the Pres
ident can become effective. On the other
I, f6a
approval of the President by passing it
over his veto. The House possesses no
power to influence the Senate or the
President in matters of political appoint
may be made effective without the slight
est consideration for the attitude of the
House. and. once ratified. becomes equal
in authority with a law of Congress. The
House may decide TO impeach the Presi-
dent but 1t remains for the Senate to sit
in Judgment, the only limitation upon this
power of Judgment being that the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court shall sit as
it's presiding officer.
Not only does the Senate possess pow
ers wider in range than those of either
the President the House of Repre-
sentatives, but these powers tend to give
1t a dignity and soberness OF mind not
in evidence in the House. One needs
attend only days session Of the two
branches of Congress to see the difference
between the House and the Senate. In the
House there is more os less noise. In the
Senate everything Is conservative, stafd
and dignified. The House will permit
itself to be photographed on special oc-
casions The Senate in all history has
never succumbed to the opportunities OF
the press photographer. Upon such occa-
sions as an a!l-night session or adjourn
ment day the House will sing itself
hoarse while in recess. The Senate would
be shocked from center to circumference
IL any one presumed to raise his voice
in song within its walls.
A few years ago Senator Tillman OF
South Carolina was addressing the Sem
ate. when Senator Warren of Wyoming.
sitting on the opposite side of the mid
die aisle spied bottle in the pocket of
the South Carolinian. He drew the bot
tie from its resting place, took out the
cork, smelled of 1t. much to the amuse-
ment of the galleries. and then replaced
it, The Senate was shocked by this pro-
ceeding and such frigid atmosphere
was created that the senator from Wyo-
ming has never given vent to his playful
impulses from that day to this. Upon
another occasion Senator Tillman made
a speech in which he likened himself to
the interlocutor in minstrel show. de-
claring that certain other senator's were
the burnt cork artists known as end men.
and that Gum Shoe Bill Stone could
give an exhibition of walking on eggs
without cracking the shells. The Senate
did not relish this speech. although IN
dividual members of that body were much
amused by it. Senator Tillman heard
from various sources that the Senate did
not enjoy such a Characterization and as