Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-28

is based on that fine old tradition
called congressional courtesy. 1t Is
sort of gentleman's agreement, where
each party gives his word to door
this agreement having been ratified 1t
is in force until the pair is broken.
Nothing. in the literal sense, would
happen to congressman who, hav-
ing been paired with another; should
break his pledge. He couldn't be GUST
ed from Congress, for In the eyes OF
the authorities the pair does not exist.
His vote could not be counted out for
the same reason.
But, while he could not be punished.
he would be in about the position Of an
invited guest to dinner who during the
meal. arose and hurled plate across
the table. The host would hardly have
the guest arrested. but he and the
other guests would thereafter be apt to
harbor conviction that they did not
like the plate thrower. They would
feel he had gone too far.
While it is true that congressman
cannot break his pair without suffering
the consequences that result from
broken promise, he can get around the
difficulty by transferring his pair. Usual
ly the congressman arrange In advance
so that on certain measures their prom
Use will not hold. But, occasionally.
transfers are made.
Thus Representatives Jones and Smith
are paired, Jones being for and Smith
against a stated proposition. Represent
atives White and Black are also paired.
the former taking the Affirmative and the
latter the negative. When the day OF
voting comes Jones finds that Smith is
not in his seat. He also learns that
White. who Is on Jones side, Is absent
He goes to Black and learns that Black
is In his position. So they arrange for
a transfer Of the pair, as the vote will
not be affected by their votes.
To the humble layman who does not
grasp the gigantic intellect of con-
gresham. this may seem silly. The nat
ural question arises:
why In thunder should they want to
vote at ALL since they know they can
affect the result?"
The answer is this: Jones and Black
want to get into the Congressional Rec
ord. They want to show their colleagues
in their home districts how they voted
Jones may have made a lot Of
speeches on the proposition which Is
being voted on. II the day of the vote
shows that he is present but unable to
vote. certain coarse members Of the
was framed up and bright young
candidate will get in the field against
Jones when time comes for renomina-
ton. The bright young candidate will
tell the people that he Is not a man
of Jones stamp. He would have voted
no matter what happened. He thinks
he would, but he finds he wouldn't. For
II a man broke his pair and the con-
gressmen decided to go after him he
would have a mighty small chance of
continuing his usefulness In public life.
Usually pairs are made along party
lines. A democrat Is paired with re-
publican. But during the present ad-
ministration there have been measures
which broke up the party solidarity
and the pairs were dealt seven ways
from Sunday republican would be
, paired with a democrat on all matters
except the question of the Panama
canal tolls exemption. On this measure
he would be paired with a republican.
The average visitor in the gallery
gets a loud. hoarse laugh when voting
Is going on-that is. he gets the laugh
after he gets outside. II he laughs in
side the Senate chamber he goes out
Immediately thereafter accompanied by
an attendant. and all the other spec
w. or militant sun.
The average visitor gets his postponed
laugh when a digniied senator. unlinber-
ed himself. rises slowly and says some
thing like this:
My colleague unfortunately is absent.
But II he were here and were voting on
this measure he would vote, aye"
Now, why says the average visitor.
should that senator get up and burden