Evening star., 1939-03-05
By JOHN ]. DAILY.

On March S, 1889. which fell on
Thursday, spritely gentleman
whose penmanship resembled steel
engraving sat down at an old-fash-
ioned desk and inscribed in ledger
book the proceedings of the first ses-
sion of the first United States
Senate.
That was in New York City.
Yesterday, in the Senate Library,
many members of the 18th session
of the Senate took time off to visit
the shrine where this old folio is
encased. And they remarked about
the beautiful penmanship, like cop
per plate.
Somewhere about the middle of
the folio the original keeper of the
first Senate's records grew tired, or
he was replaced by another penman,
and the handwriting from there on
is mot so good" as one legislator
remarked.
Nevertheless, what that handWrit-
ing records is of supreme importance
to this Government, for it tells
story of great human interest-the
struggle the early fathers had in
assembling a quorum. Up to March
4. 1789 the destinies of the young
Republic were in the hands of the
Continental or Revolutionary Con-
gress. For IA years that assemblage
had functioned. through the dreari-
ness of war and the unsettled condi-
tions that followed peace and the
formation of the Union proper.
First Session of Congress.
Then came this first session of the
Congress under the Constitution
and it looked for awhile as if they
might never get together. At the
beginning, only eight Senators put
in appearance-andt they were forced
to adjourn from day to day because
they could not get a quorum. They
were stalWart men and patient, and
their names are in the history books:
John Langdon, Paine Wingate, Caleb
Strong, William S. Johnson, Oliver
Ellsworth. who framed the first ju-
dietary bill, and Robert Morris, who
had helped finance the Revolution
They worked like day laborers, for
s6 day. Later they got fiat salary
of 1900 a year; but that was not
until 1916.
Day after day, from March 4 to
April 6. these men met and still they
could not get quorum. They had
patience, but it was on the verge of
cracking. So on March II they sat
down and penned joint note to the
absent members. among them
Charles Carroll of Carrollton, John
Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Pierce
Butler and others to the number
of IL.
Said the circular letter:
"Sir:
"Agreeably to the Constitution OF
the United States, 8 members
of the Senate and 18 of the House
of Representatives have attended
here since March 4. 1t being of the
utmost Importance that a quorum
sufficient to proceed to business be
assembled as soon as possible, 1t is
the opinion of the gentlemen OF
0OC1l AlouoCo CIldU 1Il1OIuldClOll Ol
their situation be Immediately COM
municated to the absent members.
I'VE apprehend that no arguments
are necessary to evince to you the
indispensable necessity of putting
the government into immediate
operation; and therefore earnestly
request that you will be 50 obliging
as to attend as soon as possible.
I'VE have the honor to be, sir,
(Signed by the aforegoing names.)
Continue Absent.
The II tardy members of the Sem
ate continued absent, however, 50 on
March Is, 1889, the faithful eight
got together again and, without
benefit of quorum, dispatched an
other circular letter to "the absent
brothers." This one read:
"Sir:
I'VE addressed q letter to you the
11th inst. since which no Senator
has arrived. The House Of Repre-.