President McKinley
also made one serious mistake, of which indeed he did not
set the example. Yet he made what was before but an individual
and extraordinary instance, a practice. If that practice
continue, it will go far, in my judgment, to destroy the independence
and dignity of the Senate. That is, the appointment of members
of the Senate to distinguished and lucrative places in the
public service, in which they are to receive and obey the
command of the Executive, and then come back to their seats
to carry out as Senators a policy which they have adopted
at the command of another power, without any opportunity of
consultation with their associates, or of learning their
associates' opinions.
The Constitution provides, Article I., Sec. 6,
"No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for
which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under
the authority of the United States, which shall have been
created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased,
during such time; and no person holding any office under the
United States shall be a member of either House during his
continuance in office.
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