SENATE

As the Barry case paddles its way through the backwaters of the Senate Judiciary committee, a vindicated body of national representatives resumes its interrupted ritual and marks time until today at 4 P.M., when it will again have the opportunity to establish its dignity by clever thrusts at a bewildered sinner.

From a perfectly legal point of view, the Senate is doubtless justifies in its insistence that Barry produce proof of substantiate his unfortunate assertion. Even if the sergeant-at-terms did write the article in question as a defence of the Congress, his statement that "there are not many Senators or Representatives who sell their votes for money . . ." wins undue respect from the office appended to the by line. If the Senate cannot command respect even from its own subordinates, its prestige in the country at large must suffer. And when all this is added to the protracted Bronx cheer which the nation's press has directed at the defenceless lame ducks, there is small wonder that the Senatorial ire is aroused.

But there are doubtless those who would be unkind enough at this juncture to suggest that at a time when business is grouping for action of any sort provided only that it be definite the Senate would be better advised as to the nature of the word prestige if it took definite action on relatively important matters than if it quibbled sonorously over trifles, which, as Barry pointed out yesterday, even Senators have admitted to be true. Such an argument, however, neglects eternal verities. After all, to what end lame ducks and hueylongs? There are only twenty-three days left. On with the dance.