The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-28
Congressional Debate.

Congressional Debate.
A MORNING contemporary very Justly
commends the decorum observed in q re-
cent discussion in the Senate between Mr..
SHERMAN, of Ohio, and Mr.. FEssENDHN, of
Maine. But there is something else needed
besides good temper and courtesy, and that is
proper order in debate. At present all the
rules that ought to govern the discussions OF
well-regulated deliberative body are almost
entirely disregarded. The real subject before
either House Of Congress is rarely considered.
The member who has the floor may ramble off
from the matter in hand In the most discur-
sive manner, and II he should be required to
speak to the question, he pleads the liberty
that has been accorded to Others to talk about
anything and everything, and is sustained in
that claim.
Now, we submit that this want of any ap-
propriate method in debate at Washington is
very reprehensible. 1t is unworthy OF the
highest legislative assemblage in the country,
which should be exemplary in every particu-
lar of approved parliamentary etiquette and
system. Under the license of speech now
allowed the public interests seriously suffer.
The sessions of Congress are wasted in idle,
and, sometimes, violent and acrimonious
harangues, to no good purpose whatever
Measures of the greatest moment to the well
fare of the nation are thrust aside day after
day and week after week, to give gentlemen
an opportunity Of delivering speeches for
political effect at home, thousands Of copies
of which are afterwards printed and circu-
lated through the mails at heavy cost to the
Post Office Department.
Everybody who reads the newspapers must
be aware that much Of the time Of the pre-
sent Congress has been taken up with windy
declamations about propositions upon which
all that need be SAID, or can be said, has
already been said by hundred members
over and over again, while questions Of vital
concern to the commerce, the finances, and
the industry Of the nation, demanding imme-
diate consideration, are neglected. In this
manner much OF the really practical and
most important business of each session is
crowded into its few closing days, when it is
either hurried through without suitable de-
liberation, or postponed altogether. 1t was
publicly stated only short time ago, that
about sixty odd members of Congress had
prepared speeches on the subject Of recon
stluction," and that the order Of delivery had
been arranged. Yet it is hard to see what
profit the country is to derive from so much
verbosity.
But besides neglect OF those interests which
should be promptly attended to, the people
are made to pay an enormous sum Of money
for legislative service that is not rendered.
In addition to the salaries of Representatives,
and clerks, and messengers, and reporters, and
the whole hest OF Congressional stipendiares,
there are the immense outlays for printing
cart-loads of documents, for stationery, for
books, and the innumerable other matters that
make up the expense account of each Con-
grsssional session. For all this large aggre-
gate ofpublic money annually drawn from
the Treasury, the people get very little, com
parativelY, in return.
This is serious and growing evil, that
ought to be corrected. The first step towards
a reform is a well-ordered and firmly enforced
system of debate. Whatever may be for the
time the specific question actually before
either House, each speaker should be rigor-
ously confined to it, and no deviation allowed
on any pretense. Under such a rule much
more business might be accomplished Mat
ters of pressing importance, when once enti-
tied to the attention OF either branch of Con-
gress to the exclusion for the time of other
topics, would stand better chance of being
duly considered and disposed of; and finally,
If each session should not be shortened and
made less expensive, there would at any rate
be more substantial service rendered.
Cannot therefore, some reform in this mat
ter be effected, and will not some member or
members of Congress take the initiative in
bringing it about?