Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-05
Parliamentary Filiibustering.

The question OF providing some rule or course
of action whereby 'filliOustering' could be
prevented. or rather stopped when the obstrnc-
ton began 10 delay public business has fire.
1uently been considered and discussed In this
country. but neither house OF congress has ever
been able ia devise rule for this purpose that
could be enforced without the use of arbitrary
power that was considered dangerous This
very subject was handled by Nr. EdmundS In
the Senate yesterday, and he read from
q speech of senator Thurman, delivered 10
1871. to show that the latter agreed
with him, {Edmundsl in the opinion that to
attempt to compel Senator TO vote would be
q dangerous exercise OF power. senator Ed
munds said that while the Senate, under the
rules. has the power TO punish a Senator for
not voting, when he is required TO vote! 1t was
power that never had been exer cised. In the
House of Representatives the previous ques
ton can be used to cut on debate, but in the
Senate no such rule has ever existed. There is
no way OF shutting of debate in the Senate,
and measures have frequently been talked to
death there. Parliamentary rules and tactics
In the nited States have 10 all essential par
uGulars been modelled after those OF Great
Britain Indeed, 70 q very great extent In this
country, we have substantially adopted the
English parliamentary procedure. but IL Is
hardly probable that Congress Will ever follow
so Tar as TO Initiate the dangerous
coup detat Just resorted 10 In the
House of Commons for the purpose
OF putting stop TO tactics OF obstruction. An
arbitrary measure adopted by one party that
happens to be In the majority, Is certain to be
used by the minority party against the origi-
majors when the revolution Of politics brings
about change. The rights of the minority
have 80 far IN Congress been respected to such
an extent that when nllibu5terlngsi5 resorted
TO. the only means OF relief for the majority is
TO rally a quorum OF Its own party. In the
present Congress the republican minority have
killed several Objectionable measures by flli-
clustering, but the majority. with the certainty
OF having Its own weapons turned against It In
the future. were TOO thoughtful TO proceed TO
any such arbitrary measure as the one adopted
the other day In the House OF Commons.
Would it not be practicable and would it not
be cheaper also for abe District authorities to
clear the snow from the street crossings by
thaw1ng with steam, instead or by shoveling
which they have heretofore relied upon: The
trouble with the latter plan Is that 1t Is only
indinerently done, and 1t is likewise only
question OF very short time when the sleighs
and other vehicles carry the shoveed snow
back again into the cleaned spaces, making the
slush and dirt there just about as bad as 1t was
shown, more than the pubic purse can afford.
ON the other hand, II steam from the pipes OF
the steam fire engines could be turned on each
crossing for a few minutes the work OF cleans
Ing would b. both complete and permanent.
And the cost OF that process need not be very
great The 1remen are paid any way; the exer-
else OF the horses would D. beneficial rather
than otherwise. and the only additional ex-
pense would be the slight cost or fuel necessary
10 get up the required steam. This we imagine
would be much less than The pay OF laborers
who do the work OF shovelIng under the old
system. AT any rate We should Ike TO see the
experiment tried.
Bancroft. the historian. Is terror to printers.
owing 10 the amount OF correcting he does In
The prOOf.-ErcArnge.
II he has as much trouble In getting his cor
rections made as editors generally have In secur
ing theirs. we are afraid the printers are like
wise terror TO Mr. Bancroft