The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-24
Duty or c ouTtssy

New York Trbune1
Some Senators won !er that their sincerity
of purpose Is questioned by the public. But
are they not even now giving some excuse for
such doubt? They are just beginning con-
sideration of the tariff. and behind that is
the election bill. These two measures, by
nine-tenths of the Republican voters consid-
cred the most important that can come be-
fore Congress this year, are not brought up
for discussion until July q, and yet Senators
gravely attempt to deal with them without
changing the rules or devising any mode Of
limiting debate.
There Is no excuse for doubt about the
purpose of Democrats. They publicly boast
ed before the session began, and are openly
bOasting now, that they will not allow either
of these measures to pass, If they have to
talk all the fall. They have even published
elaborate calculations that, with only one or
two Senators to hold the floor and demand
quorum and a call Of the Senate from time
to time, they can keep the entire majority
awake night and day for weeks until It
breaks down from sheer exhaustion. They
are frank enough to reckon that over thous-
and distinct items in the tariff bill can each
be made the subject of several amendments.
and on each amendment Senator can be
prepared 10 debate Tor hours. Thus the
rules as they stand give a minority absolute
power, Democrats boast. to render the pas
sage of bill impossible, and that power
they intend to exercise because no longer
permstted in the House to block legislation
by filibustering.
declarations that Republican Senators de-
cline to alter their rules, and gravely begin
TO discuss the tariff. Republican voters
throughout the country do not know how to
reconcile this conduct with the professions
OF Senators. The voters feel that these two
~ fnaa ul0lNl 10 INN Arfa
Upon them depend, Republicans believe,
the prosperity Of Industries and Of business,
the purity Of elections, and the chance of
electing Congressman hereafter who will
protect home industry. 1t seems amazing to
them that any Republican Senator who
cares for the principles of the party or in any
degree respects its wish, can refuse or even
hesitate to provide Tor restriction of debate
and Of dilatory motions. How can these
voters help asking whether such Senator is
sincere in attachment to Republican princi-
pies?
There has been talk enough about the
courtesy Of the Senate to nauseate "the plain
people" Even schoolbOys in their debating
or other societies know better than 10 put
themselves at the mercy Of a few windmills
or kickers, as the Senate has done. Inc
Senate Is an instrument of the Deope, ana
they are getting disguised wph the notion
that its customs and It's airs are OF more CON
sequence than the peoples business, III Is
not club for the delectati0n OF rich men, or
the rest of the superannuated. Men who
want courtesy, or society, or comfort. mere
than the discharge Of public duties have mo no
neonIe once have reason to believe that the
Senate has come to be an obstacle to the
welfare Of the country, and there will soon
be tremendous revolution in its member
shin. III Senators are wise, they will see to
II that no delay in changing the rules Of the
Senate exposes great public interests to sac
riice.