New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-19
one looks for any changes of consequence in its pro
visions.
TO HASTEN BUSINESS IN THE SENATE
THE URGENT NECESSITY OF OVERCOMING DEMO
CRATIC OBSTRUCTION METHODS.

CRATIC OBSTRUCTION METHODS.
Washington. April IL (specian.-Thc evident DIS
position on the part OF the Dcmocfauc minority ~
the senate TO throw every possible oos'acie III '"o
way Of legislation has naturally led the Repubhcah
Senator, TO look about for some eApcdicht or aholer
ia hasten the progress OF bills aer they come lor
mally under discussion. The senate mas always oeeh
an o,,roreix deliberate and conservative body ami It's
h,s,nes, Is done ON a theory Of common concession
aud IN a general spirit Of courtesy ana consent ls
theory was tenabe one, OF course, wheh 'h' oena"
WAS small, in number and any efort 70 boch pnSihess
WA. limited IT, the endurance OF ht'ic group vi i'
,rs,e,er With a membership OF eighty four
and minority OF over 'hir'y' oo''iu''o'
has become possible on ue iaseS'
sc, and with the extraordinary facilities oneteo ior
dilatory action under the senate rrhS the TRANSACTION"
Of ALI business IS practically IcH al uc meoS vi TIC
minority if that minority can be welded mo a com
pact determined and obdurate opposition mere Is
no such thing in the Senate a. inc previous q"'s'o,
and debate Is consequently unlimited so that II the
onuonepts Of measure have the mpolIteness TO pro
inns a discussion indefinitely. the only recourse Oh
,h n.,o,tv l. TO sit out until the debating power oil
the minority Is actually exhausted peoa'e q" '"o
Montana case for Instance. was pre'ohged ior TWO
weeks and could not have been brought 10 vote u"
day II the Democratic senators had really been united
Oh the issue raised the minority report Inc bi'ir
BILL 1t will be remembered, dragged along ror month
or ore in the senate before acton could be taken
on IT, and yet measure WITHOUT any poi''S
in H. \ tarin bill an election law might hans 'us-
pended III the senate for two or thfce months IL TIC
ninority va, firmly bent resisting Its passage 10
fhc I,st extremity. With no means oil cutting on
dr,aie In. power to legisatc would be reduced 10 a
mcrs test Of physlcal endurance between the Two
factions In the body. $500, -, .. -,
inc hcpnDioau, have long and Important Legs
,ati,s n,,r,anIune before them. and things look
nov although tn House can finish up lie worA with
rcat ease and celebrity under the new rules there J,
crave danger that the senate may bc u:aJlc To push
thronch lie more important OF the strictly political
,c,s,,r,,. that a,,. likely To come TO the front before
fhc end of he with this problem 10 Toe
tod not n f.w Republican senators have been look
iug around for some method Of escaping the threat
med obstruction of business one remedy suS 'c,ci
f. The alteration OF the senate rules a. 10 Introduce
,hn slonuuce OF DEBATE under " the previous
question This wonld be notable
innovation in body ; jeaons Of tradition
a. ~. Senat- and the adoption of the
House rnle IS perhaps. scarcely than distant
,oibiltv But the cxicrncies of public business NAV
drive he senate TO this radical action. ana there
arc already some senators on the Republican slde v,
have become impatient " DELAY and nacton mat
,hrv look forward with to some such change
~ that proposed, the Only possible way 10 aVon an
embarrassing and weaiisomc. not Intellectual hght
en- many important measures Tint are 70 come up AZ
this session