Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-25
In arranging the business Of the short session

arranging the business of the short session
the chief difficulty the republican managers
will have will be in the Senate, and that on &C.
count of the rules and traditions OF the body.
The upper house." as il delights to regard
itself. is so bedged about with precedents and
historical dignity that very little can Be OK
pected of il by the men who desire to adopt a
RADICAL or hasty course of action. few
venerable Senators devoted to conservative
methods of business few others, younger in
years and opposed to taking any course
that contrayenes the tendencies of their
constituents such a situation presents
n blue outlook to the Jealous party man more
bent on doing something than on seeming TO be
anything The House will probably hold a
caucus early in the session and frame o more
or less complete schedule. But everything.
after all, depends on some eight or ten republi-
can Senator's. Ii the latter desire earnestly the
passage Of an apportionment bill or Of an cleo
tions bill it can be accomplished. II they do
not there will be small chance to secure either
This is the conclusion of the whole matter in q
nut shell. The Senate has set Of rules which
hermit mach debate. 1t is confessedly
a .deliberative body" To prevent the demo-
Gratis from obstructive debate or motions the
Senate must: it is claimed change its rules as the
House did. The question arose In the late ses-
lion, end was not finally disposed Of. The Sen
ate however, held to its rules. Now the whole
question of a change of rules will come up
again as soon as the session is well opened.
Whether anything important to the republican
party, in the view of its active leaders, is to be
achieved over and above routine legislation will
depend not on the enthusiasm Of the members Of
the House. but on the sense of obligation held
by certain members of the Senate. In fact
no change of Senate rules y necessary
in the Judgment Of some parliamcntarians. 1t
has been held by these that the presiding officer
NAV, under existing rules, refuse to recognize
any one whom he may choose 10 regard as an
obst-uctionist and submit: the main question.
without further consideration, to the Senate
This would DC apparently stretch Of authority,
but once accomplished the courts would prob
ably hold the action to be binding, If it was con-
cured in BY the Senate itself. The conserva-
tive republicans appreciate that caution must
be Observed in changing the rules. On general
principles the public welfare will not be best
served in the long run by any radical change.
hastily taken in advance of demonstration of
the actual necessity of such action, which will
deprive the Senate of its character as a
'delibcratiye body One such chamber
i, desirable in the national legislature
A change was absolutely essential in the House
rules because by them that body was tied hand
and foot and helpless for action as well as un-
iis for elaboration. There will be no public de-
pIand for alteration of the Senate rules until it
becomes much clearer than il is at present that
the opportunities which are given for delibera-
ton under them disable the body for action
and put it at the mercy of few obstructionists
Such showing was made in respectto tho House,
butnot yet in respect to the Senate. When petty
obstruction actually and unreasonsbly asserts
i.seh in the latter body, and the Senate
proves to be helpless under the presen. rules.
public sentiment favoring a change may be
aroused.