New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-23
THE TARIFF DEBA TE."

The so-called discussion of the Ianh Dill
which Republican Senators permit by tneif
action-wbat is it but a waste OF time! Inc
mhIic has become so dissatisfied with the grow
ing incapacity OF lawmaklng bodies to make
laws. it traces SO much public loss and private
misery TO the methods which are suffered TO
preyail in legislative bodies, and 10 their CON
seouent failure to perform their duty with
promptness and intelligence, that it is in the
mood to have plain words spoken where Sen
ators can hear them.
What is this so-caled debate? Senator
reads or crates for sundry hours. NOT
nerson within the sound of his voice imaglneS
that his performance can affect single vote
lie has no such idea himself, and shapes his
address with great care, not to influence votes
but to please his partiSanS and anger his OPP
poncnts What does he talk for, If not to
waste time? Is it to deliver as part OF pubic
debate partisan argument, which can be CIR
culated as document at public expense? The
intelligent public wants that thing stopped
A norton of an actual debate, in which Sem
ators are, in fact, trying to convince each othcr
about a disputed matter Is one thing. 1hiS
is something else a sham.
Has any Senator the right to stop pubic
business in this way? Yes, say the senate
rules that is the chief thing we are here Tor
and TO that everything else must give way
Then the rules of the Senate have become an
anachronism which intelligent people resent
and which they Justly demand to have changed
The essence of the whole business is that the
Senate as body, and every senator as 4 mem
Der. owes a solemn obligation TO the people
to see that public business is transacted as II
ought to be. and not delayed for the Gratlilca-
ton of individual vanity or for the benefit OF
a party The Senators are public servants !
the Senate is a public servant. The people of
this country have a right to demand that this
servant shall do its work and do it intelli-
gently, promptly, and without needless waste
or fuss.
The Tariff bill has been talked over in the
Senate for months. General prolonged debate
about it is so plainly out of place that every
citizen of average intelligence knows the intent
of such debate to be nothing but waste OF
time. There is need. real and great need, OF
few hours of genuine deberation about GER
tain provisions of the bill, because they should
he amended. 1t is the right of Senator to
offer amendments which he honestly believes
Will improve inc Dlll anu ~ SNh a WV NI'''
them. But if a part Of the Senate VIII not
allow that public duty to be performed without
wasting weeks in partisan speeches, or in propo-
sitions which are not honestly meant to improve
the measure, or in other merely dilatory mo-
tons, then the plain duty Of the majority Is
TO stop that, and get the public business
transacted
The greatest measures can be and have been
carefully considered, part by part, and finally
acted upon when the very existence OF the
Nation depended on them, in few hours OF
actual debate If the Senate is not now
capable OF such work, will not take the
trouble to make itself capable because the
emergency concerns, not the existence OF
Government, but the existence OF many indus
tries, upon which millions of Americans de-
bend for their earnings, the support OF fam
lilies, their manhood and their lives, then 1t is
time to have the Senate reformed thoroughly.
Its habits have become too Anticipated If 1t can
no longer shape its conduct and its rules TO the
needs of millions of American voters