The record-union., 1891-01-10
What is Meant by the New Par.
liamentary Term.
SENATORS WHO DO NOT WISH TO BE
oHoKED OFF IN DEBATE.
Tho Fight Against the State of Nevada
How a Baltimore swindler TickIed
the Vanity of Grave Senator's to
Some Purpose-some Statistics.
WAsHINeroN, Dec. q. 1891

WASHINGTON, Decs q, 1890.
Soon after the advent OF the new yeal
will follow q foreign addition to oul
already replete political nomenclature
The idea is time-worn and familiar, bat
the name is French. It is spelled
"CIoture.''
Some method for sitting the internin-
able, useless and senseless stuff they cali
debate, which occurs daily in boti
Houses Of Congress, is really needed re-
gardless of the politics of the majority.
To inaugurate it at this particular time
when the so-caiied force bill is being
urged by the dominating party, handi-
caps the genuine merit which belongs tc
the measure, and offers magnificen;
field for the political thinlble-rigger tc
arouse the prejudices of the uninforned
masses, and to pose himself as martyr
for the freedom OF speech.
1t is astonishing TO notice the intelligent
press of the country of Democratic de-
scent joining the yells when they are all
as familiar with the facts as l am-prob-
ably more so.
The professional Democrat and the
man who-neyer-voted d-any ything-else-a
hlS-Ilte creates no astonishment. His in
spiration in the matter is accounted foa
on purely scientific principles.
one of our eminent scientists thus ex-
plains it: The minute parasites which
are found in the hairy part of u tiger S
foot constitute one of the most wonderful
curiosities l know of in the animal king
dom. They are so small as to be almost
invisible to the naked eye, and vet, under
the microscope, each is q perfect counter
part of the tiger"
"cLoTURE"
Is q French substantive in the f3minine
gender, and means an inclosu,e, fence.
Sans ctotUre means uninclosvI or fence
less. CEoiuTe de LoieS means guarding
or keeping ones VOWS. C{oture dan
representation means the final act OF a
play.
How that inoffensive effeminate noun
can be distorted into the previous ques-
ton" is tritle in advance of my philo-
logical information at the present writing.
1t is possible they call it that in order
to ape the British Parliament or the Corps
Legislatif of France. 1t is getting so now
in Washington that everything must
have a foreign string attached to it or it
don't go. There is possible connection
between the word, through its last adap-
tation above quoted, and the object de-
sired, as applied to legislative bodies. I
would suggest a better method TO precipi-
tate the ending Of these Congressional
plays, by introducing the ctotttTe dy7Gd-
mite. A successful movement under this
method will suggest itself to the practical
mind as being at once humane, as well as
expeditions. 1t possesses the additional
advantage of susceptibility to further
French embellishments; namely, the tab
IeoU ViDGat.
Mr.. HOar of Massachusetts, has hereto
fore championed the 'Cloture" on the
floor of the Senate. In a November mum
ber OF the Youths C0mpdnion an article
appears from the erudite pen of that gen
tieman, entitled 1.-The Senate'' 1t was
reproduced in Washington a few days
ago, and reads as follows:
I'm this assembly speech is absolutely
unfettered. Every measure can be dis
cussed fully without restraint and
amended without limit. This is OF i'm
mense impo tance not only to tho perfec-
ton of legislation, but also to the dignity
OF the Senate, and, in my opinion. TO civil
liberty itself An attempt was made by
MIR. Clay during the Presidency of John
Tyler to introduce an hour rule and the
previous question into the Senate. The
Democratic minority threatened forcibie
resistance. Some of Mr.. Clay's political
friends tiinched from his support and the
plan was given up.'
Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, has
it under his protection now.
WORD TO THE WISE.
It is passing strange how many men
there are, otherwise able, representing
the bar, the pulpit, the editorial chair, in
short, all the learned professions, who
rush reckleSsly into print every now
and then without first having the expert
ence OF thorough newspaper training.
AS before mentioned, this wearsome
contest by physical endurance for the
mastery in bad manners, bad breath and
worse grammar, will sooner or later have
to be clotGred or curtailed in the interests
of useful and necessary legislation.
1t is exceedingly annoying TO large
majority OF the Senators themselves, a
very few remaining on the floor of the
Senate when the so-called debate is going
on. In the galleries it operates like re-
moving the cork from Il bottle of aSafuatida
1t was adopted by the British Parlia-
ment during the days when Colfax was
Vice-President and Blaine was Speaker
Both received letters from prominent
explain in detail the method and
operation ofthe American previous ques-
tion," and its capacity for cutting up tur-
bulent and obstructive minorities. Their
replies to those inquiries, no doubt, led TO
its adoption in the House of Commons.
The Senate is now composed OF eighty
eight members, including Idaho; fifty
one Republicans and thirty-seyen Demo-
Gratis. Senators Teller, Walcott, Paddock,
Plumb, Stewart, Cameron, Washburn
and Jones, of Nevada are not unfavorable
to any plan which will place our national
elections on the plane of ordinary politi-
cal deceney. They, nevertheless, regard
the Southern elections as about difficult
thing to handle in a legislative body as
gambling, prostitution, intanlperance,
Chinese, or any of the other great offenses
against society.
However much the "previous" question
is needed in the rules of the Senate, the
so-called ''force bilr' presents temporary
obstacle. II that bill were not pending
there would be no opposition.
1t reminds me of the dilapidated roof
of the residence occupied by the gentle
man from Arkansaw. When raining
the weather was too bad for outdoorwork;
when fair there was no necessity for re-
pairs.
The measure sought to be enforced by a
change of the Senate rules is, / fear, SINH
larly conditioned in this, it is not needed
where effective, and not effective where
needed.
Those eight Republican Senators voting
with the Democrats would result in ayes
IS, nays 45, and the bill would fail. Many
say enough of those gentlemen would vote
for it on final passage to secure a ma
jority. Others say it Will be allowed to
die of neglect.