New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-21
THE CONTEST IN TIE SENATE.

The struggle in which the Republicans OF the
Senate have now engaged is in fact a fight for
the power to legislate at all. Each and every
measure which ought to he passed at this session
NAV depend and probably does depend, upon
the success of the majority in limiting Senate
rial waste of time Already the session is so
near its end that most of the important bills
are liable to fail But with unchecked power
to block legislation by debate, small minority
could almost certainly force the defeat OF any
measure.
The measures Of great commercial industrial
or political importance all have earnest oppo-
nents. Possibly the ApportiOnmcnt bill would
have as few as any other, because no party
could afford to deny to the growing States their
| increased representation, and yet a little mi
noritv is more powerful than majority when
talk is unlimited. The Shipping bill, 50 ncccs-
sary TO the development Of foreign commerce
and the health Of manufactures, has many ana
determined opponents. The Bankrupt bill, the
| Pure Food bill, and almost any other that can
he by any one reclloned highly important, has
| its jealous foes who arc fully advised already
that the few weeks remaining OF this session
can easily he spent in talking over items OF
| the regular appropriation bills. When the de-
! ,ermined foes of half dozen different meas
ures are all combined in trying to kill time
either Of the large appropriation bills can be
made to occupy several weeks.
The fact is that an extra session may probably
depend upon the success Of the majority in re-
stricting Senatorial waste of time. Even
| though no set Of men should especially desire
il. failure of some of the necessary appr0pria-
| tons might easily result from the anxiety OF a
small minority to shut of other measures. but
| there are also some Democrats who think that
important party advantages arc to be gained
| BY having an extra session as soon rs possible,
and though they are by no means the majority,
| il takes only few to talk 4 session to death.
OF the silver men also there are some who
care for nothing but the speediest possible suc-
cess of certain speculative pools, and If these
men are able to influence a few active and
talkativo persons in the Senate an extra session
could be forced in order 10 help speculation IN
silver For either Of numerous other reasons
which could he named small minOntlcs in the
Senate, sufficient nevertheless to waste time
| in talking, are disposed TO favor the defeat OF
some necessary appropriation, in order to rem
der an extra session inevitable.
! What a state of things il is when the best
and most prudent men of both parties arc com
petely powerleSs, either to pass bill on which
they all agree or to avoid an extra session
which both may desire TO avoid, provided there
| is a small minority ready TO block the wheels
Of government by deliberate waste of time. No
legislative body which tOleratcS such a state of
things can expect 70 retain the respect or con-
Gdencc of the public Americans are practical
people, who have no great veneratiOn for an
tiouities That fetter the action and Stiilc the
life of to-day The Senate has come to be
somewhat less than worshipped by Americans
already 1t would be wise, considering their
own reputation and interest, as well as for the
public good. for the members Of that body to
recover the faculty OF doing the public business
without much delay.