The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-01-01
The Ruls Of the Majority.

In the United States Senate there pevel
has been . rule for closing debate. and 90
ossions have been rare when debate hai
been closed by vote Of the msjority, wher
propositions have been before that body
The custom has been TO allow each senator
to occupy ~ much time Is be chooses 10
debate, tiustipg to bic good sense TO stop
when be bss said enough.
Ithss slso been very rare for Senstors
10 abuse this privilege. by talking against
time 10 defeat legislation. Just nov bow.
ever. Democratic senators have occupied
several weeks in discussing the Federal
Elections bill. and have ihtimsted that
they will prevent action upon it at this
session. by occupying oil the time in talk
upon il. This seems TO be IN unreasonable
use Of senatorial privilege aud the Repub'
licsn msjori,y has proposed rule for clos.
ing debate. not shutting it of altogether.
but reducing ii to = reasonable limit. The
Democrats oppose the rule, terming it
gag rule" aud bringing everything pos
sible TO bear 10 defeat IL. In recent in
teiview. which We give below, Senator
Edmunds stated very clearly the neccessi.
ty Of suob rule.
He said: The constitution provides,
and every constitution Of . government
that is TO be carried on must so provide,
thu. the msjority Of my legislative body
has TO DO it's business. II necessarily ion
plies tbs, no minority whether Of one or
sny other nun her should or could unduly
abstract the will Of the msiori,y.
|, IL not aqnestiou Ct whether . psrticu.
lst MEASURE should Le passed or defeated.
bnt IL = question whether the msjority OF
a legislature shall have the power to come
10 the disposition Of any matter that is be,
fore 1t otherwise than Al the will OF mi-
nofity composed OF eDs or more. 10 times
Of extrrme ptblic danger every lover OF
hi. country would agree that q trsitorous
minority should not have the power and
could no, act II there be anything 10 the
power OF msjorities. To Indefinitely delay
be action shiea the emergency might re-.
luire 10 he made, ~ has sometimes lisp.
peDed.
TIE Just liberty 81 debate which every
RI constituency, whether |
be whole people Of = state or the people
u . congressional district. ought TO be
m.iotsibed; bat liberty Of
|ebsts IL onr ,hias and liberty of obsirnc
ion and preventing = legislative body \
'oming 10 any resolution ~Laisver upon
be subject briurr !, j. Qni,s spoihsr
The rule proposed 10 %, rule TO com
vel particular d,irrmiDs'iph Of .ny ques.
lon. IL 10 rule 10 provide that after
Ibsi The mi MY coo.ider TO be . reason,
BILE upivesssi debate. fbs, m.josity, Shst.
ver may 10 its opinion II respect Of the
isposiIion 10 be made Of n. measure.
hall he snsbl-j I, dispo-- Of II one way
: tbs other, saving 20 Every member OF
DO body. the night 10 express bic own
pinioa upon !, sithin . given time.
Hos any msn Of sny perry cen 6nd
'uit With such . provision | sm unable 10
late.
The common parliamentary Law hes
Issys been ,bsi no mar is 10 speak i'm
sr,inen,ly OF beside the question. super
uously OF tediously. This common rsle
parliamentary lsv 10 bssed upon The
l nrst mentioned. that .
body mus, be able 10 &c. -
o, TO cot 10 . particular say. bat 10 act
oss vsy or the other 10 spite Of the de,
rminslion Of any minority Of isA mem
srs tbsi IL shall not act 81 ell.
Do you favor ihs closing Of debate by I
demand for Tho previous questioui
No; l bsvs always been sad an still op. ,
.sd 10 any sneh thing ~ Previous
,essioa - i. has bssa within reosn, years q