New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-16
THE LAST PHYSICAL TEST"
NEW RULES FOR THE SENATE SURE TO COME.
ACT WEEKS EXPERIENCE PROVES THAT MORE
RrsINEss LIKE METHODS MUST BE ADOPTED
If LEGISLATION is 10 BE ACCOM-.
PLlSHED.
(Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1

washington oct. 15-The parliamentary
struggle which ended on Friday morning is
probably the last serious test Of physical en-
durance" the United states Senate will ever
indulge in. The test Of endurance" Is
nastine for younger men. Physical strength
Is not necessary quality of craftsmanship
and as a means Of settling great questions of
fiscal policy. it is a lamentable failure The
time has therefore come when men who have
for years kept the traditional customs OF the
Senate warm in their hearts say there must
be a change. They are slow to come to that
conclusion for each has some fond recollection
of the time when this same practice has served
him 10 defeat the will of some majority. and
there is still a lingering fear and reluctance
lest at some time in the future there may
be q majority the wrong side OF some ques-
ton 1t is sad to contemplate the destruction
of a weapon used often and so effectively
But the public has at last come to see that 1t
Is a dangerous weapon. loaded at both ends;
90 il is destined soon to be laid away where
II can do no damage.
The test of physical endurance Is merely
the outcome Of the general practice OF the
Senate. 1t Is a practice that delights the i'm
agnation and warns the blood Of such men
as Dubois and Wolcett, whom perhaps 1t re-
minds Of the days when they have stood on the
rush line pulled an oar In university crew
To men like Stewart Jones. Morgan. and the
suddenly developed Allen, it is test OF lungs
a health exercise-and there Is little that Is
unusual and trying In II to Senators who are
in the habit Of playing poker and other games
which go best late at night and early in the
morning But since all Senators are not gifted
with inexhau stibe lung power. with muscles of
iron, or with a passion for nocturnal sport,
protracted spell of legislation is neither profit
able nor edifying to the whole body. The plain
truth is that the do-nothing rules Of the Senate
have been preserved all these years for the
reason that 1t is not often that Senators
want to do something as it Is that they want
to do nothing, and they are generally willing
to undergo some inconvenience and disappoint-
ment in order to preserve means of avoidance
to be awaited of at opportune times.
The House has gone through the experience
Of having its business blocked by flibustering'
For years IT was in bad state as Is the
Senate but the experience of the last three Con-
crosses has demonstrated that no great injury
comes to the people from having legislative
body that can do something. The House In TINS
special session has already done conslderaoie
amount of work, and done ii quickly Ihere Is
probably not measure before it, having the
support Of majority, which Will not be acteu
on Yet no great disaster seems imminent from
the overthrow Of the antique privilege OF the MI
nority to flibuster bill to death This object
lesson and the farcical exhibition OF the senate
in its great act of tying It's own hands pehlna
1t and then trying TO unite them WIN lts teeth
is surely going to lead to the Adoption OF Solne
rules which admit of business being done. There
will probably not be any power vested any
where hastily to cut off proper debate. for there
is question that discussions DO at uInes
change ma iorities In that body, but there Will
be something done to FIX time limit at some
stage Of the procedure.