Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-14
THE SENATE MINORITY RULE.
Probably No More Tests of Physical En-
duranoe in That Body.
Changes Likely to BE Made-Customa
Lunged Men Have Advantage.

This is probably the last "test Of physi-
cal endurance the United States Senate
will ever indulge in. 1t il a pastime for
younger men. 1t has its merits in the de-
velopment Of that hardihood in school boys
which Is valuable in fitting them for the
rough and tumble Of life on the early en-
trance into manhood. There are some who
base their success in life upon 1t, but muscu-
lar development is not a necessary quality
OF craftsmanship and as a means Of settling
great questions of fiscal policy it is a la
mentable failure. The attention of the
country has never before been SO closely
drawn to the proceedings Of the Senate as
it now Is. The interest has before been as
keen perhaps, but it has been confined
| chiefly to some particular section Of the
country. In this instance there is no boun-
dairy line to the interest, and a large pro-
portion Of our good citizens have for the
first time their attention directed to the
| customs, methods and practices of this
great decorous and deliberative body. That
knowledge which has been confined to the
experienced has now become generally
possessed and soon every one may come
to know that the great art Of legislation
Is how not to do things. II less skill of this
sort were possessed legislation would be
easy and the country would soon be in the
deplorable condition of being governed by
majority Of the people. The rules and
gregate wisdom of those who would not
see the country reduced to such a state
The theory that two heads are better than
one, or that any large number Of heads are
better than any smaller number is never
granted in the Senate until there has been
given satisfactory answer to the
question Of whose heads they are. 1t has
ever been thus, but some folks are Just find
ing 1t out. The theory of the Senate is
that wisdom is not the gift Of the many.
but Of the few.
This theory has been very consistently
practiced. without serious question until
this time when, wisdom having become
catching" the strange paradox is pre-
sented Of the unwise being in a minority.
But there the custom stands and II the
minority have not the traditional wisdom
and patriotism. they have a great deal Of
skill, can stand tremendous lung test
and have the muscles and endurance of a
foot ball team BY the the
perforce right being the majority.
Time for n Change.
have for years kept the traditional customs
Of the Senate warm in their patriotic hearts
say there must be a change. They are
slow to come to that conclusion, for each
has some fond recollection of when this
same practice has served him to defeat the
will of some majority, and there is still
lingering fear and reluctance lest some
time in the future there might be a major
ity on the wrong side Of some question.
1t Is sad to contemplate the destruction of
a weapon they have used SO often and may
want to use again. But the public have
at last come to see that It Is dangerous
thing. loaded at both ends and liable to
explode either way; SO 1t Is destined soon
to be dumped into some deep place where
1t can do no damage.
The test of physical endurance is merely
one of the outcomes Of the general practice
of the Senate. 1t is a thing which can but
delight the imagination and warm the blood
of such men as Dubois and wolcott, whom
it reminds of the days when they have
| stood on the rush line or pulled an oar in
a university crew. To men like Stewart
Ionss. lMSsgan and the suddenly developed
winds while the rest of the crew sleep, II
is a test of lungs-a health exercise-and
| there is but little that is unusual and try
ing to such Of our Senators who are in the
habit Of playing poker and other games
which go best at night and early in the
morning. But since all Senators are not
gifted with inexhaustible lung power. with
muscles Of iron, or with passion for games
at night, a protracted spree OF legislation
is neither profitable nor an edifying
thing.
The plain truth about 1t is that the do
served all these years for the reason that
II Is not as often that Senators want to
do sornething as 1t is that they want to do
nothing. and they are generally willing to
undergo some inconvenience and disap-
poin tnnent in order to preserve a means of
avoidance to be availed of at opportune
times.
The House Ruled by the Majority.
The House has gone through the exper-
ience Of having its business blocked by fill
clustering. For years it was in as bad
fix as is the Senate, but the experience of
the past three Congresses has demonstrated
that no great injury comes to the people
| from having a legislative body that can do
something. The House in this special ses-
sion has already done very considerable
amount OF work, and done 1t well and
quickly. There is probably not a measure
before II having the support of a majority
which will not be acted on. Yet no great
disaster seems imminent from the over
throw Of the antique privilege of the mi
nority to filibuster a bill to death.
This object lesson and the farccal eXhi-
bition of the Senate in its great act of ty-
ing its own hands behind it and then try
ing to unite them with its teeth is surely
going to lead to the adoption Of some rules
which admit of business being done. There
will probably not be any power vested any
where to hastily cut off proper debate. for
there is no question that discussions do at
times change najorities in that body, but
there will be something done to fix a time
limit at some stage Of the procedure.
FORTY-ONE NEW CASES
n n. D .u<>.u Mt N ri ri