Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-09
suNpAY.......... DECEMBER 9, 1894.
cIospra in tho Senate.

c.,.,or Daniel no doubt did what ne
n,on, 20 have done when in the senatorial
caucus last week he gracefu1y WIN
drew his proposition to provide for
closure-rule in the Senate.
There is nothing in the name "cloture'
mr. CLOSURE" The old name of previous
question" would be just as expressive
and i,s operation would accomplish al
That Senator Daniel or Senator Hlll or
any other senator hoped to accomplish IN
this direction.
yyben the Whigs succeeded 10 power II
Aha rouse Of Representatives IN 1871 they
proposed 70 limit speeches In that podS
% one hour each. There was Just sucf
n clarnor raised against the change pro
posed in 1874 as has been raised against
the change proposed In 1894 The Demo
cratic members OF the House OF hepreseh'
tatives dubbed the proposed rule gag
law" and rained denunciauons fast ano
thick upon the heads OF the old Wings
But the time had como for the House
OF Representatives 20 accommodate ltseh
10 the new circumstances in which II
found itself, ana tire Democrats In that
body learned In due time that they
needed q rule much more rigid than was
the harmless proposition TO limit speeches
10 one hour each.
The substance Of the argument in op-
position 20 O closure rule Is that the MI
norlty IN the Senate are under its present
rules clothed with the veto power. Not
only can the minority IN the Senate de-
feat the strongest efforts Of the majority
10 pass any bill which that majority may
think they ought 20 enact Into law, but
On thus thwarting the will OF the senators
they also set at nsught the will OF the
House Of Representatives. They lie the
hands Of both houses Of Congress. Nay.
they defy the utmost endeavors OF the
people themselves to accomplish desired
reforms IN any part OF the gov
ernment Take. for example, the
House joint resolution providing for
tho election Of United States eena-
tors by the people. Under the exist
ing rules Of the Senate. the senator's can
prevent that joint resolution from ever
being passed by the Senate. or even
coming to vote. Thus the will OF the
people is liable 10 be Glsregarded by the
Senate whenever that body shall feel
disposed TO set up its viii as superior to
the will OF the people.
The Senate was intended to be a legis-
lative body If it is legislative body,
its duty IS TO legislate-to act atilrma-
lively, not to obstFuct legislation. Yet
the only recommendation that the present
rules OF the Senate can produce is that
they Obstruct legislation. The proposition
20 change the rules 10 right in itself.
But it IL further recommended by the
fact that the Senate now consists of
Lightweight members. and will soon con-
tain over ninety memberA That body has
become unTnanageable.
II to obstruct legislation Is the duty
OF one house OF Congress, II Is also the
duty Of the other house and the House
OF Representatives. ought TO make It's
rules conform to those OF tho Senate
Why not? That body could play the
part Of obstructionists much more sue
cessfully than the Senate can play It.
The Democrats IN the House OF Repre-
sentatlves raised q great clamor against
Gar Reeds rules and rulings, but found
themselves compelled when they regained
control Of the House to resort TO the same
Bort Of tactics.
So II IS question OF time, and short
time at that Mr.. Daniel is q little ahead
OF his Democratic brethren in the Senate;
that IS all.