The Washington times., 1895-01-09
THE BALANCE Wheel, SENATE.

Our highly respectable but slow moving
Senate has acquired a reputation for being
a time-serying obstructor of public good Its
ancient rules. long established precedents,
and laborious customs are not popular with
the public and its delay in acting on several
important measures has created an impress
sion in the minds Of many that the Senate is
nuisance and ought TO be abolished.
The House with its more modern rules and
vehement eloquence has made a contrasting
reputation for whiriwind legislation. Means
have usually been found to pass popular bills
under pressure, and, although generally crude
and illv constructed. they have always found
favor with the masses. When a measure has
been hotly contested some SOFT OF COM
promise has been made, and it has also been
:acitly agreed that serious detects would be
renedied in the Senate.
The best illustration Of this assertion can
be found in the treatment of the tariff bill.
Speaker Crisp, Chairman Wilson, and other
leading Democratic lights framed bill on
lines Of tariff reform. Experts claimed that
il would create q deficiency, but the trainers
OF the bill said not, and Democrats all over
the country shouted Pass it, After due
time the bill was passed and the Senate un-
dertook TO provide for the deficiency.
After a long debate arrangements were
made TO take care of the deficiency, the sugar
trust. and a few i1lpecunious Senators who
speculated on the side, and then the bill was
sent tc a joint conference committee. In a
spasm Of alleged indignation the House
members refused 20 recognize the Senate
amendments. and a little unpleasantness
arose. The House called a caucus at which
Speaker Crisp, Chairman Wilson, and other
leading Democratic lights denounced the Sen
ate, said I'VE are the people, and loudly in
sisted on no surrender. The public iumedi-
ately took up the cry and shouted with all
their might Kill it; kill the Senate; kill the
enemy OF the people,
President Cleveland joined his plant 10
swell the outcry, and the camor was aggres-
siye and unrelenting. After the House had
gained sufficient reputation for courage and
fidelity to public interests, another caucus was
called. and Speaker Crisp, Chairman Wilson,
and other leading Democratic lights whis-
pered meek and fearful advice to surrender
The surrender was made, the deficiency Gov
cred. and the public induced to believe that
the Senate was an unmitgated, trust-ridden,
moss-covered, moth-eaten body.
Time has passed, the tariff bill has been
tried. and its effect has created large de-
ficiency What that deficiency would have
been had the Wilson bill become a las is en-
tirely matter OF conjecture. But it is plain
to be seen that hurrah legislation for poliiira
gain is a poor Thing TO rely upon for revenue
1t is also clear that the House depends upon
the Senate for its balance-wheel IN contested
matters Of importance. The currency bill
may possibly furnish other illustrations o
this fact, for already IN effort has been made
TO pass If in the House on the ground that
the Senate will either kill if or substitute ;
better measure.
Tie question now comes up. Does the Sen
ate really deserve its unenyiabie reputation.
Its dila.ory WAYS and wearisome methods
have many times prevented DISASTROUS legis-
lation. Therefore stop abusing the Senate
and the yillifyiug hose On the House TN
til its members learn to either make or deiea
q measure on its merits.