Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-09
new SENATE RULES
The Young Blood Coming in May
Make This Possible.
BOTH SIDES ADMIT THEIR NECESSITY
The Veteran Senators and Parlia-
mentarians Will Assist.
SELECT COMMITTEE PROPOSED

Those calculations about the next Senate
which include possible combinations and
the hope of an improved method Of doing
business are based largely on the unusual
amount of young blood that is being in
fused into the chamber. The new men,
with but one or two exceptions, are all
young Pritchard and Butler of North
Carolina are both under forty. Tillman OF
South Carolina is barely forty. Mantle OF
Montana Clark and Warren Of Wyoming,
Baker of Kansas and Wilson OF Washing
ton are likewise very young men to attain
to positions which, as rule, are the prizes
of veterans Thurston Of Nebraska ana
Witmore of Rhode Island are under 11fty.
Then there are Wolcott Of Colorado, Du-
bois Of Idaho Hansbrough Of North Da-
kota, Smith of New Jersey and lrby OF
South Carolina who have come upon the
scene within the past few years, and all
practically just starting in political nIe;
None of these men is under the spell or old
forms or legislative traditions. Some OF
them will participate for the first time in
the business of law making. The presump-
tion is that, as they are young and 1resh
from the people, they are progressive IN
spirit and will respond readily to the effort
that will be made to put the business OF
the Senate on business basis
Veterans Will Help.
There are veterans anxious to show the
way. Not all of the men who have served
for long in the Senate are welded to its
antiquated code of rules. Many OF them
earnestly desire a change and will do all in
their power to help bring wise and con-
servative change about. But the feeling Is
that If anything is to be accomplished the
CHI no n q during
ing recess.
that the subject cannot be handled Whle
the Senate is in session. Whenever
change has been proposed at such times
the fear has at once arisen that the object
sought was not the facilitating of general
public business, but the carrying OF some
particular points. This was conspicuousy
the case during the silver fight at the spe-
cial session in 1888, when the silver Sena-
tors openly charged that new rules would
only mean gag rules designed for that oc-
casion.- The result. of course. was failure.
The proposition now is that the subject be
taken up during the coming recess, discuss
ed in all of its bearings from general ana
non-partisan standpont,and q report made
at an early day next December, and vote
taken as soon as may be, so that in case
the report Is adopted the Senate may i'm
fnediately enjoy the benefit of the new
order of things.
Special Committee Suggested.
Some difference of opinion exists as to
whether this work should be given to the
present committee on rules. or to special
committee appointed especially for the pur-
pose. The fullest confidence Is expressed
in the committee as at present constituted.
1t contains some of the ablest pariiamen-
tarianS in the whole history of the Senate,
and nobody questions the fairness OF the
members. But the point is made that the
Senate is passing from the control of the
democracy, and that therefore the present
committee would not he the proper one to
execute a commission the fruits OF which
the republicans would have to apply. The
republicans themselves, it is insisted should
direct the work in the main, or at least
have a majority vote on all of the propo-
sitions submitted in committee, and for
this reason it is suggested that special
committee be appointed to revise the rules,
and instructed to give as much time to the
work during the recess as its Importance
demands. No names are mentioned in con-
nection with the work. but Mr.. Aldrich.
Mr. Sherman and Mr.. Allison, on the one
side aid Mr.. German, Mr. Harris and Mr.
Hill, on the other, by reason of their large
parliamentary experience would hardly be
omitted, 1t is thought, from any list made
up. This committee could meet in Wash
ington or wherever might be most con-
venient. All necessary data would be easy
of access at any point, and such work in
such hands would probably not consume a
very great deal Of time.
New Rules Needed.
Although the question has been found so
difficult there is substantial agreement
among Senators on both sides of the cham
ber as to what the occasion calls for.
Within the past few years legislation tas
taken that sharp turn which discloses
many things and a long vista at once The
fight over the force bill in 1890, the fight
over the silver repeal bill in 1888 and the
fight last year in bringing the tariff bill to
a vote were all so stubbornly contested
that every possible application of the pres
ent Senate rules was made. Their fullest
powers of obstruction were developed and
tested. The success attending this pro-
gram was surprising at times even to the
Senators invoking the agency. Every Sem
ator received liberal education in the
way of preventing legislative action. The
question at present, therefore, relates not
so much to what should be done as it does
to proposing new rules under circumstances
that will recommend their adoption. Sem
ators know what they want, and a large
majority Of them are in favor of securing
what they need to put themselves Sena-
tors in touch with popular sentiment on the
subject of the dispatch of public business.
No Decision Yet Reached.
It has not been decided yet whether
a motion embodying this proposition shall
be submitted not. Several Senators are
in favor Of such step, and but for the
backward condition Of business would urge
it upon the Senate. But with so many
appropriation bills blocking the way, and
the financial question still unsettled, the
prospect of securing attention for anything
Debate on anything now imperils it's ex-
iStence.
HIS FIRST ORDER