The herald., 1897-05-04
THE SENATE RULES

Within the last few years there has
occasionally been put forward prop
osition to change the rules of the sem
ate so that in some way debate may
be cut short and vote upon q pending
measure forced. That debate at times
becomes tediously prctracted is GER
tain, and that. it may be resorted to for
partisan or other unworthy purposes
is possible and perhaps not improbable.
Senator John Davis of Massachusetts
many years ago spoke for three days.
until the hour Of final adjournment. in
order to defeat a bill to which he was
opposed. K
linden. the rules which permit unlim-
tied discussion there may and probably
will be some abuses, but is it not better
to- take that hazard than to restrain
the fullest consideration of the i'm
portant subjects upon which congress
must act? At least one branch Of con-
gress should be thoroughly deliberative.
and thesfact should not be overlooked
that-nfJ late the house of representatives
has practically ceased to be a delibera-
tive body. ~ w N''' ~
.%On account of the large number of
members it is necessary that the popu-
lar branch Should have rules more re-
strictive than the senatorial branch.
for if in the former there was no clo-
| ture rule debate would be practically
interminable. The house contains four
times as many members as the senate.
It is not probable that the senate will
ever exceed a hundred members. If all
the territories, including Alaska, were
admitted to statehood, the senate would
contain just one hundred members. 1t
may be that in future some Of the larger
states may be divided, but it can hardly
be expected that anything in that line
will be done in the near future, as the
process of division requires the con-
sent of the state and of congress. 1t is
true that Maine was set off from Mas
sachusetts and that West Virginia was
carved out of the Old Dominion, but
these constitute the only cases in more
than hundred years Of national ex-
istence. The jurisdiction of Massachu-
setts over the territory of Maine was
by no means perfect. and they were far
from being SO contiguous as to make
their connection desirable The creation
of West Virginia was when the country
was involved in internecine war, and
was a. measure justified ON the ground
of military and political necessities.
Such a condition is not likely to occur
again.
AS originally constituted the senate
contained twenty-six members. Not
withstanding the vastness of our do
main, the body has not quadrupled in
more than a century. and in all proba-
bility will not be four times greater
century hence.
The idea Of senate was that II should
be wise and dignified body, composed
of men selected for their talents and vir-
tues, that they could be trusted to per-
form their part entirely for the public
welfare, and that the body would not
descend to partisan or other unworthy
practices. During all the period of our
constitutional government no senator
has ever been arrested and brought in
on account of absence from his seat, no
step has been taken to secure the pres
ence of a quorum beyond mere notifi-
cation to, absentees. A sense of senato-
rial dignity has been deemed sufficient
TO assure performance of duty, and it
has been sufficient up to this time. The
same principle. may be supposed to be
all that is required to prevent partisan
factional or unseemly prolongation Of
debate.
There should be some body in which
great questions can be thoroughly con-
sidered and eXhaustively discussed SEN
ators have the time to make full in
vestigation, and they are relied on by the
country for full information on public
questions. There is danger in adopting
cloture rule for the reason that a ma
jority, when party feeling runs high,
may tyrannically suppress discussion
which is a greater danger than that de-
bate will be indecently protracted. Until
such all evil appears to be more immi
nent than past experiences justify the
utmost freedom had better be tolerated
Il is hardly to be supposed that senators
will desire to do more than to fairly
and fully present their views. The prac-
tees in the past justify this confidng
view Of senatorial propriety. 1t is best
10 experiment while longer with the
present liberal system before any rad
teal change is made in limitation of dis
cus5ion.
THE MAKINGS OF A BAYARD