The morning times., 1897-03-06
HOBART HAS LITTLE POWER
He Cannot Restrict Debate in
the Senate.
HIS SIGNIFICANT REMARKS
The Vice President Evidently Be-
Iieves That the Freedom of De-
bate in the Senate Sometimes IN
terferes With the "Cause of Wise
and Prudent Legislation.


Vice President Hobart created some stir
in the Senate by the tone OF his inaugural
address. It is evident that he has not
studied well the body over which he will
preside, and that he, perhaps, does not
realize how barren OF power the president
of the Senate is. That section of his
speech which caused the comment appears
i'll the Record as follows:
1T will be my CONSTANT effort to aid YOU.
so far as | may In til reasonable expedi
.tion of the business Or the Senate, and
may be permitted TO express the belief that
such expedition is the hope OF the country.
All the interests OF good government and
the advancementtoward higher and bet
ter condition Of things cali for prompt and
positive legislation at your hands To OBJ.
struct the regular course of wise and pru-
dent legislative action after the fullest and
freest discussion is neither consistent with
true Senatorial courtesy, conducive to the
welfare OF the people, nor in compliance
with their just expectations"
These remarks are significant from the
fact that during the past four years re-
peated efforts have been made in the Sen
ate TO limit the freedom OF debate which
has existed from time immenoriaI In that
body. During the extra session called
for the purpose OF repeating the pur-
chasing clause or the Sherman law the
press Of the country denounced the Senate
in scathing terms for not immediately
passing the remedial legislation. which
they said would immediately upon its en-
aCtulent restore prosperity to the coun-
try" Several of the Senators took up
the fight, and Mr.. Lodge, i'll particular
criticised the reading OF prepared speeches,
and in consequence drew forth a stin ging
rebuke from Senator Jones of Nevada.
An attempt was made to enlist Vice
President Stevenson on the side of those
who wanted To stifle debate, but he put
a stop to is by decisively announcing his
duty was not 10 make rules for the Sena-
tors, but to administer the rules it made.
Tie difference in the attitude of the
two Wee Presidents is shown by con-
Trusting with MIR. Hobart's statement the
following excerpt lIom the farewell adj
dress OF Mr.. Stevenson.
1T has been my earnest ,ldeayoT justly
to interpret and faithfully to execute the
rules of the Senate. At times the tenpta-
ton may be strong TO compass partisan
ends by disregard OF a perveIsion OF
the rules Yet, / think It safe to say,
the result, h howeyer Salutary, viii be dearly
purchased by a departure from the meth
DDS prescribed by the Senate for its own
guidance. A single Instance, as indicated,
| might prove the forerunner of untold evils.
. Twin be recorded for precedent.
And many an err or, b. the same example,
| VIII rush into the State.
n fD ton bat "a
governing this body are founded deep in
| human experience; that they are the re
| suit OF centuries Of tireless effort in lesis-
| lative hall, to conserve, to render stable
| and secure, the rights and liberties which
| have been achieved by conflict. BY it's
rules the Senate wisely fixes the limit to
| its own power or those who clamor
! against the Senate and its methods of pro-
| ceIure IL may betTuly said, They know not
! what they do In this chamber alone are
| preserved without restraint two essentials
| OF wise legislation and OF good government
| the right OF amendment and Of debate.
| G reat evils often result from nasty legisla-
! tion-rarely from the delay which follows
| full discussion and delberation. In my
| humble Judgment, the historic Senate-pre-
| serving the unrestricted right OF amend
| ment and debate maintaining intact the
time-honored parliamentary methods ana
amenities which unfailiGgly secure action
| after deliberation-posses in our scheme
of government a value which cannot be
! measured by words
| MIR. Stevenson did not know he was re-
] ferring to his successor when he said those
| who clamor against the Senate and its
methods OF procedure know not what they
| do nor was Mr.. Hobart deferred from a
| pronouncement of his position by the views
! of his predecessor.
| Mr. Hobart viii find great difficulties in
| his way should he endeavOr to use his po-
| sition to curb the freedom of speech where
| he thinks its purpose is to ''obstruct the
| course of wise and prudent legislation y
| Whatever his private opinions may be, he
| viii have to execute the rules OF the Sen
| ate, and so long as those rules do not ad-
nit of cloture, practically unlimited free.
| dom OF debate will continue in that body.
| If the Senators desired to do SO they could
| so amend their rules as to give their Presi-
| dent power as autocratic as the Speaker
| of the House, or they could so amend them
! as to strip him Of the little power he has
| over their deliberations.