Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-06-18
Senator Hansbrough Would have a
Limited Culture Rule, and Will
Propose One Next Winter.
Means By Which Matters Pending il
the Senate May Be Brought
4, to Date I.
Senate Slow to Practice New Methods
and Suggestions for Changes
Deemed Sacrilegious.

the manner OF procedure in the senate
has manifested itself during the past
three or four years. said Senator
Hansbrough, of North Dakota. .'The
senate is a deliberate body in all that
the word implies. A determined min
ority can hold up the majority for an
indefinite period under the senate
rules governing debate In the house
this is not so. The previous ques-
tion' a parliamentary expedient, is
utilized, and its potency in shutting
off a talkative minority is recognized
every day in the proceedings of the
house. - That the rules of the senate
permitting unlimited debate are
abused, is conceded by all Any change
in this particular, however, is frowned
down by older senators, and those who
have had the temerity of suggesting a
cloture rule have fallen in favor with
those senators VINO are welded to the
traditions of the upper house of con-
gress." Senator Hansbrough suggests
a limited cloture rule which he will
propose next winter, and his views on
the subject are indorsed by number
of senators. ssMy plan" said the, North
Dakota senator, ''is to adopt a rule
whereby a motion may be made to
close debate on a certain day. Under
S,,oI
may be adopted only by unanimous
consent. That some means should be
adopted to prevent Indefinitely defer
ring a vote when it is the will of the
majority that vote should be taken,
is self-evident. / have conferred with
several senators on the subject, and
they approve the suggestion 1 have
made in this Connection Senator
Hansbrough believes that senatorial
courtesy, an unwritten law Of the up
per house, will insure the allowance of
sufficient time for debate before the
adoption of a motion to fix a day for
a vote on given measure The SEN
ator does not anticipate an outburst
of enthusiasm over his proposition,
but he believes it will be an entering
wedge in the direction of a desirable
reform.
Reform in the senate is matter of
very slow growth Indeed, senators
contend that no reforms are necessary;
that the institution is well-nigh per-
feet, and any suggestion in the way of
changes is regarded as sacrifegious by
some senators who have been in the
body since the mind of man knoweth
not. The senate has been proceeding
during the past session under reform
rule which has demonstrated its eff
eacy in expediting business. Up to
the Fifty-sixth congress the senate
committee on appropriations had jur-
lsd1ct1on over an I4-e great govern
mental supply bills, about sixteen in
number. Under these conditions the
committee had great power and influ-
ence, not only in legislation, but in the
distribution OF patronage. The
younger element in the senate pro-
tested. The older senators asserted
that to distribute the appropriation
bills to other committees would lead
to great extravaganza, lengthy de-
bates, and that the older members, of
which the appropriations committee is
composed, were better qualified for the
work. However, rule was passed
last winter distributing the bills
to various committees of the senate.
What is the result? Appropriations
for the session just closed are but S3O-
100000 in excess of the ordinary long
session. and this in the face of large
expenditures for the war and naval
establishments and in our island pos
sessions. Business was expedited, as
there was little delay in the presenta-
ton to the senate of reports on the ap-
preparation bills ;5;l