New-York tribune., 1901-03-06
CLOSURE IN THE SENATE.
PrrE TO LIMIT DEBATE PROPOSED
IN MIR. PLATT OF CONNECTICTT.
Inr rELrGRAPH TO TIE TRrnUxE.I

FEY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNEl
,,.,.ti,afop. March 5.-Mr. Platt Of Connecticut
= his colleagues in the Senate a mild surprise
a.. bv announcing that he intended to revive at
-. session the crusade which breaks out inter
,..o,,lz in that body every Congress or two for
-, ~ Senatorial procedure. In the Connecti-
. senator's view the most urgent present need
= r. uDDer house is form Of closure which will
- from the minority its power to hold up any
,oislarion il chooses by a resort TO hlibustering
.ac,fcs Having no legislative problems on its
80 AZ present, the special session just beginning
. her called merely TO confirm executive ap-
,r-enrs Mr.. Platt thinks the deliberative
- oF Congress should take time 10 make such
-l.rres in the rules as win restore the majority
= srbtfll parliamentary control in the chamber.
~ rlan of closure Mr.. Plat viii recommend in
=. or,endrneut which he proposes 10 offer to-mor-
IL = z-i-+tlaIlv that reported by Mr.. Aldrich from
- committee on Rules in the closing week Of
~ ~ sgbt 10 pass the Lodge Election bill through
.bs T-Tyth Congress 1t reads as follows:
,,,., anv bin resolution or other question shall
W bsen under consideration for reasonable
ire il shall be in order Tor any senator 70 demand
,iI hat 6ebate thereon he closed On such demand
nos no go no other motion except one motion to ad-
iourn shall be made ~ such oeInso oe sec0naea
e shall forthwith be taken thereon without de-
uon shati ~ senate shall decide 10 close debate
nae, oa, bT resolution or other question the meas
ure shaL eS ne oIestion shall he nut upon the
Enarsments II any then pending. and upon the
aIneIu-a ir its successive stages according the
t r1les % rhat every Senator who may desire shall
Ss permitted to speak upon the measure, inelud-
ing al amendments, nor more man once ana not
sTceeding thirty minutes
After the Senate shall have decided 10 close De
Nate as herein provided, no motion shan he IN
order but motion to adjourn or to take recess:
when such moioIs sI,'iil e jd ~ ,,I q
- been lost or shall have failed of second, II
s1etor shall have spoken upon the pending meas
IRE or one vote upon the same shall have inter
Psna,ng proceedings under the foregoing rule. the
rroceedng in respect Of quorum shan be IN order
The taking Of the yeas and nays that quorum
Pe0d,ng @ proceedings under the foregoing rule all
questions Of order; whether upon appeal or otheT-
srlctiyo or dilatory motion or proceedings OF any
kind shall be in ORDER
The amendment viii go 70 the Committee on
Rues Of which Mr.. Spooner, Of Wisconsin, is chair
van The other members Messrs. Aldrich.
Hoar and Elkins. Republicans; Cockren and Bacon,
democrats and Teller. Silverite and independent.
Mr. Platt's proposition precipitated lively de-
hate. Senator Mason, Of Illinois. thought II did
not 20 far enough, and gave notice OF an amend
,oent under which. he said, the majority would not
he under the control of the minority. Senators
Wellington. OF Maryland, and Bacon. of Georgia.
denounced the effort change the rules as unseen
" the former challenging the right Of the Senate
n consider the proposition at this session. The
discussion was continued in executive session
NOT LIKELY To SUCCEED.
II might have been assumed that the defeat yes
ierday Of the River and Harbor Appropriation bill
through the dlibuster conducted by Mr.. Carter
and Mr Wellington inspired Mr.. Plat 10 resusci-
tate the closure project. On the floor of the Sen
ate to-day however. the Connecticut Senator ex
ploded' this Inference by saying that he was op-
posed 10 the River and Harbor measure. As he
explained afterHard his only motive in pressing
the amendment now was TO seize a timely oppor-
he ~
no justification In parliamentary right or logic.
No one who is familiar with conditions in the Sen
ate IS very sangune. however. that the reform Mr.
Platt has at heart Will ever be accomplished. Many
Efforts have been made 10 establish closure in the
upper house Of Congress. bat none have ever com
nanded much vigorous or genuine support. When
the Republicans driven by Democratic OBJ
s,ructon the Lodge Election bill 10 bring in
proposal modify the rules the intensity OF par-
san feeling aroused over that measure served TO
soa5ify opinion the majority side in favor OF
application OF the previous question" But
even under the asharpest party pressure enough
Republicans refused 10 be brought in line to defeat
change 10 what were then known as Speaker
Reeds "Czarlike' methods. In the LID Congress
Senator Hill Of New-Yorlz, fathered another abor-
tive effort 10 persuade the Senate 10 restrict de-
bate. He found little sympathy on either side OF
al tunes in the movement for closure. but except
IN lSl no measure Of reform has ever been seri-
ously considered in the Senate
The real for the disinclInation Of the Sen
ale 10 change lis rules Is mol lar 10 seek lLOer
The present system some annoyance Is undoubtedly
caused by individual hibusters, who contriVe 10 de-
Ieat ore measure another. But as a rule any
tiA which has the earnest and unqualified support
Of a majority can be passed without unreasonable
delay or friction. No Senator or party in the SEN
ate has ever suffered severely enough through oh
struciye tactics 10 be wholly willing 10 surrender
me power accruing from unlimited right Of de-
hate Moreover. IN the present elastic and happy
60 lucky system The steering committees Of both
parties find their chief reason for existence, and
The authority they WELD would be vastly dinain-
lshed Were il En- the power of single Senator,
merely by Offering q motion, TO force decision on
any question before the body.
Unlimited freedom Of debate is the weapon, in
iaci, which every Senate steering committee
Uses 10 kill sidetrack tho legislation il does not
" sn 10 pass but Yet cannot antaGOniZe directly.
To throw away this weapon is therefore. naturally
& suggestion in which the real leaders in the Sen
ate can ind little merit charm.
ROOSEVELT PRFSIDES.