The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-06

The Administration Republicans in the
Senate evidently do not mean to waste
any time in preparing for the work of
their masters, the trusts, in the next Con-
gress. On yesterday Senator Plat OF
Connecticut gave notice of proposed
amendment TO the Senate rules. making
it feasible for the majority to apply the
cloture to debate No one need be sur
prised at this action, which has been
in contemplation for some time. 1t is
the outcome of settled determination to
make Congress a perfunctory and innoc-
uous slot-machine for the registration of
DEGREES handed down to it by the politicO-
trust combination in control of the coun-
try. As tine case stands, the Senate is the
one independent body OF legislators in
Washington. The House Of Representa-
tives long ago surrendered it's right to
conduct its own business into the hands
of the Speaker and n &c nrnittee on Rules
appointed by him. When that happened
the House ceased to be free or a de-
Lucrative division of our Parliament. Now
it simply passes the measures 1t is order
ed to by Senator Hanna, acting for the
Administration.
If the scheme sprung by Senator Plat
yesterday should succeed and We see no
reason why it may not, then the suppress
sion of the legislative branch of the Gov
eminent and its servile subordination to
the will of the Executive will be complete.
1t is easy to imagine what will happen
afterward. because we know what a
cloture rule would have meant in the
late session. Had such thing been in
force the magnates of the Transporter
tiob Trust today would be dividing their
first annual bounty of nine million dol
lars under the Subsidy steal. Mr. McKin-
ley would be not only Emperor of the
Philippines, but would have power to
sell lease, or give away to the Sugar and
Tobacco trusts, and to the exploiting
syndicates interested in looting the ISL
ands. all the sixty-eight million acres of
public domain they contain. and all their
rich forests. mines, and development
opportunities in the way of harbor facili-
ties, railway concessions. and so on to the
end Of the chapter.
Under cloture. Mr.. Hanna would feel
secure in pushing through the Subsidy
job next winter and the prospects of the
Panama syndicate. whose members are
close to the Administration. would be
confident of accomplishing their purpose
to saddle the old. exploded de Lesseps
ditch on the American people at a profit
OF fifty or sixty million dollars to them
selves.
If the attempt to choke off debate in
the Senate is seriously intended, the
Democrats in the Chamber have the fight
of their lives before them. Whether or
not there are enough of them who could
be relied on to resist this proposition to the
death is an oren question. Some. per-
haps, may do as they have done lately,
anc. after a more or less formal opposi-
ton, succumb to the Establishments of
their shrewd opponents. and compromise
on few colonial appointments or things
Of cognate character for their relatives
They should distinctly understand in ad-
vance that they have duty both to the
party and the nation to perform in an
taspniZing cloture with a solid and an
immOvable front. and in exhausting every
means at their command to prevent so
dangerous a final assault upon our insti-
tutions. Next we shall hear of a PROPOSE
trust attorneys. With cIoture in Senate
and House, and the Supreme Court packed,
nothing would rerain but the mercst
ghost and fiction of self-government in
the United States. The entire power of
legislation and Interpretation of the Con-
stitution would be concentrated in the
person OF the President Emperor. who,
since he would have the power, might as
well have the name which appropriately
would go with his position.