Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-01-09
Present Status of Affairs in Senate
and House by a Capitol :.
Correspondent.
REPUBLICANS WORK FOR SHIPPING BILL.
Probable Action of the Senate When
1t RecOnvenes-The Desire of the
Admins tration Regarding the
Subsidy BilI-Demands of the PeO-
pie.
Especial Correspondence.]

measures during the first third Of the
fear of an extra session was ground
less. To be sure, the house is the
branch that has disposed of the great
est amount of work, and that the sem
ate has done but little more than get
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty out Of the
way. But there is every reason to be-
lieve that the army reorganization bill
will soon come up for consideration IN
the senate, although no man is able
to say how long it will be under dis
cussion. There is some talk, now that
it may prove to be necessary to ex-
tend the present law for another
couple of years, in order to avoid, in
the senate, the somewhat endless de-
bate which some think will be sure to
ganization bill.
When congress reconvenes it. will be
interesting to note the outcome of the
maneuvering that will occur in the
senate on the part of those who desire
to secure precedence for the army bill,
and those who stoutly maintain that
the shipping bill, which has the right,
of way, should preserve its position.
In view of the rumors-none of which
can be confirmed-of opposition to the
latter measure on the part of repub-
lcans, a test vote on what measure
shall be given the right of way will
probably disclose, or rather ''smoke
OUT the latent opposition to the ship
ping bill, if there is any.
The statement now is that two or
three senator's. whose terms expire
with the 4th of March. and who are al
ready assured of defeat in their effort
for reelection will band themselves
together in order to prevent a vote on
the shipping bill. Senator Pettigrew
lished in the Herald, of New York, that
he will lead in a campaign of filibuster-
ing against the merchant marine bill
He is quoted as saying that if it is the
desire of the administr ira ticn to pass the
bill in question, it will be necessary for
the president to call an extra session
of congress to accomplish it.
K X x
It cannot be doubted that such a
course as is thus proposed will revive
the discussion Of the need of applying
the cloture rule in the senate-a rule
by which vote can be taken. after a
reasonable amount of time has been
given to the discussion of any measure
AS it is now. under the so-caIled ''sen-
atorial courtesy" procedure, any SEN
ator may Indefinitely postpone vote
on any measure, if he chooses to occupy
the time of the senate in speaking on
it. If senator's revive such tactics, and
which involved, when filibusterin was
last resorted to, a reading Of long chap
tiers from encyclopedias, and from
other great tones, nothing can be
done, as the rules now are. to prevent
them.
Some time or another this sort of
horse play in the United States senate
will be ''played out" While a reason
able amount of time for full discussion
of important legislation is desirable
and wise. it is quite contrary to the
wishes Of the people and to the inter
ests of the country for an irresponsible
minority-or a few Of such a min ority.
who have already been repudiated by
the votes of their constituents = to
block important legislation. And if
this matter has to be fought to an is
sue in the senate, it may as well be
cone this year, as in any other, extra
session or not. If it is not, responsible
government actually ceases to exist.
X x
1t may be that the shipping bill, as
well as any other measure, Will do to
apply the test of easonable debate to
the proceedings of the senate. Here
is a measure that seeks to esta blish an
American maritime policy, under which
American ships will succeed to the car
rying' Of our exports and imports. 1t
is shown that $175.OOO,COU each year
is now paid to foreign ship owners for
doing over 80 per cent. of our foreign
carrying, and that during the past 35
years as much as $4,000 100000 have
been paid out Of the United States
in this way. It has been computed that
if no change is made fully five billions
additional Will be paid by the Ameri-
can people to foreign ship owners dur
ing the next quarter of century.
X X X
If, therefore, in the interests Of the
foreign ship owners. now enjoying this
monopoly Of our foreign carrying, CT
for any other reason, few discredited
members of the senate minority re-
sort to filibustering tactics to prevent
a vote on a measure that will eventu-
ally, it is believed result in the keeping
Of SITS, OGC, 900 annually in the United
States that is now paid to foreigners,
let the people be informed of the stu
alton, clearly and frankly. For many
years the people have been demanding
legislation for the restoration of our
shipping to the high seas. congress has
been for three years considering the
bill now pending that has been twice
favorably reported by the committees
Of each branch, and a majority of its
members are ready to vote for the