Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-11
LOOKING TO CL0TURE
Resolution introduced by
Senator Allison.
SENT TO COMMITTEE
PROPOSED INVESTIGATION OF
SENATE RULES
A Subject That Has Been Forcfbly
Brought to Public Attention
Recently.

prominence that has never been quite
equaled before.
Mr.. Allison did not comment on this res
olution today, but merely introduced 1t. 1t
was adopted without discussion and then
went to the committee on rules 1t au-
thorizes the committee on. rules to re-ex-
anime the rules OF the Senate with view
to ascertaining what changes II any, are
necessary and expedient and to make In
quiry whether 1t is expedfent to limit de-
bate in any way in the Senate and II SO
to what extent
The committee Is authorized to sit during
the recess Of the Senate and to employ
stenographer and other needed aid. Inc
committee Is instructed TO report to the
Senate its1conclusions soon as pract1c-
able after the beginning of the next session
OF Congress-.
The full authority given the committee
for the employment OF a stenographer and
to sit during the recess does not necessar-
to be taken. It is likely, however. that
whatever information Is available to throw
light upon this subject will be sought and
spread upon the report Of the committee.
Recent Provocation.
Internationally unusual provocation has
been given to the Senate, which might
lead to some measure for the limiting OF
debate. The last few weeks of the past
Congress caused failure in number OF
important measures merely by the power OF
a single man, in one case, or OF minority
in another, to continue debate to such an
extent as to kill legislation. The state
hood bill was defeated because vote could
not be secured upon 1t, or at least that has
been the uniform charge, made by advo-
Gates of the measure. Senator morgan
alone defeated the ratification OF the Fan
anna canal treaty. Senator Tillman, as he
expressed 1t, ''shut his teeth" down on the
proposition that he would have that 900
in payment to his state OF claim coming
from the war of 1872, which had been rec
commended by Senate committee or there
should be an extra session OF Congress.
At the close Of the Fifty-sixth Congress
Senator Carter OF Montana arose at the
dawn of March and declared tnat the
river and harbor bill should not pass. as
he proposed to occupy every minute OF the
time from that hour until noon by his
remarks 1t.
These instances of the power of one man
or of a minority while standing out promi-
nently because of the publicity given them
by no means tell the story OF one-nan
power in the Senate. Scarcely day passes
without an exhibition in some way OF the
power of one man to make trouble In Sen
ate legislation II he sees fit. The result
Is that 1t has become by-word In the
mouth of every one that legislation in the
Senate is by unanimous consent.
D. Limitation Of Power.
But this very fact Is to a large extent at
the base Of senatorial opposition to any
limiting OF debate which would mean
limiting Of their individual power. Hwould
mean in the judgment of senators very
largely that, as Mr.. Tillman said few
days ago about the House Of Representa-
tives, legislation would be by unanimous
consent of the leaders. The individual SEN
ator shorn Of SO much of his power would
be a very different element OF influence
from what he Is today. Senators who
oppose cloture argue that there are few
measures lost in Congress by unlimited
debate that cause serious trouble. In fact
many senators go as far as to say, as
did Senator Aldrich when the subject OF
coture was under discussion In the Senate
a short time ago, that in the long run no
Ill effects can be charged up to the power
Of unlimited debate. In the case OF the
river and harbor bill which failed In the
last hours Of the Fifty-sixth Congress, its
place was taken by another river and har-
bar bill in the first session of the Fifty
seventh Congress, which was more &C
ceptable as a whole than had been the
previously proposed legislation. The state
hood bill lost in the last Congress VIII
come up In the next, and the canal treaty.
defeated In the Fifty-seventh Congress by
one man, Senator Morgan, Is now on the
high road to ratification.
It Is argued by many senators that the
country has much more to fear from too
much legislation than from too little; that
cloture would be an aid, in their Judgment,
to too much. Senators feel that as long as
the present rules are IN force they have an
enormous individual power which they
might wish to invoke, even II they had
never done so. In one sense senators are
invoking that power every day. Many OF
them frequently make their wishes known
In relation to certain legislation in such
way aus to convey the idea that unless those
wishes are compiled with they win make
trouble. 1t Is an enormous power welded
L., n 40 i,,4,, al nd hoe
men. even II they do not fear Immediate
results of curtailing their own influence,
are loath to surrender their present priv
ilege of individually commanding attention
they do not receive attention they will
have recourse to extended debate.
Difficulty in the Way.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of
the discussion in relation to changing the
rules OF the Senate, and one that Is being
discussed with interest by senators, L. that
pract fcally the rules cannot be changed,
except by unanimous consent. There Is lit
tie doubt that proposition to change the
rules. which could be done by a majority
vote. would be the subject for dila&ery tao
tics on the part OF democrats. In other
words the Individual senator. or the minor
Ny. cannot be deprived Of all their rights
under the present rule. IL they care to take
extreme measures to preserve them, ex-
cept by their own consent.
It is understood that Senator AIlison's
resolution today was partly result of Rep
resentative Cannon's very extreme COM
ments on the rules of the Senate, which he
claimed had allowed senator to resort to
Legislative blackmafl." It Is expected that
in the forthcoming report Of the commit
tee. to be submitted by next December. will
be thorough defense Of the methods of
the Senate in doing business: To what ex-
tent the committee will call witnesses in
order to defend It's policy and the extent