New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-21
THE PHILIPPINE DEBATE.

The House of Representatives went long way
toward redeeming its reputation as a law max
ing body by the spirit it exhibited and the meth
DDS it adopted in dealing with the Phlhpplne
Tariff bill. 1t was the boast OF Ihomas b. heed
that under the parliamentary system which he
devised the House had ceased to be dellber-
alive body" The history of the popular branch
of Congress- since 1889 has often more than jus
tilted the former Speakers cynicism. The House.
which had suffered from filibusterlng and other
senseless methods of obstruction seemed LOT
time fully reconciled to surrendeFing It's dehp-
erative functions and transforming itself into
mere registering machine. For many Congresses
the reproach has been flung at the lower branch
that it merely rushed through half dlgesred
measures leaving the vital task or cfluclsn'
ANALYSIS and elaboration TO the Senate Repub-
Ican and Democratic majorities alike submitted
TO discipline which gave absolute power to the
Speaker and his two party associates on the
Committee on Rules and left the average Rep
resentative with neither influence nor initiative.
Under this system ironclad rules were brought
in which regulated in the minutest detail just
what propositions members should be allowed 10
vote on and debate consisted largely IN one
party's denouncing the particular form OF gag
law Droposed as Outrageous and the other
nartv's defending it as reasonable and neces-
sary~ Debate in fact, lost its real meaning,
lion. simply ratified or disapproved conclusions
rot ifs own. which it had had no real chance
10 discuss or modify From so many exhibitions
OF legislation bolted under undue pressure IL IS
pleasant to turn 10 the picture presented IN the
House during the debate on the Philippine 1arln
bill That measure was fully and freely dis
cussed No members parliamentary rights were
abridged. ANY Republican or any Democrat was
privileged TO offer amendments. Party lines, 1t
so happened, were broken, many Republicans
opposing the measure and many Democrats sup
porting IL It could be judged, therefore, abso-
IuteIy on its merits and il was 50 Judged
The Republicans who were anxious to retain
some percentage of the Dingley law duties on
Philippine sugar and tobacco refused to resort
10 guerilla tactics to defeat the bill They up
held the chair in ruling out of order amendments
clearly offered as riders The Democratic
minority also declined 10 play for temporary
partisan advantage by coalescing with the in
surgents on the final rollcall. In a parlia-
mentary sense everything was direct and above
board and the Houses final action represented
its fully matured and fairly ascertained opinion
The speeches delivered both in general debate
and under the five minute rule. were interesting,
amusing vigorous and full Of JUNCTION. They
showed little of the forced vehemence and per-
functory partisanship which so often deaden
discussions in the House. The orators seemed to
realize that they were really influencing legis-
Iation not simply apologizing for or assailing
something already decreed The House took
genuine pleasure in indulging in this novel SEN
sation and in its new mood the popular branch
showed to far greater advantage.