Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-04-29


entity sought to shut off debate by
moving to lay Bacon's amendment on
the table. Senator Flint appeared
somewhat embarrassed and as soon as
possible put in a disclaimer, declaring
that he had no disposition whatever
to shut off debate, but was willing
everybody who desired to discuss the
amendment should do so. However.
he had been informed. personally by
Senator Bacon that he (Bacon) did
not desire to discuss the Bacon amend
ment, and as no other senator had
indicated desire to speak, he had
followed the ordinary course and
moved to lay the amendment. on the
table. Senator Blank continued his
talk along the line of permitting free
debate in the Senate and another
senator who was posted on the game,
went to Flint and whispered in his
ear, whereupon Flint smiled and ap-
peared more at ease. Flint is new
senator with limited experience and
he had an idea, no doubt, that he was
being hazed.
After Senator Blank had concluded
his remarks, Senator Flint got up and
again protested that he had not sought
to cut off discussion. In the mean
time Senator Blank and other leaders
had been talking to certain other sena-
tors and inside of five minutes lively
discussion was in progress with many
senators apparently anxious to get
into the game. Along about four
o'clock the Senate went into executive
session. with the swamp land bill still
the unfinished business.
am told by a man who is thor
oughly conversant with the situation
and knows the "inside" that the pas
sage of the swamp land bill at that
time would have been very embarrass-
ing to the Senate. Following this
bill there were several measures on
the calendar that appropriated large
sums of money and it was not desired
TO pass them or to have them con-
sidered in the Senate.
Criticism has been heard at times
because the Senate has adjourned
from time to time and it has been
suggested that the Senate is a lazy
bSdy and indisposed to work. OF
course it is very easy to criticise but
fairness demands that critics should
at least have some knowledge OF the
facts. The Senate can do more work
and does do more work in three days
than the House can in week and the
Senate is always ready to dig in when
it has business on hand, but it should
be remembered that appropriation
bills must originate in the House and
the Senate cannot take up appropria-
tion bills until the House has con-
sidered and passed them. The House
has been in trough house" conii-
tion much of the session and appro
priation bills have not come over
rapidly, with the result that the Sem
ate bas had many days with nothing
to do. OF course there are plenty OF
bills in committees and on the calen-
dar but they nearly all of them appro-
pirate money and big sums OF money.
and as I previously remarked, if the
Senate were to grind awav, continu-
ously on these measures Uncle Sam
would be bankrupt.
The Senate has adjourned from time
to time from Friday until Monday, or
skipped day occasionally to avoid
adding to the sum total of annual ap-
preparations, in the interest of the
whole people.
1t should be understood that the
House has certain rules and the
Speaker is clothed with certain
powers that make it an easy matter
In the House to head off House bills
that it is not desired should pass, bnt
lit is not so easy to sidetrack a Senate
bill coming to the House. In the
House the consent of the Speaker to
recognition must first be obtained.
and if he is against the measure he
will not recognize the father Of the
bill. That settles it. In the Senate it
is entirely different. The President
of the Senate has nothing to do with
what legislation shall be considered
and everything proceeds under a rule
of courtesy This necessitates tact
and diplomacy in the shunting off Of
bills that it is not desirable to pass
and accounts for the apparent laziness
of the Senate at times. However. the
Senate is keeping up with the House
and most of the time is waiting on
the House. Frank J. Stillman.
Editor Gruwell. of the Maquoketa