Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-28
CONGESTION OF PUBLIC BUS.
NESS PROBABLE ~ FlLleus-
TER TACTICS.
EXTRA SESSION POSSIBLE
TO DISPOSE OF ISSUES
Important Matters Put in Jeopardy
and Extra Session May Be Nsess-
sarry - Lerinsr, Tariff and Direct
Elections Remain to es Disposed
OF.

Washington, Jan. 27-Vital public in
terests are threatened by the congestion
of business in congress, particularly i'll
the senate.
The power of the filibuster is now
magpified as much as ever before IN
the history of the senate. Five men"
says Senator Beveridge," with their
minds set upon it. can prevent the
passage OF any bill whatever during
the five remaining weeks of the ses-
sion"
And the determination is there. Both
reactionaries and progressives are key
ed to the fighting point. GaIllnser
threatens a filibusler unless ship SUBJ
sidy is brought to a vote. Borah gives
notice that little else will be done I'M
less the senate at an early date votes
upon submitting the constitutional
amendment providing for direct cleo
ton Of senators. Beveridge is deter
mined that the Lorimer case shall be
settled before he steps out. Bailey, be-
to talk the tariff commission plan TO
death.
Deadlock Possible.
Nor is there sign of yielding TO
amenities. The fight is already full OF
fiery darts. Colleague is Ditted against
colleague, with strange political COM
plications in the background. Hepburn
Of Idaho, with back set against the
popular tide, fires angry questions at
Borah, his young colleague and rival
who hurls back defiance with rapier
thrust.
Crawford of South Dakota takes the
anti-Lorimer side and thereby trips up
Gamble, his colleague, member OF the
Burrows committee. Root is pitted
against Depew. Smith. of Michigan,
so far as can be estimated in advance,
will split from Burrows on almost ev-
cry important issue, including Lorimer.
Therefore it is, with the air full OF
powder, that the leaders are at sea.
result, with the consequent necessity
of a special session to pass approprla-
ton bills.
Important Issues Dodsed.
Such is the power which the consti-
tuition places in the hands of senator's.
They may talk until the cows come
home The purpose behind that consti-
tutiOnal provision was that there might
be no curtailment of legitimate debate.
Every senator was to have a chance to
freely express his judgment. Action
was never to be hasty, and thus the
stability Of the republic was to be as
sured.
But was it contemplated that the
power of debate should be misused to
dodge vote? Were senators, by much
talking, to deny the people the OPP
portunity to express in constitution
al manner their deliberate judgment
upon so amending the constitution as
to permit direct election Of senator's?
Did the fathers anticipate that a SEN
ate reactionary, by merely hanging his
tongue in the middle, should be abba
to block a reform which makes for
business stability?
Whatever was intended, the fact is
that congress has become machine
for the purpose of sitting legislation
and for lodging votes upon important
issues. This Is the whole basis Of the
conduct of Speaker Cannon and his
satellites. His recent Interpretation
of new rules has been such as to crowd
back the important m lsures which
are pressing upon the house. Thru de-
feat and victory, his theory Ia to pre-
vent its consideration, rather than to
risk vote and make q record. Accord
ingly he and his ueutenants are still
trying to &c the appropriation bills
the right of way. in preference to
everything else. Whenever they fail q
loud cry goes up, blaming the new
rules for the congestion of business
and prophesying an extra session.
People Have Much to Lose.
On two important issues the people
have much to lose thru a deadlock.
They are the direct election amend
ment and the tariff commission. This
Is the first time that the direct cleo
ton matter has ever reached such an
advanced stage in the senate. Its par
liamentary status Is next door to a
vote. Whether, should vote be re-
far again is not sure, altho there is
indication that the senate, with its
changing personnel, is gradually be-
coming more attentive to the popular
desire.
Senator Borah believes that if the
senate votes favorably, and If a vote
is taken two weeks before the close OF
the session. the submission of the
amendment will be assured. The house
several times has acted favorably upon
this issue. But the senator from Idaho
may be little over optimistic. Here