New-York tribune., 1911-03-03
No 1oyqrR "orrRSHADoWIyG.

NO TONGFR "OTERGHADOWTNG.
Years ago there was q good deal OF
talk IN Washington about the over
snadowiuc Senate" Representative SAM
mel W. Mccall once wrote series pt
articles intended TO prove that inc IN
1ueuce of the lower branch # Congress
had already shrivelled IN the dread
shadow Of the Senate's usurped power
and that the influence of the tNecutiYe
was likewise beginning +" shrivel 80
far a. the Executive was concerned.
there was no basis for Mr.. Mccall
contention. for the SCnate's pretensions
to ovcrlnrdShip reached their height in
the administration of Andrew Johnson,
and the political power of the EXecu-
tive has been enormously increased
since then at the Senate's expense. But
there was much truth in the statement
that i'm the period between $3.50 and 1900
the Senate completely oVei@hadoWed the
House. Ii was looked 70 even by the
House itself to give final form ia all leg
iSlation. the House leaders having no
ambition beyond iammiug through uu-
djgeSfcd measures and letting the Sen
ate lick them into shape.
Those were days of weakness and
denression in the lower branch. The
trouble was that the majority there. in
order 10 stamp out tilibustering. willing
w put autocratic parliamentary power in
the hands uf the speaker. but failed t."
realize that it was not necessary I" pnt
autocratic political power in his hands
at the same time. voting trust was
created aud the Speaker was made tru~-
too The habit of free discussion and
free action was abandoned. and even
measures Of the greatest Importance like
the Wilson aud Dingley tariff bills We're
rushed through hurricdly under special
rules. the Senate being invited {" COY
rect all oycrSightS and errors. The Sen
ate did really write practically all the
important legislation i'm the period re
ferrod TO-. But the ''usurpation' on the
Scnates part was not deliberate ond
craftiIv accomplishing it was ahetted
and consented to hy the House.
The Senate'S enhanced prestige from
1890 until recently was due 10 the fact
that on the whole. IL did we'll not only
its own work but the work which the
IIouse shirked II had leaders who felt
sense Of responsibility and who tried
to maintain the upper branch's rcpu-
tatiop for legislative efficiency. They
steadily enforced the principle of major
itv rulo. although occasionally having 10
concede somethiu. to IN obstructive mi
raritv But those DAYS seem to have
naeeed The Senate ID, now without real
leadership Both parties are split into
fsotions. aud in tho absence Of any
means If parliamentary control business
drifts along at the mercy Of any little
oroup of hlibusiers Serious considera-
tion of legislation Is impossible under
.ucb conditions. and the senate pow has
fo be thankful for chance 10 get a vote
an House measures without attempting
to improve them ~ 10 argue matters In
disnute with the lower branch.
The senate does not cast much If n
shadow" today Its former dominance
In legislation is passing TO the House
NJ Representatives. which has at last
terminated the voting trust in The hands
~ the speaker thinks and acts for itself
and freely translates its purposes into
LEGISLATION. The Senate Is not likely to