The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-10-07
SEES END
OF LONG
DEBATES
Senator Owen Predicts Adoption Of
His Plan to Shorten Up Ses-
sion by Limiting Time
for Arguments
BY BURTON K. sTANplsH.
written for the United Press. J

Written for the United Press.)
Washington, Oct. 7.--After the end
of the next session OF congress, If pre-
dictions of Senator Owen Of Oklahoma
are accurate, there will be no more
tiresome unending debates in the
United States senate. 1t will be possi-
BILE, If the plan of the Oklahoma sena-
tor is carried out. to make a motion
at any time in the consideration Of
any bill to bring debate to close
within two days, half the time remain
ing after the motion is carried to be
assigned to each side of the argument.
For obvious reasons no fight is be-
ing made at this session to put through
any such radical" rule. A number
of the older senators are desperately
opposed to any change. and would fill
buster against 1t.
Under the present rules, If enough
OF them got together and continued to
talk, 1t would be impossible for vote
ever to be reached, so that plenty OF
time would be lost to put through this
time saving rule. But time is just
what there is a scarcity of at this
session of congress, which has already
dragged along to almost record break
ing time length, and threatens to con
tinue up until Decembe when the
next regular session begins.
A striking example of what one SEN
ator is able to do in the way of OBJ
structing legislation was shown at this
session in the action Of Senator Bur
ton Of Ohio, in opposing passage of the
rivers and harbors pork barrel bill.
Under the present rules a senator may
discuss bill for a year continuously,
if he is physically able to do so, nor
is he confined to the subject under
discussion.
They still tell the story of how
"Pitchfork Ben" Tillman on one oc-
casion, while filibustering against
some measure to which he particularly
objected, quoted a word in a peculiar
sense. His use OF the word was ques-
toned, whereupon he had dictionary
brought in, and, to prove that the def
milton of the words and definitions in
that dictionary was to be accepted,
read page after page Of words and
definitions to prove that the diction-
airy he quoted was an authority which |
could be accepted
The principal defense of the pres
ent system is that no filibuster cou.i
succeed which did not have a tremen-
dous popular sentiment behind it. 1t
is pointed out that if Senator Burton
did not have strong support to prevent |
the passage of the rivers and harbors
bill, he would not have been able to
resist the outcry which might have
been aroused by the terrific waste OF
time to which he is resorting. IL is
pointed out that Senator German OF
Maryland was cherished until he died. |
texcept on one or two occasions) by
the people of that state because OF
his famous filibuster which prevented
the passage of the Force bill. Sena-
tor Owen himself. who is leading lne
fight for cloture in the senate, was re-
Gently taxed by Senator Gallinger of
New Hampshire with having filibus-
tered against the bill admitting
Arizona and New Mexico as one state.
He retorted that he was proud of his
action on that occasion, and, as long
as the rules permitted, would not hes
itate to take advantage of another OPP
portunity to kill piece Of legislation
he considered bad.