The Washington times., 1915-11-22

last spring the President gave as
s,,rancs to certain Senators that n II
were necessary. and II other public ar
fairs did not interfere, he would call
special session of tho Senate this
autumn; nominnIfy. to consider treaties
and the like: actually to take up the
question OF revising the rules and pro-
viding a plan of cloture. Since that
assurance was Given. It has been de-
cided that a special session 10 NOT
necessary. because careful inquiry into
Senatorial sentiment has convinced the
leaders OF the cloture night that there
10 no need for a special session. They
have given up the special session. con-
vinced that the night can he made ana
won within q short time after the open
ing OF tho regular session.
Tho cloture question will be taken UP
nrst in the Democratic conference
which WIN meet in advance of the open
ing Of the session: probably on Novem-
Der .. At that time everything m
volvinR the reorganization of tho Sem
ate will como UP a. routine including
the rules. There has been some dis
cussfon Of late, whether the senats
needs 10 adopt rules. Some Of the old
time members have taken the position
that the senate II a continuing body.
whose rules persist without even being
readopte1 from Congress to Congress.
Can Enforce View.
Therefore. they say. II nothing n done
the old rules win continue Tho cloture
people decline this Wow. They insist
that the Senate has to b reorsaniEed
with every ConEreea While only ono
third OF its personnel changes. and
while tho changes arc in large part
nominal because OF tho large proportion
| OF re-eIecuons among the one-third Of
the members whose terms have OK
pircd, yet It 10 insisted that this makes
| a new Senate. which must adopt new
methods Of government for itself, and
| elect new officers.
II IL now plain that this view will be
accented. because, ~ there were no other
reason. the Democrats have enough
| majority to enforce It. They want 10
! insert in rule q which deals with the
/ precedence of motions. a provsion foi
Senate has no previous question. In the
original Senate as organized immedi'
ateIy after tho Constitution wa,
adopted. there was n rule allowing the
previous question to be moved.
Provision Is Dropped.
But after a few years. in 1908. thi'
provision was by general consent Drop
ned out. At that time tho membership
Of tho Senate was small. and there
seems 10 have been no thought that q
ft,ibuster would ever be undertaken II
unlimited debate were permitted.
Rather, tho previous question wa.
barred in order to insure that ther'
should be no sharp practice IN cutt,nf
off reasonable debate. Experience ma
proved that too much debate 10 qu,te a.
likely TO hamper business as too nttle
Action without debate Is likely to b'
unwise. debate without action 10 FIRE
ouently imbecile. That II the opinion
TO which many former advocates OF un
limited debate have been brought IN re
cent years, though observation or I'M
impossibility getting the 1atione' ousi
ness transa cted while minority IN TN
Sen,te can prevent action by mer'
talking.
Support From Minority.
From senator owen. Democratic lead
er in favor Of cioture. ana senate
Norris. Republican leader In the sam
effort, the same expression Is obtained
that in all probability there Will not b
a long and determined flibuster asains
a vote on tho proposed change of tn
rules. 1t is not going to be made
partv matter: and a number OF mem
bers of the minority VIII -, suppot. o IN
Effort win be directed to making
verv clear to the country that there !
e' 'respectablc Republican demand 70
the change. and that the Democrats ar
solid for 1t. ,,.,,r
,s found In the compilations of the par
,iamentary procedure OF the states an
Countries OF the world. Among tn
Sortv-eight states of the Union, nun
: herring ninety-six legislative bodies
the law making organizations IL ID o'