Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-30
THE cLoTuRE RULE.

The business of congress may ne
halted for days by the struggle over
cloture or the limitation of debate IN
the senate.
Contention by senators tor what
MANY OF them consider the inalienabie
right to talk to their hearts content
may block proceedings on general
legislative matters indefinitely. rms
may 60 so far as to interfere with
the progress Of business in the house
Senator Owen, leader of the move
ment among the senate democrats TO
force cioture,. has declared it to be
his purpose to bring the cloture quesi
ton to an issue on the opening Gay
Of the session After the roll has
been called in the senate, even before
a committee is chosen to notify the
president that congress is assembled.
Senator Owen expects to have pre-
sented a resolution for the adoption
Of the old rules of the senate plus
provision that the majority may at
any time fix time for voting.
Under present rules, time for vot-
ing on measure in the senate is
fixed not by vote but by unanimous
consent. If a single senator objects
to fixing time for voting, vote. IN
theory. can be blocked AS matter
Of fact, it is seldom a vote is long
DELAYED by a single senator or by
few senators If there is clear and
pronounced majority for the measure
which is pending.
It has been the unchallenged theory
for years that the senate is contlnu-
ing body Consequently, at the open
ing of a session. rules are not adopt
ed. The old rules are looked on as
continuing. But Senator Owen and
the democrats who are with him in
the fight for cloture challenge the
theory that the old rules continue. SO
they intend to press the motion or
resolution on the opening day OF the
session, to adopt the rules OF the. pre-
ceding senate with the addition OF
an amendment giving the right to
shut down on debates and force
vote.
If the opponents of cloture, who in
clude most of the republicans and
small body of democrats, appeal to
the chair, held by the vice president.
that the motion is out of order, 1t
will be up to the vice president to
rule. Or he may say that this is a
question for the senate by vote to de-
eide. If he rules, an appeal to the
senate will be taken.san4
It is the intention of Senator Owen
and the democrats who are making
the cloture fight to force a vote on the
motion to adopt the old rules plus a
cloture amendment.
This may involve riding rough shod
over the republicans and all who are
opposed to cloture.
In other words. Senator Owen de-
clares, if an attempt is made to fill
buster against vote on cloture, the
previous question will be moved and
the effort made thus to end debate.
II the chair rules this is out of order,
appeal will be made to the senate.
Or. the vice president may simply
refer the question to the senate and
decline to rule
n the friends of cloture have the
majority, they can thus order the pre-
yious question and jam the PROPOSE
ton to a vote.
Il is certain that fight of intense
bitterness will be provoked. But un-
der the tactics which Senator Owen
las mapped out, it looks as if vote
on cloture could not be avoided.
However, it is not unlikely the de-
bate will run on for several days. 1t
may happen that this debate will pre-
vent naming committee to advise
the white house congress is in SEES
sion and ready to receive communi
cations. Should that occur, President
Wilson, not being officially advised
congress is assembled on Capitol Hill,
NOV MT read his message to the two
houses on the usual day but may be
compelled to hold it off for several
days, or until such time as the rules
battle in the senate is over.
If the cloture rule is adopted, there
will be nothing to prevent the demo-
cratic caucus from meeting in Sc
cret, agreeing on a bill and driving
it through the senate with scant de-
bate.
RI ~-<x