The Washington times., 1915-02-13
CIoture Legislation in Upper
House Likely to Come Out
Of Present Situation.
SUPPORT MAJORITY RULE
Kenyon, La Toilette, Norris, and
Owen Support Check on
0iIatory Tactics.
BY JUDSON C. WELLIvER.

last became 80 great a nuisance in the
Senate that the people who have re-
sorted to 1t in times Of what they es-
teemed great provocation are lining up
in favor Of ending 1t.
Such Is the newest development in
the campaign for a cloture rule In the
upper chamber.
Last session Senator Kenyon Of Iowa
was the real leader Of the filibuster
against the river and harbor bill. He
utilized that weapon most effectively in
cooperation with Senators Norris and
Burton. and they actually succeeded in
compelling the modification Of the
Measuer 50 that 1t saved a good many
millions Of dollars.
But senator Kenyon has come over to
favor the cioture proposition IL it can
be formulated into a reasonable and
satisfactory rule.
''The real appeal from the majority
here Is to the country" he said today.
land not to the minority. The respon-
sibility for legislation is upon the ma
jority, not the minority: and no matter
how insistently the minority may be-
Meve 1t is right. the majority's respon-
sibil!ty should not be shouldered Ivy
minority. The country will be able to
make up a verdict that will finally de-
eide what it wants"
Wants Standing Rule.
81 1o
liable. Is not the only man who has re-
sorted to the filibuster, who believes 1t
10 an undesirable weapon. Senator Nor
ris. for example, has been most profic-
lent and jealous filibusterer on occasion;
but as a student Of parliamentary pro-
ceedings and q hard-headed man Of af-
fairs, he has introduced a resolution
providing for . method Of closing de-
bate. oreover. he doesn't want a tenn
rule on the subject Incorporated into the
Senate's procedure code.
1t Is sad also that Senator La Toilette.
though he has standing to his credit the
longest speech ever made In filibuster.
has come around to the view that the
hlibuster is not the right procedure. lie
Is counted among those ready now 40
assist in getting a proper order for clos
ing debate within reason.
OF all the men who have enlisted In
this cause. none has contributed more
Of serious consideration and study than
Senator Owen Of oklahoma. For years
establishment of a method of cloturc
that would make real debate possible
and reasonably assure a vote on the
merits Of a measure at possible time,
The owen rule would provide that the
Senate may at any time, on motion. fix
q time to vote on any measure. except
that this rule shall not prevent any
Senator speaking on any measure at a
time to be set by the Senate. A Sena-
tor making q motion may. be called
upon to convince the presiding officer
II the chair be convinced that it is.
then 1t shall be ruled out of order.
The Norris eRs0lution.
The Norris resolution provides a diff
ferent mechanism. but gets to the same
place. 1t provides:
That 1T shall be in order during
me measure s on the the calendar shall be-
considered under this rule Tho mo-
tion shall lie over one day and then
be decided without debate. When
rule. 1t shall be considered first in
general debate during which no
Senator shall talk more than three
hours except by unanimous consent.
amendments. and on amendments.
speeches shall be limited to fifteen
minutes. unless the speaker on an
an amendment shall not have con-
general debate. in which case he
may extend It SO that the total Of
his time shall reach three hours.
Senator Owen has made an impress
sive compilation Of the parliamentary
practice of the world. In which he
shows that all parliamentary law now
recognizes the absolute necessity for
a rule to close debate. The Senate Is
the one exception:
He has compiled the various methods
and rules Of the State legislatures,
showing that in everyone of the forty
eight States the procedure includes
closures Of debates: and this Is true
Only ths but the rght Is ove
the previous question has been part of
the procedure OF the National House
Of Representatives from its establish
ment.
Other Precedents.
Then come the precedents of other
governments. In all the parliaments of
English-speaking peoples. among whom
parliaments of the modern sort origi-
mated. closure Is provided for. Mr..
that parliament was hopelessly hamp-
cred by unlimited debate and conse-
quent filibustering. moved q @oture
amendment to the rules. and It was
employed since its adoption. and there
is not possibility that the, commons
Will ever return to the old rule.
In France. ii few members cry for
question: .'Shail the debate be now
ciosed?" Nobody may speak. in favor
or 1t. and only one member in opposi-
ton. for the purpose of showing that
ne had desired to be heard on the main
question. After that the question is
put. and If the motion to close debate
passes the main question must go to
vote. The French republic of today.
whose whose stability has been one of the
wonders OF the latter decades In the
nineteenth century. is beliaved to owe
much OF it's power to sustain popular
soyernmcnt to the face that debate
can no longer be extended to the point
of preventing legislation. '>
In Germany. the show of hands nv
fhlrty members requires a vote ON the
question OF closing debate; and the ma
lor1ty can then adopt the cloture and
force action on the main issue
In Austria and the Austro- -Hungar.