The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-05
WILSON SEEKS
RULE TO HALT
FIL|BUSTERINC


buster before adjournment yesterday
may effectually prevent him from ex-
ercising executive prerogative to arm
merchant ships and advocates imme-
date reform rules by the senate at
vent a small minority from holding
up legislation in the future.
After IL senators led by Senator La
Toilette, had defied the wish of an
overwhelming majority to vote on the
neutrality bill until forced adjourn
ment yesterday noon carried the
measure down to it's death, President
Wilson issued statement denounc-
ing the obstructionists and expressing
doubt whether he can proceed to arm
ships without legislative sanction. The
presidents statement said:
1.-THE termination of the last session
of the Sixty-f fourth Congress by con-
stitutional limitation discloses a situa-
ton unparalleled in the history OF
the country, perhaps in the history OF
any modern government.
''In the immediate presence OF
crisis fraught with more subtle and
far reaching possibilities of national
danger than any other the govern
ment has known within the whole
history of it's international relations.
the Congress has been unable to act
either to safeguard the country or
to vindfcate the elementary rights OF
it's citizens.
more than 500 Of the 531 members
Of the two Houses were ready and
anxious to act; the House of Repre-
sentatives had acted, by an over
whelming majority; but the Senate
was unable to act because little
group Of II Senators had determined
that it should not.
1.-THE Senate has no rules by which
debate can be limited or brought to
an end, no rules by which dilatory
tactics Of any kind can be prevented.
A single member can stand in the
way Of actioh if he have but the
physical endurance. The result IN
this case is a complete paralysis alike
Of the legislative and of the executive
branches of the government.
This inability Of the Senate to act
has rendered some Of the most neces-
sary legislation Of the session impos-
sible at time when the need OF 1t
was most pressing and most evident.
The bill which would have permitted
such combinations Of capital and of
organization in the export and import
trade Of the country as the circum-
stances of international competition
have made Imperative bill which
the business Judgment Of the whole
country approved and demanded
has failed.
'The opposition Of one or two Sem
I,o n.
crease the membership of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission or to
give it the altered organization neces-
sary for it's efficiency.
''The Conservation Bill, which
should have released for immed iate
use the mineral resources which are
still locked up in the public lands, now
that their release is more imperatively
necessary than ever, and the bill
which would have made the unused
water power of the country imme'
diately available for industry have
both failed, though they have been
under consideration throughout the
sessions of two Congresses and have
been twice passed by the House OF
Representatives.
"The appropriations for the army
have failed along with the appropria-
tons for the civil esta blishment of the
government, the appropriations for
the Military Academy at West Point
and the General Deficiency Bill.
"It has proved impossible TO extend
the powers of the Shipping Board to
meet the special needs of the new sit
uation into which our commerce has
been forced OF to increase the gold
reserve of our national banking sys-
tenn to meet the unusual circum-
stances of the existing financial sltua-
ton.
cit would not cure the difficulty to
call the Sixty fifth Congress in extra
ordinary session. The paralysis of the
Senate would remain.
'sThe purpose and the spirit OF ac-
ton are not lacking now. The Con-
gress is more definitely united In
thought and purpose at this moment.
venture to say, than it has ceen
within the memory Of any man now
in it's membership There is not only
the most united patriotic purpose but
the objects members have in view are
perfectly clear and defnite.
"But the Senate cannot act unless
it's leaders can obtain unanimous con-
sent. us IIldJOItCy 10, w Cd AO'S, AASAR
less In the midst of a crisis of extra
ordinary peril. when only definite and
decided action can make the nation
safe or shield it from war itself by
the aggression of others, action is i'm
possible.
although as a matter Of fact the
nation and the representatives of the
nation stand back Of the executive
with unprecedented unanimity and
spirit, the impression made abroad
will of course be that it is not so and
that other governments may act as
they please without fear that this
government can do anything at all,
We cannot explain. The explanation
is Incredible The Senate of the
United States is the only Legislative
body in the world which cannot act
when it's majority is ready for action.
A little group Of wilful men. repre-
senting no opinion but their own, have
rendered the great government of the
United States helpless and contempti-
bic.
1.-The remedy: There is but one
remedy. The only remedy is that the
rules of the Senate shall be so altered
that it can act. The country can be
relied upon to draw the moral I be-
heve that the Senate can be relied on
to supply the means Of action and