The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-03-09
PRESIDENT SCORES
F0SSILIZED RULES
OF THE U. S. SENATE

The fossiIized rules Of the United
States Senate that place no limit on
debate and encourages filibustering,
ENABLED few self-opionated Senators,
at the constitutional termination Of
the Sixty-fourth Congress, to defeat
the Presidents plans of meeting the
\ submarine menace and practically ty-
ing his hands. After the dissolution
Of Congress, the President issued the
following singing and Just rebuke:
"The termination Of the last ses-
sion Of the Siyty-fourth Congress by
constitutional limitation discioses a
situation unparalleled in the history
of the country, perhaps unparalleled
in the history Of any modern Govern
ment.
"In the immediate presence of a cri-
sis fraught with more subtle and far
Preaching possibilities of national dan
ger than any other the Government
has known within the whole history
Of its international relations, the Con-
gress has been unable TO act either
to safeguard the country or to vindi-
cate the elementary rights Of its cit
liens.
"More than 500 of the 531 members
of the two houses were ready and anx-
ious to act; the House of Representa-
tives had acted by an overwhelming
majority; but the Senate was unable
to act because little group of IL
Senators had determined that it should
not.
Effect of SENATE Rules.
"The Senate has no rules by which
debate can be limited or brought to
an end, no rules by which dilatory tao
tics Of any kind can be prevented. A
single member can stand in the way of
action if he have but the physical en-
durance. The result in this case is a
complete paralysis alike of the legis-
lative 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 a time when the need for it
was most pressing and most evident.
The bill which should 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.
Big Measures Fail to Pass.
The opposition of one or two Sena-
tors has made it impossible to in
crease the membership of the Inter
state Commerce Commission or to
give it the altered organization neces-
sary for its efficiency.
The conservation bill which should
have released for immediate use the
resources which are still
ocked up in the public lands, now that
heir release is more imperatively nee
essarv than ever, and the bill which
would have made the unused water
power of the country Immediately
AVAILABLE for industry have both fail
ID, though they have been under con-
Iideration throughout the session of
.wo Congresses and have been twice
PASSED by the House of Representa-
ives.
"The appropriations for the army
AVE failed, along with the appropria-
ions for the civil establishment of
he Government, the appropriations
or the military academy at West
'oint, and the general deficiency bill.
ut has proved impossible to ex-
end the powers of the Shipping ,
'oard to meet the special needs Of
he new situation into which our COM
1erce has been forced, or to increase
ne gold reserve of our national bank
lg system to meet the unusual cir /
umstances of the existing financial !
ituation. It
Extra Session Not Cure.
at would not cure the difficulty to /!
Ill the Sixty-ffth Congress in extra c
rfinary session. The paralysis of the 0
enate would remain. The purpose a
nd the spirit of action are not lack d
e, no. The Congress is more def Ii
tely united in thought and purpose "
this moment, | venture to say, thanl :
has been within the memory of any :.
an now in its membership. There is
It only the most united patriotic pur-
'se, but the objects members have in |
ew are perfectly clear and definite.
but the Senate cannot act unless
! leaders can obtain unanimous con-
nj. Its majority is powerless, help
IS. In the midst of crisis of ex-
aordinary peril. when only definite
d decided action can make the ma
IN safe or shield it from war itself
the aggression Of others, action is
possible.
Although as matter of fact the I
tion and the Representatives of the
ton stand back of the ExecutiveI
tn unprecedented unanimity and
irit, the impression made abroad +
II, Of course, be that it is not So /
that other Governments may act
they please without fear that this !
vernment can do anything at all. /
J cannot explain. The explanation Y
incredible. The Senate of the I
ited States is the only Legislative Il
iy in the world which cannot act 4
en- its majority is ready for action. I