The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-03-08
WILSON WOULD RE.
WISE SENATE RULES
Strong Words Used in Formal Adj
dress to the Country.

President Wilson and to 1ndOrSe his
program of armed neutrality by fill
clustering tactics during the closing
hours of the last Congress, calls for
the following strong language by the
President:
1.-THE termination of the last session
of the Sixty-fourth Congress by con-
stitutional Limitation dscloses situ-
alton unparalleled in the history of
the country, perhaps unparalleled in
the history of any modern govern
ment. In the immediate presence Of
a 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 its international relations,
the congress has been unable to act
either to safeguard the country or to
yindicate the elementary rights of its
citizens.
more than 500 of the 531 men,
bers of the two houses were ready
and anxious to act; the house of rep
resentatives had acted, by an over
whelming majority; but the senate
was unable to act because little
group of II senators had determined
that il cbould not
Physical Endurance Supreme.
''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 action If he have but the ply
steal endurance. The result in this
case is 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 for it
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
have failed.
Other Legislation Blocked.
"The opposition of one or two SEN
ators 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 conserva-
tion bill, which should have released
for immediate use the mineral re-
sources which are still locked up in
lease is more imperatively necessary
than ever, and the bill which would
have made the unused water-power
of the country Immediately available
for industry have both failed, Though
they have been under consideration
throughout the sessions of two cor
crosses and have been twice passed
by the house of representatives.
"The appropriations for the army
have failed, along with the appropria-
tions for the civil establishment OF
the government, the appropriations
for the Military Academy at West
Point, and the general deficiency bill
1t 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 or to increase the gold
reserve of our National banking sys-
TEN to meet the unusual circum-
stances of the existing financial situa-
ton.
Senate Remains Paralyzed.
1T would not cure the difficulty
to call the 65th congress in extraor-
dinary session. The paralysis of the
senate would remain. The purpose
and the spirit of action are not lack
ing now. The congress is more def
nitely united in thought and purpose
at this moment, venture to say, than
it has been within the memory of any
man now in its membership. There is
not only the most united patriotic
purpose but the objects members
have In view are perfectly clear and
definite. But the senate cannot act
unless its leaders can obtain unani-
nous consent. It's majority is pow
erless, helpless. In the midst of a
crisis of extraordinary peril, when
only definite and decided action can
make the nation safe or shield 1t
from war itself by the aggression of
others, action is impossible.
Although as 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 1t is not so,
and that other governments may act
as they please without fear that this
government can do anything at all.