The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-05

II dbi' ~ Hciu UP lttp measure. n
2 privilege Of unlimited debate.
Senate Rules Reform Is Need.
although, as 4 matter of fact" aid
the statement, the nation and the
representatives. OF the nation stand
back OF the executive with unpre
cedented unanimitv and spirit. the ir,-
preston made abroad will, OF courss.
be that it is not so, and that other
/ governments may act as they piease
without fear that this government can
do anything"
The president reviewed the various
measures which had been dasmed 10
failure by the delay in the senate and
declared that the only remedy was
reform of the senate rules which
would allow a majority of that body
to act.
"The country" he said. "can be re-
lied upon TO draw the moral. be-
lieve that the senate can he relied
upon To supply the means of action
and save the country from disaster.
The presidents statement In full
read:
Unparalleled situation.
The termination Of the last session
of the sixty-fourth. congress by con-
stitutionaI limitation discloses situa- II
. ton unparalleled in the history ef tNo#s
country. perhaps unparalleled in the Il
, history OF any modern government.
In the immediate presence of a crisis
traught with more subtle and far
reaching possibilities OF national
danger than any other the governs Il
ment has known within the whole
history of it's international relations,
the congress has been unable to act, NJ
either to safeguard the country or to
vindicate the elementary rights OF its
citizens. More than five hundred OF
the Ave hundred and thirty men,
bers OF the two houses were ready
and anxious tn act: the house OF rep
resentatives had acted by an over
whelmng majority; but the senate
was unable to act. because little
group of eleven senator's had de-
ternined that II should not
THE senate has no rules by which
debate can be limited or brought to
an end no rules by which diatorv
tactics OF any kind can be prevented.
single member can stand In the
way OF action il he have but tho
physical endurance. The result In
this case Is a complete paralysis alikS
of the legislative aud Of the eNecu.s
tive branches of the government
Pressing Needs Not Met.
This inability of the senate t act
{
sary legislation of the session irnpos.
sibIe, at time when the need for Il
was most pressing and most evidert.
The bill which would have permits
ted such combinations Of capital and
OF organization in the export and Inn
port trade Of the country as the cir
cumstances Of International compesi-
ton have made Imperative hill
which the business Judgment of tho
whole country approved and demand
ed--has failed. The opposition OF
one or two senators has made II I'M
possible to increase the membership
I Of the interstate commerce comnlis-
sion or give the altered organization
+ necessary for its efficiency The COM
servatiou bill. which should have re-
/ leased for Immediate use the mineral
resources which are still locked up
in the public lands. now that their {
! release is more imperatively neces-
sary than ever. and the bill which
would have made the unusual water
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 repre-
sentatives. The appropriations ror
the army have failed. along with ,nN
appropriations for the civil establis11-
priations for the military academy ~
West Point ana the general deficiency
bill. II has proved impossible to ex-ss
tend the powers OF the shipping board u
to meet the special needs Of the new
situation into which our comrr cree u
has been forced or to increase tho
gold reserve of our national banking NJ
systems to meet the unusual circuni-
stances OF the existing flnsncial sssu-
alton
Paralysis Of the Senate.
1T would not cure the diffichlty Ia
call the sixty-f1fth congress in ex,ra-
ordinary session. The paralysis On "a
the Senate would remain. The pun-ss
pose and spirit Of action are not lack
ing now. The congress il more dell- d
nitely united in thought AMI purpoea
at this moment. venture to say, than #
It has Seen within the memory OF any
man now in its membership Thor0
is not only the most united patFsotlaa
purpose. but the objects meuabGf
have in view are perfectly sclaaH u @
definite. But the senate cannot acS
unless its leaders can Obtain nnan1-
nous consent. It's majortty poNef
less. helpless. In tho mids4 :
of extraordinary peril. vaien aM&
DEFINITE and decided action caa -
:, @.'~-, safe nr ahtsld 4 Mo0