Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-02-06
Hints At CLOTURE
WALSH RESOLUTION MAY CAUSE
REVOLUTION IN METHODS
OF THE SENATE.
LOOKS MILD BUT HAS TEETH
Plans to Limit Debate in the Upper
House Really Have Been Removed
From Party Consideration and
May Garry.
ey GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Is there to be revo-
luton in the methods of conducting
business in the senate? In other words,
Is the upper house Of the United
States to adopt a cloture rule which
win limit debate?
Ever since the day In 1908 when
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin, Re
publican, and Stone of Missouri and
Gore of Oklahoma. Democrats. at
tempted to talk currency bill to
death there has been agitation in be-
half of the adoption by the senate
OF a rule which would enable the up
per house 20 reach q vote on any
subject whenever a majority of the
members desire to reach il.
Year before last Senator Owen of
Oklahoma endeavOred to bring the
senate into mood TO adopt such
rule. The upper house of the national
legislature is an extremely cOnserva-
tive body so far as the conducting OF
its own affairs is concerned. Many
Of the senators not only dislike to
have the rules changed, but they are
afraid to have them changed. Even
some of the proponents of a rule limit
ing debate have not been without fear
that some day their own rule might
serve to plague its promoters.
Senator Walsh of Montana. who was
the western manager of the Wilson
campaign prior to the recent election,
has introduced a resolution in the up
per house which on its face has
milk-and-water expression. However,
masked by the lips of the face is
pretty strong set of teeth. II the
Montana senator's resolution shall be
adopted clOture is likely to be the re-
suit and clOture means that thereafter
a majority of the senate can set an
hour for a voting ON any measure and
cut off all debate thereon.
Resolution Looks Harmless.
Here is the Walsh resolution ct
is the sense of the senate that with
out action on its own part the senate
is dissolved at u o'clock meridian,
March T."
This looks harmless and it takes
an analysis to show just what 1t
means. The upper house always has
gone on the theory that as a legisla-
tive body it is continuing. that it does
not end at the close of the session
which brings an end to the house of
Representatives. This superstition is
based on the fact that only one-third
Of the members of the senate are
elected during any one year, while
the other two-thirds continue to hold
office from session to session, and that
therefore, unlike the house, twO-thirds
Of the senator's terms not having ev-
pired. the senate continues as an ac-
tive legislative body, even after con-
gress, so far as the house is con-
cerned, goes to its death on every sec
ond March 4th.
Now of course, If Senator Walsh's
resolution is adopted it means that
when the senate meets for the first
time after March 4, it is in effect q
new body and that therefore it must
adopt new rules. In this case all
the rules will be adopted by a major
ity vote, and therefore a simple ma
jority could put into effect cloture
rule AS things are today 1t takes a
twO-thirds vote to effect n revision of
the rules, and this two-thirdS' vote
cannot be secured. If the resolution
of the Montana senator therefore pre-
walls, there may be an entirely new
condition of things In the senate al
the next session of congress.
Little Bunch" Will Have Power
Five or six members of the next
house OF representatives will have q
responsibility on their shoulders that
as someone has put ii is as. heavy
as the whole Union" 1t will be within
the power of the half-dozen or scant
half dozen to throw the control of the
house to one or the other of the great
parties.
OF course this presupposes that nc
Republicans, because of personal AMI
moSities, win refuse TO vote for their
party's candidate for speaker and that
no Democrats for like reasons, will
refuse to work for their party's can
didate. This matter has been dis
cussed prior TO this time. but every
day brings some change in the situa-
ton. AS things are today. it seems
there will be 215 Democrats and 215
Republicans in the next house of rep
resentativeS. with the bare chance that
the Republicans may gain one and
the Democrats lose one. Even If this
shall happen, however, 'the little
bunch" Will still carry the burden, if
they consider 1t a burden. of the
balance of power.
During the last campaign l Travelled
as a correspondent through part of the
country with leading member of the
Progressive party who was, however
supporting the candidacy of Charles
r. Hughes. This leader intimated that
unless Hughes were elected he hoped
that the congress in both branches
would remain Democratic. This view
Of the matter in n way, of course. was
partisan, for the thought was that II
the Democrats were In full control
they could be held responsible for mis-.
takes, and that II the Republicans
we're In the majority in one or the
other OF the houses OF congress while
there was a Democratic president In
the White House. it would be easy
enough for the Democrats to charge