The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-05
WILSON REBUKES
SENATORS Who
BLOCK NATION

Tho presidents tebuke TO the
senate, issued az It's adjournment.
follows:
THE termination OF the last SEES
sion OF the Sixtyfourth congress by
constitutional limitation discloses
situation unparalleled In the his.
tory OF the country. perhaps unpar-
alleled IN the history OF any mod
ern government In the Immediate
presence OF "a crisis fraught with
more subtle and farreRchlng posi-
billtlea OF national danger than any
other the government has known
within tho whole history OF It's In
ternational relations. the congress
has been unable 10 act either to
safeguard the country or 10 vindi-
cate the elementary rights Of lts
citigenH. More than 500 OF the b3i
members Of tho two houses were
ready and anxious 10 act. the
house OF representatives had acted
by an overwhelming majority, but
tho senate was unable 70 act be.
cause a little group OF eleven sen
ators had determined that II should
not.
One Can o. X. All
THE senate has no rules by
which debate can bo limited or
brought TO an end. no rules BY
which dllatory tactics OF any kind
can be prevented a single mem
Der can stand In the way OF action
II he have but the physical endur-
ance. The result In this case iH a
complete paralysis alike OF the leg.
/ islgtiye and OF the executive
branches OF tie government
This inability OF the senate 10
act has rendered some OF the most
necessary legislation OF the session
I impossible. NJ time when the nec1
/ for Il 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 tn.
country as the circumstances OF Ia.
ternatlonal competition have made
Imperative bill which the bust
ness judgment OF the whole coun.
try approved and demanded-has
/ failed.
The opposition OF one or two
senators has made II impossible To
increase the membership OF the In
terEtate commerce commission. or
TO give II tho altered organization
necessary for It's efficiency. The
conservation bill. which should
have released for immediate use
the mineral resources which are
siili locked up In the public lands.
nov that their release IL more i'm.
peratiyely necessary than ever.
and tho bill which would have
made tho unused water power OF
tho country Immediately available
for industry. have both failed. tho
they have been under consideration
turnout the sessions Of two con
grenses and have been twice
passed by the house OF representa-
tiyes.
Important Bills Fail
The appropriations for the army
have failed. along with the appro-
priatlons for the civil estimate Of
the government. the appropriations
for the military academy at West
Point. and the general deficiency
biil l, has proved impossible to
extend the powers OF the shipping
board TO meet the special needs OF
the new situation into which our
commerce has been forced or 20 In.
crease the gold reserve OF our ma
tional banking system TO meet the
unusual circumstances OF the exist.
ing financial situation.
1T would not cure tho difficulty
10 call the Sixty-fIfth congress IN
extraordinary session. The paraly.
sis OF the senate would remain.
The purpose and the spirit OF &C.
tion are not lacking now. The con.
grcss Is more definitely united in
thought and purpose at this mo.
ment. | venture TO say. than IL has
been within the memory OF any
man now IN It's membership. There
II not only the most united patri.
otIc purpose. but the objects mem.
hers have In view are perfectly
clear and definite. hut the senate
cannot act unless It's leaders can
obtain unanimous consent Its ma
iority II powerless In the mids,
of a crisis OF extraordinary peril.
when only definite and decided ac-
ton can make the nation safe or
shield II from war Itself by the az
gression OF others. action is impos-
sible.
Won't Understand Abroad
Attic. as n matter OF fact. the
nation and the representative OF
the nation rtand back OF the execu.
tive with unprecedented unanimity
and spirit. the impression made
abroad will. OF course. be that II Is
not 80. and thin other governments
may act as they please without fear
that this government can do any
thing at all. We cannot explain.
The legislative explanation Is in
credible.
"Ths senste OF the United States
is the only Legislative body In the
world that cannot act when It's ma.
iority Is ready for action. A little
group OF willful men. representing
no opinion but their own. have rem.
n.