Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-01
G. D. P. HEARS VOICE
OF PEOPLE; MOVES
TO SPEED TAX BILL
Leaders, in Secret Session,
Plan to Invoke CIoture
RuIe-Fight on Over Sen
ate Leadership
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
DOWNRIGHT 1921

Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, Sept 80. = The
United States senate is getting
WISE to public sentiment The few
weeks of recess gave many senators
an opportunity to confer with their
constituents. The widespread dis
satisfaction with the long time it
has taken to get a new tax bill is
one of number of reasons why a
group of Republican senator's met
at the home of Senator F'relinghuy-
sen. of New Jersey, the other night
and talked ways and means of speed
ing up legislation.
Details of the meeting are just
leaking out. One after-effect was
conference with President Harding
about the necessity of drawing up
a lecture rule to limit debate in the
senate. This has been up before.
President Wilson thought he had
accomplished something, when at the
beginning of his second administra-
ton c1oture rule was passed. but
1t takes sixteen senators to sign the
petition and then a majority vote
to invoke the rule. 1t has been of
little effect. Mr.. Harding naturally
Is anxious to see the Legislative ma
chintry of the government oiled up.
He isn't trying to dictate to con-
gress what its rules shall be but
as a former member of the senate,
his advice was sought.
Not Durable by Cloture
But the real trouble in the senate
Is not durable by cloture alone. I'm
limited debate has it's advantages as
well as disadvantages. Filibuster-
Ing has been. INDUCED in very largely
to prevent a vote being taken when
many senators are absent from their
seats.
Absenteeism is the real problem
that has to be solved-how to make
senator's stay on the job. Scarcely
day goes by that the senate doesn't
have to call for quorum whereupon
members come scurrying from their
offices, istlessly answer a roll call
and go back to their offices again
In another building hoping nobody
will call a second time for a quorum.
A cloture rule will be bitterly
fought by the majority. Half the
strategy of political parties is
speeching-making in the senate. The
Republicans won their last campaign,
! 1t is conceded by Democrats, largely
through the attacks made by Sena-
tors Borah, Johnson, Brandegee and
Lodge in the open senate. 1t is the
minority which benefits by unlimited
debate while the majority always
anxious to accomplish results, chafes
under the delays incident to prolong-
ed discussion.
House Did IT'S wa.k
There have been periodic move
mentS to limit debate. They come
every time legislation is delayed and
Impotence arises in the country. This
time the failure of congress to pass
went into session last spring is
weighing heavily on the minds OF
Republican leaders.
The house, with rules limiting de-
bate, functioned smoothly and pass
ed both a tariff and a tax measure.
Both have to be revised and proba bly,
will be rewritten in the upper house,
but the fact is the house did its job
while the senate hasn't gotten very
far. That's why group of Repub-
1ican senators are so active In ad-
vocating cloture.
But aside from the suggestion Of
limiting debate, there is very in
teresting bit of controversy going
on under the surface with respect
to Republican leadership in the SEN
be absorbed with his duties as a
member of the armament commits
sion, which acts under specific in
structiens of the president. Tenn
porarily, at least, Mr.. Lodge will be
working for the executive branch of
the government.
After leadership
The struggle for possession of Mr..
Lodges job as Republican leader is
becoming intense. Senator Watson,
Kansas. are equally prominent in the
race. Then there are the insurgent
senators to be considered. They are
not -over-enthusiastic about being led
by either Senator Watson or Senator
Curtis, who represent the conserva-
called "standpatters.'' The truth is
the latter element is in the ma
jerity in the senate and the re-elec-
ton of Senator Bursum in New Mex
leo has encouraged them to believe
the country is with them.
While the so-called progressive
group takes issue with that state
rnent. the fact is the standpat Re-
publicanS have the votes to select
any one of their number as leader
This is a critical week in the leg
islative situation. But the confer
ences among senators in both the
Republican and Democratic parties
Indicate that the sparring for posi-
ton soon will be over and that lines
of cleavage soon will be made more
distinct The voice Of the country
demanding more action and less talk
is being heard.
YsF tn ~ M