The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-24

WASHINGTON, D. c., July %,
something must be done about the
United States Senate. 1t is not func- |
uon1ng properly. A great many people |
have insisted that this is the case for
very long time, but now senators |
are becoming critics of themselves and
their own institution
As a lawmaking factory the senate
is entitled to an efficiency rating that
would shock production experts. Henry
Ford, who says that the rate of pro-
auction is the most important factor IN
industry, would probably have taken
the senate and put it together again
as an entirely different kind of mach
inc had he been elected a member
when he sought the toga that Mr.
Newberry now wears. That is, pro-
vided he could have found way to in
troduce Ford methods and inovations
into an establishment that seems to
have been organized to prevent just
that sort of thing.
Waste motion is the problem the
efficiency experts tackle first when
they undertake to speed up a man.
featuring plant Waste words or waste
wind seems to be the principle trouble
with the senate. At any rate senator
ial leaders who are addressing them
selves to the question of how to dis
pose of the legislative program before
the election are agreed that the first
thing to be done is to fine some way
of limiting debate and forcing action
within a Reasonable period of time on
important measures such as tho tariff
and the bonus. Hence the amending
of the senate rules is now under con-
sideration
Cloture was at first proposed, but II
failed. This requires a two-third vote
and can not be brought about so long
as any considerable minority desires to
continue the discussion of a given meas
ure. With subject such as the tar
if before the senate it is foregone
conclusion that the debate can not be
ended until the opposition has talked
itself out or has decided that it will
be good politics to let the bill pass.
Thus the necessity of changing the
rules is indicated This can be done
by majority vote at ay time and it
is taken for granted that the Republi-
cans can muster sufficient strength
to turn the trick
-. :. Would Avoid Boom erang
Accordingly the problem is how to
the desired end and not go too far, that
will command the necessary votes
to put it through, and it will not prove
to be boomerang if the time should
come when control of the senate is re-
versed and the Republicans are in the
minority instead of in the majority.
This calls for political genius and wis
dam of a high order. 1t also calls for
caution and despite the emergency il
is unlikely that Immediately action
will be taken. Senator Jas. E. Watson
Of Indiana, who is looked upon in some
quarters as the successor of the late
Senator PenroSe as the real Republic
can leader, has the job in hand.
President Harding indicated clearly
what he thought Of the situation in
the congress as a whole and in the
senate in particular, when he denoun
ced legislation by bloc. Secretary o.
War Weeks and he too was formerly
a Senator-spoke right outin meeting
snd said the fundamental trouble is
the low standard of craftsmanship re
sulting from the direct primary. Chair
man Adams of the Republican Nation
al committee fixes the responsibility
on the Democratic minority.
Senator Watson and other leader!
who feel the responsibility Tor thu
party's legislative program believe tina
the trouble is a combination of wha
the president and the National chair
man have criticized. That is to say
they attribute the procrastination o
congress to the power welded by nj
norities, whether political or special in
terest in character.
1t is to be expected that the sen
ators and representatives of the oppc
sition party will do all that they ca
to obstruct legislation in which the.
do not believe, but at the present tim
there is a farm bloc minority, an ant
bonus minority, an anti-ship subsid
minority, a reclamation minority an
minorities on various tariff schedule
that are not necessarily political /
their lineup. These groups o. bloc
in many instances include both RI
publicans and Democrats who stan
together for or against certain legisl;
tive proposals with solidarity tina
jeopardizes legislation by partie