Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-24

/ them can conduct successim nv
buster almost indefinitely ana
combination ~ two or more ~ ucir
can render the Rapublican majority
virtually helpless. II was such
conbination that thwarto1 tho plan
10 bring the tariff debate 20 an end
by oloture. -
Power Of Small Groups.
To-day hnif dozen men can pro-
vent the Senate Of tho United states
from funciioning. and that IL being
ldone," said Senator Watson. jn die-
lcussing the do-nothlng situation.
l"rwenty years ago Senators coming
Ito Washington to legisats studied and
debated public questions. After
senator had presented mis- arguments
in fun and had done his utmost 70
make his viewpoint prevail he was
content 10 SIT down and let the ma
jority rule.
'Disjointod discussion and Irrelevant
talk more and more are featuring the
proceedings Of Congress and under
the existing rules there Is no way 20
prevent this The senate isn't funo-
tioning because Wa have hers
to DO governed by a minority until
the Senate rules u procedure ore
D lchanged. I am now formulating and
!, intend soon 10 Introduce a proposal
to change the rules 80 that the Sonats
!, lean function. enabling majority
: lopiniou 10 prevail on any subject WITH
. in n reasonably limited time"
CIoture. which IL the presiding officer
: or the ma iorlty 10 shut or debate whom
= legitimate argument has been exhafFt-
ed and tho debate ~ being prolonged
Il for mere obstruction. "a possible
IS wedpen 81 gag-law. but experience ha-
1t Indicated that without - pariia montary
Y institutions are likely 10 break DOWN.
n In tho House the previous quosf ion"
n has been the means # sllencing 90
Is windianmers for many years. buf be-
n cause ~ ito smaller sizo tha senate had
n not considered such a rule necessary
u until the closing hours ~ the sfv't-
10 fourth Congress. which terminated
u March 4.1917 The filihusforing tactics
is az the Senators whom President wilson
~ termed the little group of wilful r0en"
ID had prevented the paseags - fh,
z armed ship bill prior 20 adjournment.
whcreupon in tho special session whirh
was called at once the senate ppeeed
cloture rule On March g. 1n17:
:" Under this rule ls Senators nav
>" sign "a motion p any time % hrog a
w. an end tho debate on any pondins
~ legislation and the Senate rnua' vofs
III on this motion within ono hour otter
no II meats on tho following calendar dag
OF but one. IF two thirds - a quorum VOTE
- in the affirmative then The pandine
al measure becomes The unfinished pps-
% ipAss Of theSenatA 70 tha exclusion n
IN al other business until disDosed n
nd and thereafter no Senator may F0nal
ly mora than Dne hour IN All % the hiH
N. the amendments and the nations -
IA. fecting tho same 80 dliatory morton
rs or diatory amendment. or amendment
or not Eermeps shall be in order
d. It Ia apparent that this is not uuc'
Of q gag rule. for by fhs time - cal
.iy he carried into effact ina senate "a
in whole must Ia ready FOR action. Indae
ha some parlia rneptaria ns declare fha
. unless the Senate "a ready TO adopt th
~ previous question rule 10 is wastini
- its time IN considering ways and mean
., Of limiting debate. Debate in slch
81 body win be unlimited. or j. VII h
subject absolutely % the will ~ Nh
= majority. or q the presiding Gree
VINO represents the ma iority How
- ever. It viii bs interesting 70 see wha
-''o Senator watson evolves hy way n
u" new rule.