Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-24

{ Washington, D. c., July 21.-Some-
thing must be done about the United
States. senate. 1t is not functioning
properly. "A great many people have
insisted that this is the case OF a very
long time, but now senator's are be-
coming critics of themselves and their
W institution. 7+
AS a lawmaking factory the senate
Is. entitled to an efficiency rating that
WOULD ( shock production experts.
Henry Ford, who says that the rate
factor in industry, would probably
have taken the senate apart and put
it together again as an entirely diner
ent kind Of machine had he been
elected a member when he sought the
toga that Mr.. Newberry now wears.
That is, provided he could have found
a way to introduce Ford methods and
into an esta blishment
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 manu-
featuring plant. Waste worde-or
waste wind-seems to be the princi-
pal trouble with the senate. At n
rate senatorial leaders who are adj
dressing themselves to the question Of
how to dispose of the Legislative pro-
gram before the election are agreed
that the first thing to be done is to
find some way of limiting debate and
forcing action within a reasonable
period Of time on important measures
such as tariff and the bonus. Hence
the amending Of the senate rules is
COW under consideration. Cloture
was at first proposed, but it failed.
This requires a two-thirds vote ana
can not be brought about so long as
any considerable minority desires to
continue the discussion of a given
measure. With a subject such as the
tariff before the senate 1t Is a fore
gone conclusion hat the debate can
not be ended until the opposition has
talked itself out/o or has decided thai
it will be good politics to let the bill
pass. Thus the necessity of chang
be done by a majority vote at any
time n It is taken for granted that
the Republicans can muster sufficient
strength to TURF the trick.
Would Avoid Boomerang. !,
Accordingly the problem Is how to
frame a new rule that will accom-
plish the desired end and not go too
far. that will command the necessary
votes to tut itAthrough. and that will
not prove to be a Boomerang il the
time should come when control of the
senate is reversed and the Repubn-
cans are in the minority instead of in
the majority. This calls for political
genius and wisdom OF a high order.
It also calls for caution and despite
the emergency 1t is unlikely that inn
mediate action will be taken. Sen
ator James E.. Watson of Indiana,
who ts looked upon in some quarters
as the successor Of the late Senator
Penrose as the zeal Republican lead
81, has the job in hand.
President Harding indicated clear
" what he thought of the situation
in the congress a. . whole and In
the senate in particular when he de
nounced legislation by blocs. Score
tary Of War Weeks-and he. too. wes
formerly a senator-spoke right oui
in meeting and said the fundamental
trouble IL the low standard Of states
manship resulting from the direct
primary. Chairman Adams Of the
Republican national committee IKE.
the responsibility on the Democratic
minority.
Senator watson ana other leaders
who feel the responsibility for ths
party's legislative program believe
that the trouble IL q combination o1
what h president and tho nAtional
chairman have criticised. That 10 Il
~. they attribute the procrASdnA.
ton OF congress q the power welded
by minorites. whether political Of
special interest In charactsf.
II IL to be expeeted that the sen,
1eOrs and representatives Of the oppo.
s5ton party will do an that they caI
to obstruct hgiaaAtIcn IA which thai
do not believe. hut ~ the pfeeenI
dime there II . farm bloc minority. N
anti-boAus minority. An Anti-ship syb'
ddy minority. Z reclamation MINORITY
and minoffdes on various darif
schedules that are not n~aEeesaf1Iy po'
tftfcAl IN their lineup. These Noupl
Or blocs Ia many inetances inciuds
stAnA tegsthAr tor W%aGaiont esstat,