Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-24
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H U. S. SENATE

not necessarily political in their lineup.
These groups or blocs in many instances
include both republicans and democrats
who stand together for or against GER
tain legislative proposals with a soil
darity that je%opardizes legislation by
parties which has long been the ac-
cepted order Of things in the congress
Of the United States.
Each group has a program Of its
own. All have their axes to grind.
Each has its views which must be pre-
scented to a patient, long suffering coun-
try through endless speeches. None is
strong enough in itself to dominate the
senate, but any one of them can con-
duct a successful filibuster almost in
definitely and a combination of two or
more of them can render the republican
majority virtually helpless. 1t was
such q combination that thwarted the
plan to bring the tariff debate to an
end by cloture.
Power Of Small Groups
To-day half a dozen men can pre-
vent the senate of the United States
from functioning, and that is being
done" said Senator Watson, in dis
cussing the do-nothing situation.
Twenty years ago senators coming to
Washington to legislate studied and de-
bated public questions. After a sena-
tor had presented his arguments in full
and had lone his utmost to make his
viewpoint prevail. he was content to
sit down and let the majority rule.
"Disjointed discussion and irrelevant
talk more and more are featuring the
proceedings of congress and under the
existing rules there is no way to pre-
vent this. The senate isn't function
ing because we have here minority rule
and we shall continue to be governed
by a minority until the senate rules
of procedure are changed. l am now
formulating and intend soon to intro
duce a proposal to change the rules
so that the senate can function. en-
abling a majority opinion to prevail
on any subject within a reasonably
limited time
CIoture, which is the power of the
presiding officer or the majority to
shut off debate when legitimate argu-
ment has been exhausted and the de-
bate is being prolonged for mere OBJ
! struction. is q possible weapon of gag
law. but experience has indicated that
without it parliamentary institutions
are likely to break down. In the house
the previous question has been the
means of silencing the wind tanners
for many years, but because of its
smaller size the senate had not con-
| sidered such a rule necessary until the
closing hours of the Sixty-fourth con-
gress. which terminated March 4, 1917.
The filibustering tactics of the sena-
tors whom President Wilson termed
the little group of wilful men had
prevented the passage of the armed
ship bill prior TO adjournment. where
upon in the special session which was
called at once the senate passed a
%cloture rule on March s. 1917.
Under this rule Is senators may
sign n motion at any time to bring to
an end the debate on any pending legis-
lation and the senate must vote on this
motion within one hour after it meets
on the following calendar day but one
If two-thirds of a quorum vote in the
affirmative then the pending measure
becomes the unfinished business Of the
senate TO the exclusion Of all other
business until disposed of. and there
after no senator may speak more thar
one hour in all on the bill. the amend.
ments and the motions affecting the
same. No dilatory motion. or dilatorS
amendment. or amendment not ger
name shall be in order.
II is apparent that this is not mucf
Of a gag rule. for by the time it car
be carried into effect the senate as 1
whole must be ready for action. In
deed. some parliamentarians declare
that unless the senate is ready to adopt
the previous question rule it is wasting
its time in considering ways and means
Of limiting debate. Debate IN such :
body will be unlimited. or it will b
subject absolutely 10 the viii OF IN
majority. or of the presiding office
who represents the majority. How
ever. it will be interesting 10 see wha
senator Watson evolves by way Of
new rule.