Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-20
Monday. November 20, 1922.
Asour SENATE PROCEDURE

Aay, respecting conditions and rules
IN our Congress al the consequent
effect on legislation. Just now there
IA renewed assault on the seniority
rule in the senate under WHICH
lsnsth OF service is the determining
factor IN assigning committee chair'
ranships. Senator Mccormick again
takes up the cudgels against IT ana Is
creating some stir in the senate Out
nono In the House as yet and 10 not
likely to accomplish much.
There is good ground for complaint
especially since quite a NUMBER VI
political leaders adopt parry
emb,em though hostile to that party
principles Under seniority rule La
Toilette. who is not 4 Republican ou'
Is so styled. might come TO an I'M
por,ant chairmanship under the Ike
publican regime and so be In greater
degree instrumental in securing leg
i,la,,on for which the party might pe
considered responsible but to which
its principles might be opposed Many
feel that some plan should be devised
whereby the party tn power might
p,oporly be held responsible Tor
legislation under its administration.
There is. too, "a quite general de-
mand for more direct results iof
uui,kcr action In putting into erect
The public demand as shown by the
ballot. While this is more ins'stent
acme think too insi3tent. in recens
wears, the diliatory methods OF the
United states Senate have long been
objects OF c,nsure. The impression
, htch has come from that source mas
long created irritation and undouot'
,dll Is responsible for certain
amount OF unrest among the people.
The natural reaction among people
H. 10 blame the Senate for these con-
ditto, and In a sense 1t is blamable.
though It Is simply iunctioning as
human institution like human in
diNiduuI and will continue to do so
until the human individuals back
home get their heads together and
resolve To have something different
end agree to make sacrifices to that
end
These human individuals owe it TO
themselves TO acquire information
respecting the actual situation. As
an aid 10 that The Journal is making
loom in It's Colums for Compre.
Lcns,ve report Of the address on the
subject OF the Senate Rules recently
given In this city by ex-senator
Charles +. johnson He speaks from
intimate knowledge and entertain
insly as we'll as ihstructively. Careful
7, aiding OF It will well repay one who
wishes 10 keep informed about the
Influences connected with the shap-
ing of our national laws. Having
done this one will understand why
the dignifed and august Senate OF
tho great and glorious United States
a. times resembles u debating club Of
reeved schoolboys. Judge johnson
reminds us that notwithstanding the
Senate has permitted member to
talk for twenty hours about nothing
10 prevent legislation this absence of
power to limit debate has often
proved useful "and that never in the
history OF the country has a meas
ure in which the nation as a whole
was deeply interested been defeated"
This is not saying. however. that
Improvement should not be made in
tho procedure OF the Senate. While
g. was intended to provide for mature
elaboration and a check on hasty
legislation and to afford an oppor-
tunity for the pcopl, OF a little state
like Ncvcda 10 have a voice equal to
that OF the great State of New York,
u was not supposed TO be a means
whereby the few thousand people Of
Nevada through its senator's might
Hold up for long the interests of the
millions IN other states And when
tie public fnds and makes use of .
wav 10 prevent this il will be pre.
vsntcd-and not until then.