Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-21
Rules of y. S. Senate
Explained by ex- y
Senator Johnson

Senator Johnson
There was unusual interest in the
address before All Souls Chapter Of
ne l.aymen's League. recently, by
Hon. Charles +. Johnson, judge of the
4. s Circuit Court and formerly
senator from Maine. 1t is especially
~ teresting as frank presentation
:. a situation with which the speaker
Lad been familiar, also because pro-
,edure in Congress is frequently
criticised and right now is being con-
S.dered with view to changing GER
IAN of The rules. For these reasons
tie Journal makes place for it now,
witch it was unable to do at the time
tfr address was made.
In his opening the speaker referred
M the criticism of the long and pro-
tl1cted delay in the passage of meas
ltes which was made pos
Sble by wcarisome and irrelevant
speeches
Notwi,hs landing this. however. the
t.Nes uf the Senate and it's method of
procedure, exec pt in one particular, Of
which I shall speak in this paper,
nave remained the same, with some
slight amendments, for century and
D half
In the limits OF his address he was
ahls only TO discuss a few of the
many rules. referring especially to the
lt1tr1Cted debates. lie said:
The proceedings in the Senate
v-nst often criticised-and l think
'stly-have been made possible, not
Y any rule, but by the lack Of one.
r,," inability of the Senate to close
nd. bate az will of the ma jority has
iscu from the fact that until
ncuded March \. 1917. the rules of
ne senate did not authorize the pre-
,tu,s question To be put.
B fore amendment, Rule 90 was as
fwluNe:
PRECEDENCE or MOTIONS
When question - pending, no
uuNan shall be received but
j. adjourn.
20 adjourn TO day certain. or that
vnen the senate adjourn ii shall be
f1 daV certain.
Tee take recess.
r. proceed To the consideration OF
FNttutIto business
rc lnv on the taple
Wv postpone indefinitely.
r. postpone day certain.
,"n,h,''
".n'hu ., .,ou have
N,'n ScN al 'i', .a nr,a r,rod.
W. 'eh' nee rs they sthHu ,.h
40 WV" mo, lions tciatlhe " aanod 70
ln'''. y" wv" 1855 ~ ~ hu.i
r. 'vhs 'u'Tat'o" III h.I =.
d'l.dld without debate"
WIZ he seen mat WIS rue uots
n"i h'lud. motion that inc P'e'i
w question De put. - ,.,s.
WHEN Jencfson was wee IresIuens
hc appreciated that some system VI
'"eNIt,"n should be adopted ny the
Nchtt" TOR It's government, IN auuiIi
- 'bt very rev ruics wien ~ n"
"1vp''d he iolt Una. tno Iaisior
- the senate I" reltf 10 tne uecisloI,
n ~ President. without depate anu
without appeal. all questions OF Or
der arising either under It's own ru'es
"r under general patilaihentaff iam
iodE'd too wide discretion III tne
Ir's,dent and that some system ~
.A'"s oNht 10 ne sdoptou M,,ion
N'Nh nov leaNe nun ~. ~ ,',,;act
his own caprice or passion or suD!ect
MN I" me tnputh,ion W ~ r,hat
'' ilem. lie therefore PrepeiNS, uas
90 known as "JchCrson's Manuai anu
rom thls many or Tue stsuuihs a
" fhc hlt"d states Sena.e 49,
'nk'n, rul" .2 beinG ~ supstan.e ~
Won - Of thls manual. rNcrPt,nS ; ~
provision IN Tue lattcr WHICH niU;a
i'. inoN ing the previous uus q
q, NhN inns was no, ms ms! . 40. ~ MIC
""b'," fuie was opNi"usS Ss.to a.
n''n,iar character of the senate, IN
Nith IN" SthttN hitSPt o,,ra