Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-07

in establishing the senate as a
check upon the house. Were the
senate ruled by its rules as the
house is, there would be no legit-
mate excuse for having senate,
many argue. 1t is only by allow
ing utmost freedom of discussion,
it is argued, that that degree of
refinement in legislation will be
attained which is needed to safe
guard the people against hasty or
i'll considered measures.
There is nevertheless general
recognition that if the senate
gos on as it has done, public bus
mess will be almost impossible
to perform. And a strong enid
die ground group has grown up
in recent years, which believes
that some sane, middle position
can be attained, which will insure
greater efficiency without unduly
curtailing senatorial freedom.
One means to be considered in
the next congress will be appli-
cation of cloutre by a majority
vote. At present, a two-thirds'
vote of the senate is required to
put Imitation on debate. Even
then, 90 hours of discussion is
possible, and an even longer time
can be consumed by resorting to
various subterfuge not scorned
by senators wishing to delay
matters.
After a majority had decided
that unlimited debate had gone
long enough, no senator would be
permitted to speak longer than
an hour on the pending question,
nor more than once. One sugges-
ton would make the limitation
half an hour on a. bill and 10 min
utes on any amendment pending
or offered.
Another proposal is that of Sen
ator Curtis, Kansas, chairman OF
the rules committee one Of the
least talkative men in the senate,
Curtis would provide that sena-
tors must speak only on the pend
ing business, and that, if called
TO order, they must at once get
back to the proper text or be a
second time admonished. If they
offend twice, they must sit down
and can only speak again by per-
mission of the senate given
through a vote of the majority
And to prevent such instances
being used to aid filibusters, Cur
It's would have all questions un-
der the proposed rule decided
without debate.
He believes such a rule, strict
Ilv enforced, would ruin many a
f;libuster, and would at any rate
| immeasurably speed up senator
| ial business. There is now nc
boundary within which a senator
must stay when speaking. His
field is the world, no matter what
is before the senate.
! Still third suggestion foi
preventing time wasting is ger
eral rule to apply to considera'
ton of all major bills that NJ
senator shall, without expires:
permission from the senate
speak longer than two hours Of
any subject at one time.
But, while modern condition:
have given rise to this demand
that the senate be less garulou'
and more active, there are thos,
who feel that speeding up of TIL
senatorial machinry would worl
harm rather than good to tn
American people. Among then
is Senator Stanley democrat, o
Kentucky, who recently complain
ed that too many laws are enact
ed by congress, and that, if tn
senate were geared up to create
speed, the multiplicity of law
would be even worse.
, And THEN Stanley said Their
, might come a time when "he VIII
is born in these United State
Z and keeps the greater part of a
= the lawn and ordinances that ar
n made for our guidance nee
never be born again. And
Hesven. the highest place will b
reserved for that creature VIII,
J fro ma fedrally conducted brit
to a federally controlled buria
kept all the laws and ordinance
: now enacted for our governmer
by the Congress of the Unite
States"
About 100000 axes are mat
IS leach wear in the United State