The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-27
THE SENATE LEADERSHIP.


 The legislative program planned by Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas, new Republican majority leader, is not ambi- tious, except perhaps in its purpose of restraining long debates and limiting the items of legislation to be discussed. It is somewhat doubtful whether even ma jority could keep the senate from talking at length and voluminously on any sub- ject whatever. Nevertheless, to have the will to do so is praiseworthy, provided such control does not degenerate into autocracy and restraint of legitimate de- bate. The senators, moreover, in consid- ering any given subject, regard it as their privilege while on their feet to bring in any other subject or series of subjects, not so much to drive home point as to talk against time or to prevent or delay action. Such tactics are manifestly con- trary to the principle of majority rule, and usually even to the public welfare.
 A leader, in order to qualify for his position, must have in mind some pur- pose and some program. Otherwise, there would be no point to his leadership. On the other hand, the leader cannot be permitted to outline a program from which there will be no deviation, for that would confer upon one man an authority not contemplated in our form of govern ment. The legislative leader of a po- litical party in congress is tactician and strategist rather than an arbiter. His not so much to say what shall be done as how. Consequently, it was hardly the function of MT. Curtis to say that there should be no tax revision or extra session after the holidays. The president of the United States is the proper official to outline to the nation the general program of legislation and to declare whether or not a special session shall be called. h. asmuch as MT. Curtis has merely followed the position already taken by the presi- dent on these points, however, doubtless he may be regarded as having simply shown a disposition to follow the presi- dents lead.
 All III all, IL IlOW 4OOh6 1o II G1AO AAO" congress would be better organized and more likely to accomplish definite legislative program than the present one. Even the present congress, in the few short weeks left to it, gives indication of a return to formal party line-ups instead of blocs and groups. The bloc system has been neither efficient nor satisfactory to the people. The people elected Republicans and Democrats to congress and the people naturally expect the line ups to be in accord with party princi- ples and beliefs, not in accord with indi- vidual political opportunity. The bloc system was based on opportunism, pure and simple. Opportunism never con- siders the public welfare first. Thus the very basis of blocs is seen to be wrong.
 This does not mean that the voting in congress should always be along strict lines of party cleavage. That would de stroy the intellectual independence ot the lawmakers and deprive the people ot the ability and capacity of individual statesmen. The voting should be along the lines of principle and sincere opinion In no other way could the minority par ticipate in good legislation nor oppose bad legislation. But it should never be possible to predict how any legislator will vote on any subject, if such prediction rests solely on his membership or non- membership in a legislative clique or group.
 The important factor in the new con, gress and the new administration is har- fnony. The welfare of the nation de- mands not only that necessary legislation shall be enacted, but that unnecessary foolish or harmful legislation shall be re trained from. If there are sins of omis- sion as well as of commission, surely there are virtues of omission as we'll as of commission.