Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-06-12


pose the adoption Of the present Rule
XXI without modification when Il
would be pointed out that during the
last days Of . session the right that
is granted every Senator to be heard
for one hour after two-thirds Of the
Senate had agreed to bring a measure
to vote, gave a minority Of even
one Senator, at times, power to de-
feat the measure and render impo-
tent the Senate itself? That rule,
which at times enables Senators to
consume in oratory those last precious
minutes Of a session needed for mo-
mentuous decisions places in the hands
Of one or of a minority of Senators
greater power than the veto power
exercised under the Constitution by
the President Of the United States
which is limited in its effectiveness
by the necessity of an Affirmative two
thirds vote. Who would dare to con-
tend that under the spirit of demo-
cratic government the power to kill
legislation providing the revenues to
pay the expenses Of government
should, during the last few days Of
session, ever be in the hands Of a mi
nority or perhaps one Senator? Why
should they ever be able TO compel
the President of the United States to
call an extra session of Congress. to
keep in functioning activity the MAJ
chinery of the Government itself ?
Who would dare oppose any changes
in the rules necessary to insure that
the business of the United States
should always be conducted in the in
terests of the Nation and never be in
danger Of encountering a situation
where one man or a minority of men
might demand unreasonable conces-
sions under threat Of blocking the
business of the Government? Who
would dare maintain that in the last
analysis the right of the Senate it
self to act should ever be subordinate
ed to the right of one Senator to make
a speech?
The rules can be found, as is the
custom in other deliberative and leg
islative assemblies, to fully protect
Senator in his right to be heard with
out FORGETTING at any time the greater
right Of the Senate to act. The Con
stitution Of the United States gives
the Senate and the House of Repre-
sentatives the right to adopt their
own conduct Of business, but this does
not excuse customs and rules which,
under certain conditions, might put
the power of the Senate itself in the
hands Of individuals to be used in leg
islative barter.
No
1. The Senate rules have grown up
with the evolution of the Senate it.
self, and are designed to facilitate
dignifed, orderly consideration Of the
problems before it. The Senate has
always been a more deliberate body
than the House; it has taken pride in
its freedom of speech, and that attri-
butte has added TO it's dignity and M
fiuence. The rules have worked very
satisfactorily, for the most part, and
are thoroughly approved by the Sem
ate itself.
2. The Senate's position in the gov
ernmental system is opposed to the
idea of haste or of conformity to the
views of other institutions. 1t was
originally intended to safeguard the
nation against too precipitate action
on the part Of the House, and for that
reason its freedom Of debate was
jealously safeguarded. It is perhaps
significant that this was not challeng-
ed~seriously until popular election Of
Senator's became reality.
3. The Senate ought not to conform
its policy to that Of the executive
branch of the government. There is
a growing tendency, particularly up
on the part of the conservative press,
to ridicule Congress, and to demand
that it follow slavishly executive poll