New Britain herald., 1925-06-24
Public Sentiment,

Public Sentiment,
 Accordingly, in the early days of the 64th congress, because of this pressure of public sentiment aroused by the intoerable legislative situa- ton in the senate, provision to close debate by two-thirds vote was reported by the senate rules committee and, during the special session of the 6Sth congress, In l9l1 after a conference Of the republican and democratic leaders, the present rule enabling a two-thirds vote was adopted, But this change in the rules did not cure the evil, and in that very congress, with this rule in force, six major appropriation bills were defeated by the filIbuster 10 say nothing Of eight other measures flaw ored by the administration. An eX- tra session of congress was called as a result
 "FHHbustering. or the use Of it as threat, proceeded in the usual course in the G7th and GSth con- gresscs. despite the alleged rule re- form.
 Chiefly because Of the filibuster in the last eight congresses, seven extra sessions have been held. A moments thought here will convince one of the lack of foundation for the claim that filibutering initiates against multiplicity Of laws. No one can justly claim that these sev- cn extra sessions of congress did not result in large addition to the 1 number of laws which would have been passed in the l6 regular ses- sions as compared with the g ses- sion actually held. AS a matter of fact, during these extra sessions a total of 3SG bills and 9S public reso- lutions were enacted,
 Again, as the result Of the con suming of time which the senate has for constructive legislation by efforts of the minority through
 frivolous and unlimited oratory tc obstruct the majority 1t becomes
 necessary that there be occa.ion,
 outhvrsts of speed by the senate ir
 rassing bills on the calendar a
 i4mming through appropriation
 bills. These outbursts of speed art
 a dangerous reaction from the GU
 initiative inaction preceding them
 Individual senators have bills on tn calendar in which they are interest
 cd as well as items in appropr'at;o'
 bills. The forces of normal 'ctiol
 are held in check by some ooStrnc ton until the reaction comes with
 rush that does not make for 'i'lE o
 wise consideration. To pass 5lts Il
 less time than if takes TO read 'lem especially in the case of atproplla
 ton hills carrying hundreds ot m'' lions of dollars. after spending day
 on a revenue bill or a tariff bill demonstrates the necessity Of s amending the rules Of the s@n2'e z 10 bring about proper appilc2tio
 of time to the consideration of al , it's business.
 "Says Congressman Monden. rt
 forring to the effects of the tllloN7'" OH the shipping bill;
 Mondclls Views
 "'Tne eotir. appropriation an .i.eislatiys ?.ro2ram of the re Ii : St ssion 1f ,5rgress was cOhsidere ? in the senate under a flag of true l in the intervals in which the man l acers of the senate tilibuster Wer pleased to make way for measure = other than the shipping bill \ c During this period, the senate passe
 on one occasion more than 100 blI
 in about the same number Of mir i utcs. There wasn't time to req C even the titles in full, if they Wer T long.
 For the first 17 years of the eH , ,stcnce of the United States senat o fIibus,ering and the holding up the majority for legislative conce' ' slors by tho minority was not po' V sib}c. Tn the senate, in l9o6' nc cause of the small amount or nus ~ ness they had to transact and 1T I small number Of senators who tram V acted it. rules VIII and TX Of 1T
 senate, providing for majority c'' turo, were dropped, It had on ,s been used three times in the h wears and was regarded as unnece n sary for the proper conduct of bus l. ness. The reason for this was th
 the senate then had only S4 seni l. tors and the country contained ic > than 100000 population. But II r senate now has 96 senators and tl 0 country population of approx y mately 11o.0oo,O0O. The reaso Ie which made cloture in iSo6 une m sential to the proper conduct Of bus IS ness no longer exist and the comm' 'd sense of the American people te II them SO.
 1e If the evil exists, why shou le there not be an honest effort ma m to correct it in the interest of o ,e common government? l matnta S. that every essential right of a n
 nority or of an individual can - protected by the cheeks and bi \ ances of our constitution under SC