Milford chronicle., 1926-01-29
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OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
(By National Editorial Association)
(SneciaI tn CbronicIe)

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
(By National Editorial Association
Especial to Chronicle)
Washington, Jan. 27.-Parliamen-
tary tactics in the Senate have for
time overshadowed the activities
of the House of Representatives
and the executive branches of the
government. Dispatches from Wash
ington carry frequent references to
"flibusters" "cloture", ETC., which
are impressive but not enlightening
to the majority of citizens.
The mail of Senators and Con-
gressmen indicates that the major
ity of their constituents do not
know the true meaning of these
parliamentary terms. Filibusters
are nothing new as they are OBJ
structions of legislation by long
speeches, dating back to the Roman
Senate. julius Caesar at one time
conducted a filibuster. In recent
years the late Senator LaFollette
was the best known of the flibus-
tering group in the Senate. His
record of eigIhGeen hours of con-
slant obstruction without abandon
ing the privileges of the floor in
1908, still stands. Senator Reed
Smoot, of Utah, few years ago ap-
preached this mark with an eleven
hour speech. 1t was the practice
in other years to allow a filibuster-
ing senator breathing space by hay
ing documents read into the record.
But the rules have been changed
so that he no longer has the SER
vices of a Senate reading clerk. One
method of obtaining a rest is to
have a friendly senator interrupt
without a filibustering legislator
yielding the floor.
The closure rule is for the pur-
pose of suppressing dilatory action
in the Senate and the House. Fill
clustering actually started in this
country in the first Congress. The
closure has been compared to a
"gag rule. It is very difficult to
obtain a closure. The chief advan-
tage to the f1libuster leader comes
at the closing session Of the Con-
gress when important bills are en-
dangered by the dilatory tactics and
motions.
The Administration is becoming
worried over the coal strike. Re-
ports coming from certain regions
show that the average citizen be-
lieves that the President has it in
his power to WELD the "hig stick"
Reference is made frequently to the
methods used by the late President
Roosevelt during similar labor
controversy in the anthracite re-
gions. However, conditions have
changed since that memorable oc-
casion. It is doubtful if the courts
would uphold the utilization of
these methods. According to the
Presidents legal advisor, the Chief
Executive does not possess the pow
er to take over the mines and oper-
ate them even though he considers
a coal shortage real national en-
ergency. Therefore we find Mr.. Coo
lidge passing the buck" to Con-
gress and silencing considerable
criticism arising from that body.
It is said that a constitutional
amendment would be necessary but
legislation of this character is not
obtained overnight and requires
ratification by majority Of state
legislatures.
The Federal Trade Commission
continues to present it's family trou-
bles to the Congress. The Commits
sion has five members, three of
which are known as conservatives"
These terms are used to define
their attitude on policies Of busi-
ness organizations. At the begin
ming of the Congress there was
some talk Of abolishing the Federal
Trade Commission but this move
ment has gained little headway.
Neither has any serious considera-
ton been given to any proposals to
wipe out the United States Shipping
Board and Tariff Commission.
These independent establishments
of the government caused more
trouble to the Chief Executive than
the major departments. Commits
sions and bureaus are created by
the Congress and the President has
little or no redress other than in
appointments.