The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-01-28
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Jan. 27 - Parlimen-
time over-shadowed the activities of
the House of Representatives and the
executive branches of the Govern
ment. Dispatches from Washington
carry frequent references to "fili-
busters" cloture, etc., which are i'm
pressive but not enlightening to the
majority of citizens. 1t is true that
Vice-President Dawes tour of the
country last year aroused the interest
of small groups in these features of
legislative conduct. The protracted
debate on the World Court has re-
vived the issue which General Dawes
used in his ballyhoo "trip.
The mail of Senators and Congress
men indicates that the majority of
their constituents do not know the
true meaning of these parliamentary
terms. Fillibusters are nothing new
as they are distractions of legisla-
ton by long speeches, dating back to
the Roman Senate. Julius Caesar at
one time conducted a filibuster. In
recent years the late Senate LaFal-
lette was the best known of the fill
clustering group in the Senate. His
record of eighteen hours of constant
obstruction without abandoning the
privileges of the floor inc 1908, still
stands. Senator Reed Smoot, of
Utah, a few years ago approached
this mark with an eleven hour speech.
1t was the practice in other years to
allow filibustering senator breath
ing space by having documents read
into the record. But the rules have
been changed so that he no longer
has the services of Senate readin:
clerk. One method of obtaining q
rest is to have friendly senator in
terrupt without a filibustering legis.
1ator yielding the floor.
Although Mr.. Dawes has received
unusual prominence in his campaign
against filibustering, he is by no
means the original crusader, even in
the United States Senate. Real cam
paigns have been directed against
this practice since 1872.
The closure rule is for the purpose
of suppressing dilatory action in the
Senate and the House. Filibustering
actually started in this country in the
first Congress. The closure has been
compared to "gag rule" 1t is very
difficult to obtain a closure. The
chief advantage to the filibuSter
leader comes at the closing session
of the Congress when important bills
are endangered by the dilatory tao
tics 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 "big stick" and
put an end to the squabbling. Refer
ence is made frequently 10 the meth
sods used by the late President Roose-
welt during similar labor controv-
ersy in the anthracite regions. How
ever, conditions have changed since
that memorable occasion. 1t is
doubtful if the courts would uphold
the utilization of these methods. Ac.
visor, the Chief Executive does not
possess the power to take over the
mines and operate them even though
he considers coal shortage rea
national emergency. Therefore We
find Mr.. Coolidge passing the buck
to Congress and silencing consider
able criticism arising from that body
1t is said that constitutional amend
ment would be necessary but legisla
ton of this character is not obtained
overnight and requires ratification b!
majority of state legislatures. Tn,
Department. of Justice continues t,
provide material for congressional in
vestigators. Although this branch i
the official investigating organization
of the country certain senate commit
tees are investigating the investigat
ors. Political observers, classify tn