The Coolidge examiner., 1933-05-12
Our Government
How 1t Operates
WHY THE SENATE?
BY William BruckGrt

THE senate, through the years,
l. has been termed the greatest de-
Lucrative body in the world. That
is because it's own rules allow un-
limited debate. Once a senator is
recognized by the presiding officer,
he can go on and on with his speech
he can talk about anything he de-
sires to discuss. except to cast as
pensions on fellow senators or men,
bers of the house, and his state
ments may not be challenged in a
court of law.
Senators are jealous Of their pre-
negatives. They are constantly on
watch against any move that threat
ems to limit debate. Though they
appear to waste hours or days, and
even weeks, by careless discussion
and repetition, every effort has
failed to change the basic formula
of unlimited debate. And 1t Is well
that no change ever has been
accomplished, for in that very fact
there is a measure of safety for the
country that is often forgotten.
Whereas the house of representa-
tives, partly because of its great
numbers, but more particularly be-
cause of the shorter term of men,
bers, is quite susceptible to public
reaction on whatever public Ques-
tiOn absorbs attention at the mo-
ment, the contrary is generally the
case in the senate. l do not mean
that the senate goes against the
will of the people, or that it stands
out against apparent needs of the
nation. 1t is responsive always in
the end, but it moves more slowly
because traditionally it has given
more thorough consideration to
every question in an open exchange
of views than is ever possible in
the house with its larger member
ship.
Thus, it can be seen readily that
the senate acts as a check against
too hasty action. Legislation can
not possibly be rushed through the
senate without extensive debate un-
less everybody is in an accord as to
the need therefor.
But consider how the unlimited
debate arrangement operates. or
may operate, for your good and
mine. Take the matter of a declara-
ton of war. The house would re-
ceive a message from the President,
would refer the matter to a COM
mittee, and would have the neces-
sary resolution back before it and
act on it possibly within two or
three days. Not so in the senate.
Its committee might quickly report
its findings and recommend passage
of the resolution declaring a state
of war in existence. Senators, how
ever, who doubted the advisability
of the course would not allow pre-
in the declaration of war against
Germany in 1917. There were the
"wilful twelve" you will recall.
They thought a declaration of war
was improper, and they blocked ac-
tion. In that instance, however, the
sentiment of the country was over
whelming and vote was reached
more quickly than ordinarily hap
pens.
In the case of the treaty of YER
sailles and the covenant of the
League of Nations, the situation
was different. President Wilson rec
commended ratification of the treaty
and adherence to the League. New
ertheless, some of the senator's
thought the sentiment of the coun-
try had not crystalized. Debate
proceeded, unlimited debate. 1t con-
tinued for weeks. Newspapers of
the country took sides. The coun-
try was fully informed, and event
ually the proposal to join the
League of Nations was so qualified
that it was nullity.
So the senate moves slowly. 1t
wastes a lot of time; of that there
can be no doubt. Moreover, at times
it appears almost stubborn, because
of its apparent do-nothing attitude.
Yet therein is strength for the ma
ton and its citizens for the pOssi-
bility of ill-cOnsidered action is
eliminated.
Another reason may be men,
toned, explanatory of the slOw-mOv-
ing procedure in the senate. Sena-
tors are elected by the entire voting
population of their state, and for
term of six years. They are not
quite as close to the rank and file
of the citizens as are the represen-
tatives. 1t was contemplated by the
Constitutions trainers that they
should have more of a national view
point. They are United States SEN
ators, despite the fact that fire.
quently one of them becomes moth
ing more than state senator in his
efforts to do things his state or a
section Of his state desires.
One-third of the senate always
has six years to plan for reelection;
one third of the membership need
not worry about campaigning for