Evening star., 1937-07-12
COURT BILL EVOKES|
RULES FOR DEBATE
Senators May Fi|ibuster
Under Limitation on
Speeches.
By the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
The administrators efforts to force
the court bill to vote have called into
play Senate rules which are used only
during times Of stress and strain.
In ordinary times, the Senate works
almost without rules. Virtually all
its business is done by unanimous
agreement. Even decisions to end de-
bate and vote are reached by such
agreements.
Under this procedure, a Senator can
talk on anything al any time, for as
long as he chooses. No curb can be
placed upon him without his consent.
Decisions about the length of ses-
eions, and the days for sessions, are
left to the majority leader. His word
is rarely challenged.
All this suddenly changes, however,
whenever the Senate runs into fill
buster or leaders fear a flibuster.
Such has been the case during the
court debate.
Try to Prevent a Vote.
When filinusterlne, opponents Of
measure try by every means available
to prolong debate an prevent a vote.
Supporters of the bill try to curb de-
bate and force vote.
Under the Senate's liberal debate
rules. it is difficult to curb debate. 1t
can be done only in two Ways-either
by wearing opponents out physically
or by invoking the rarely-used cloture
rule
This rule. which requires a two
thirds vote and is. therefore. unlikely
to be called into play in the present
controversy because of the size of the
opposition, quickly forces vote.
The other method of breaking the
flhbuster IS pure test OF physical
endurance and parliamentary skill.
Then the rarelv-useC rules, some of
which have alreadv been invoked in
the current fight. are utilized
Under them a speaker may speak
on a given subject only twice in a
day. If he yields to a colleague for
anything more than a question, it
counts as another speech for him, To
limit the speeches, leaders in charge
OF, the bill recess the Senate at night
instead of adiourning This merges
all the debate into single Legislative
day and prevents the flllbutSerlng
group from making two more speeches
each succeeding calendar day.
Can Table Amendments.
To meet this strategy, the opposi-
ton can then propose amendments to
the bill. On each amendment they can
speak twice If this becomes an OBJ
vious fillbusterins tactic, friends of
the bill can then move to table the
amendments, which ends debate on
them.
When tilibustering tactics are be-
ing used. questions sometimes take
queer form. Cooperating Senators
seek to interrupt the speaker as long
as possible to prolong his speech and
to give his voice rest.
Once during Huey Longs famous
all-night filibuster, Senator McCar-
ran, Democrat, of Nevada, sought to
aid him. Limited to questions, he
framed one which took As minutes to
ask. Senator Clark, Democrat, Of
Missouri, who was presiding, listened
closely. but decided it was proper
question under the rules.
There are many other intricacies
OF f1libustering strategy. The filibus-
terlng group may seek to take up the
time by quorum calls, but under the
rules they can only be called if busi-
ness has been transacted after the
previous one.
Seek to Maintain Quorum.
Such quorum calls are not only
sought by the filibustering group to
delay action, but to force friends of
the bill to maintain a quorum. If
there were no quorum. the Senate
would either have to wait until one
was gathered, or adjourn. either of
which would be to the advantage of
those seeking delay.
Preserving a quorum forces those
trying to break a filibuster to al
most as much of a test of endurance
as those filbusterinr.