Evening star., 1937-01-09
EXPERT ON RULES OF SENATE
Charles Watkins Man of Marvellous Memory Gives Advice
Leaders in Legislative Branch Which Prevents Tanges
Many Times During Sessions

held true. With penchant Tor eX-
actness, Mr.. Watkins adds, "One Sen
ator did follow his own decision, but
he was eventually overruled."
Since Mr.. Garner has sat in that
seat, one decision handed down was
overruled. A Senator, explains Mr..
Watkins, was presiding at the time.
and it was pretty generally agreed on
that occasion that the decision in
question was subject to individual in
terpretation.
NATURALLY enough, the position
occupied by the parliamentarian
is one unaffected by politics or party
lines. 1t Is one that only man well
grounded, through experience and
long association with the intricacies
involved, can fill with success and
distinction. This, unquestionably, Mr..
Watkins has achieved. His memory
for historic precedent is prodigious,
and this may be due to the fact that
he has sensed latterly tendency upon
the part of the Senate to follow prece-
dent rather than the letter Of the
rules" and so has made an intensive
study of such precedents.
In this connection Mr.. Watkins
points out that many precedents are,
as a matter of fact, at direct variance
with the written rules Of the Senate.
There have been general revisions of
the Senate rules, the last having been
in 1894 However, there have been
many amendments to the original
rules or adoptions Of new rules since
that time.
One of the outstanding changes
was the abolishment of the secret ex-
ecutive sessions of the Senate. At
these sessions it had been customary
to consider nominations and treaties
emanating from the White House.
No debate was made public. In 1880
these secret sessions were abolished
and now, if the Senate considers such
a step necessary, it can move that the
doors be closed, in which event the
presiding officer orders the galleries
cleared. The Senators then take up
the question OF whether they shall
proceed with the doors closed or open.
Another change in the rules Of ma
jor importance was the adoption of
the constitutional amendment Of 1912,
which provided for the election of
Senators by popular vote, Under the
Constitution, the State Legislatures
elected the Senators. but in 1912 the
amendemnt for popular election was
proposed and ratified.
ON THE House side Of the Capitol
the legislators faithfully follow
precedents. Since the days of Vice
President Dawes, there has been a
growing tendency to do likewise on
the part of the Senate. Sometimes
conflicting precedents add to the par
liamentarian's problem, and in such
cases the question is carefully studied
and decision reached as to which pro-
cedure is right. If any Senator is dis
satisfied with the ruling of the pre-
siding officer (who, may We point
out. has been advised by Mr.. Wat
kinS) he may take his appeal to.
the Senate body. If the appeal is
granted the decision stands as the
VI JAlC N1Cl4dIC. - OlAC tllC
President wishes so TO do. he may
submit the question directly to the
Senate for debate. and there is then
no appeal from the decision.
'All points Of order shall be de-
cided without debate" state the Sem
ate rules. However, in itself a dis
crepancy, a Senator may request de-
bate on any question. The parlia-
mentarian has become skilled in fore
ity of sustained debate, and in such
cases he usually prepares a written
statement, setting forth an opinion
in the light Of precedent. Many a
pointless but heated argument has in
this manner been nipped in the legis-
lative bud. Mr.. Watkins familiarity
with the limitations has been the
reason for many Senators dropping
in upon him at the Office of the sec
retary Of the Senate to consult with
him about the fine points Of proceed
ure before they undertake debate of a
question from the floor itself. What
ever the question, Mr.. Watkins is
ready with an answer-an answer that
history will uphold and tradition
sponsor.
AS journal clerk. 1t is Mr.. Watkins
duty to keep a daily record of the
proceedings Of the United States Sen
ate in a condensed form. This jour-
nal has nothing to do, however, with
the Congressional Record, which con-
tains verbatim report of sessions.
1t is rather topical record without
debate-a list of bills or documents
that have come up for discussion or
action, decisions rendered and a SINH
lar outline of the days routine and
activities