Evening star., 1938-03-13

rule to require debate to be germane
when appropriation bills are being con-
sldered. 1t has not yet been adopted, how
ever. There are few other proposed
amendments pending in the Rules Com
mittee.
The last important change in procedure
was the dropping in 1880 of the practice
OF considering the detailed provisions of q
bill in Committee of the Whole, as the
House does, and then presenting the
amended measure to the Senate, which
gave the opportunity for second vote on
! any particular amendment that may have
been adopted or rejected in Committee of
the Whole
The only other major change in the past
decade was establishment of open sessions
for consideration of nominations Prior
to 1929 the Senate would lock itself behind
closed doors to act on appointments Only
the result was formally announced, but
much that transpired usually filtered out
Now nominations are considered in the
open, like all other business
The Senate came into existence in Co.
lonial days with l9 rules. At one time
they numbered 49, but later were consoli-
dated into 40. The last general revision
of Senate rules was in 1884
Abolishing Committee of the Whole
simplified procedure somewhat, but the
opportunity for second vote still exists
by filing motiqp to reconsider within two
days Of the original vote. True, such
motion can be entered only by one who
voted on the majority side of the question
or who did not vote
If Senator sees he is losing by narrow
margin, however, he has the right to
change his vote before the result is an
nounced to make himself eligible to move
reconsideration The motion to recon-
slider is more potent one than it would
seem at first glance, because when it is
entered it holds the bill in the Senate until
the reconsideration is disposed of. With
other business always waiting to come up,
it sometimes means one or several weeks
may elapse before there is a chance to
reconsider.
Another important factor in Senate
procedure is the difference between a
"recess" and an adjournment" when
evening comes. If the Senate adjourns the
first two hours the next day are available
for miscellaneous matters before the I'M
finished business is resumed. Therefore,
while the Senate is working on a major
bill, or especially when a filibuster Is in
progress the body will recess for many
days in succession to avoid the loss of time
the following day with routine business.
And in the case of filibuster recess is
essential, because whenever the Senate
adjourns the filibusters could insist on
reading and approving the journal of the
preceding day, with any number Of correc-
tions or amendments to the journal
Ordinarily the journal is approved without
reading.
Only Adjournment Ends Day
During the recent anti-lynching debate
the Senate recessed every day. Therefore,
while last Friday was March IL to
everybody else, it was still the Legislative
day of January 5" in the Senate A
legislative day ends only with an adjourn
ment.
incidentally, long periods of recessing
deprive Senators of the opportunity to join
in noon-day prayer, because prayer is said
only at the beginning of new legislative
day, after there has been an adjournment.
The fact that each Senator may make
two speeches on each legislative day Is
another reason recess instead of adjourn
ment is adhered to when the fight on a bill
becomes an endurance contest. Adjourn
ment would give the opponents a fresh
start with each man entitled to two more
speeches.
There are comparatively few proposed
changes in the rules pending at this time,
and some of those do not affect basic
questions.
One would provide that when a river
and habor bill is pending point of order
could be made against any project not
recommended by the Board of Engineers.
Another relates to the procedure to be
followed when one house eliminates all
after the enacting clause in q bill and
inserts substitute
Still another would disapprove the prac-
tice of rejecting presidential appointments
on the ground that nominee is personally
obnoxious to Senator.
One would make the holding of hearings
compulsory on all judicial nominations.
Then there is suggestion that loud
speakers be placed on senatorial desks to
make debate more audible both on the floor
and in the galleries. If history repeats
itself there will be no haste in adopting
these changes.
The Senate has won the title of the most
deliberative body in the world, and most
of the time it lives up to that name. There
are other times when it sets q dizzy pace
for speedy action. A large annual ap-
preparation bill, to which there Is no
specific objection, or long string of small
bills on the calendar can be whipped.
through occasionally in the time it. takes
to read the titles and amendments
incidentally, that is when rugged, smiling
Vice President Garner seems happiest.
With his long background Of experience in
the House the Vice President shows the
Senate how fast bills can be passed when
the membership indicstes It. u ready to
end debate and step on the gas.