Evening star., 1947-01-19

IN THIS country, ana tIldG II. the 0eI
be able to work its will after reason.
able debate.
On the other side will be thoss
who cling with equal ardor to ths
doctrine that the American form ot
Government is one Of checks anc
balances, and that the Senate's
right of unlimited debate is the
emergency brake to keep either
Congress or the Executive from
moving too fast in any direction.
AS soon as the present Senate was
organized four Republicans ane
one Democrat moved promptly te
amend the rules to permit major
ity to curb debate. Senator Salton-
stall of Massachusetts, offered one
resolution. Senators Knowland OF
California and Ferguson of Mich
igan presented a second. Senators
Morse of Oregon and Taylor, Demo-
crat, of Idaho, drafted a third pro-
posal.
The first round in the fight prob
ably will start when the Rules
Committee holds hearings. Senator
Brooks, Republican, of Illinois, new
chairman Of that~group, has made
known he holds no preconceived
ideals on the issue, but will refer
the resolutions to subcommittee
for study as soon as his committee
is fully organized
In 1917 the Senate adopted clo-
ture rule, under which each Senator
can be limited to one hour of ora
tory whenever two-thirds are willing
to apply it. In 80 years, however, it
has been invoked successfully only
four times.
Many Petitions Failed.
1. In November, 1919, to end de-
bate on the German treaty, it was
applied, rs to 16.
2. In January, 1926, to end debate
on the World Court, the rule was
adopted, 68 to 26.
3. In February, 1927, to close de-
bate on banking bill, SIS to 18.
4. In February, 1927, on the bill to
create Bureau of Customs and
Prohibition, it was invoked, SIS to 27.
Whenever 16 or more Senators
sign cloture petition, the Senate
must take vote to determine
whether two-thirds are willing to
limit debate. On a score of other
occasions petitions have been filed,
but either failed to muster two
thirds or were withdrawn because
it was agreed to voluntarily limit
debate.
In the approaching fight, adyo-
Gates of new rule no doubt will
point out that cloture would nave
been used more than four times in
the past if majority instead of
two-thirds had been sufficient.
Those on the other side can be
counted on to renew the claim that
minorities need the protection of
the two-thirds rule to prevent the
majority from going too far in i'm
posing its will.
In recent years fllibustering has
come to be associated with efforts
Of Southern Democrats to block
such measures as the antilynch-
ing bill, repeal of the poll tax and
for the establishment of a per-
manent Fair Employment Practices
Committee, to eliminate racial dis
elimination. The fact that these
bills have been stymied by unlim-
tied debate, probably will give i'm
petus to the present move to change
the cloture rule.
Smoot Set Record.
Going back over a longer period
Of years, however, it will be seen
that fllibustering has been resorted
to on a wide variety of issues, when
deep-roOted views were held on both
sides.
AS far back as 1S46, the Senate
debated the Oregon bill for two
months. In 1893 a silver purchase
bill was before the Senate from
August % to October 81. In 1918 a
river and harbor improvement bill
consumed 80 days. In 1915 the ship
purchase bill was debated for %
days.
incidentally, in that 1915 fight an
endurance record for senatorial talk
marathons was set when the late
Senator Smoot, Republican, of Utah
held the floor for II hours and Is
minutes. Others before and since
have held the floor longer, but
with breathing spells made possible
by the Interruptions of colleagues