The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-09-20

WASHINGTON. Sept. - A
determined drive by New Dealers
already is under way for changes
IN Senate and House rules which
would destroy much u the pro
lection now available against
pell-mell enactment Of dangerous
legislation.
This carnpaign, scheduled for
he opening Of the 87th Congress
next January, has two major OBJ
Fctives
/. To place rigid restrictions on
he right of Senator's to discuss
fully ard freely the merits of
legislation under consideration.
Such a limitation is regarded by
conservatives as an uncons-
cionable infringement upon free
idn Os speech which would
gravely endanger the rights and
protection of minorlties. including
manufacturers.
2. To curb the power Of the
House Rules Committee to regu-
late the flow of legislation to the
House floor for a vote. Such a
restriction is viewed by the con
ServatiVeS as another dangerous
attack upon the rights of minori-
lies which would make it pos
sible for the legislative process
70 run riot.
This dual effort is regarded as
extremely serious. 1t will become
even more OminOuS if the New
Deal forces in Congress should
aain any strength as a result of
the Nov, s election.
At the present time, Senate
rules provide that debate tsome
times referred to as a filibuster
if prolonged may be cubed by
the affirmative vote OF tWo-thlrds
Of the members present.
This was agreed to by the Sen
ate at the start Of the 1889 ses-
sion. Previously tWo-thirds
vote Of the entire Senate mem
bership had been required, re-
e-ardless of whether all Of the
members were present.
Various restrictions on the
right Of a Senator to fully express
his views on legislation are being
proposed.
All would defeat, TO some ex-
tent. the purpose of extended de
bate ny which is to assure that no
majority, no matter how large
shall be permitted to ride rough
she'd over the interests Of any mi
norlty. no matter how small, I'M
til the minority has had an oppor-
tunitv to tell its story and make
its case.
In the House, there is no right
Of extended debate. There a ma
]Qrity of one can impose its will
On the rest - ard it is the re
sponsibility Of the Rules Commit
tee to restrain the power of the
majority to speed undesirable
legislation through the House
without adequate consideration
This restraining influence is re-
garded by the conservatives
as especially important because
many members Of the regular
legislative committees are inter
ested primarily in pushing spe-
cific legislation which they think
viii bring them votes.
In addition. it is explained that.
because Of their intensive activity
in relatively narrow fields. there
frequently is not sufficient time
TO give adequate consideration, as
the Rules Committee can, to the
ligion which has regulated it can
not be a bad one "
AND DO you LIFT the little
finger daintily as you hold the
cob. Abbey? Comes Counsel
GiVer Dear Abbey with an extra
ordinary fiat. She tells an in
qlurer that it is all RIGHT to eat
corn on the cob with the hands
but that only one hand should be
used. Is this a special rule for
Olympic weight lifters, Abbey, or
something for all Of us? Too bad
the manufacturers of these corn
On the cob eating forks
didn't know in time not to pro