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"MARCH, 19i7
The Commoner
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with more subtle and far reaching possibilities
of national danger than any. other the govern
ment has known within the whole history of its
international relations, the congress has beon
unable to act either to safeguard the country
or to vindicate the elementary rights of its cit
izens. "More than 600 of the 531 members of the
two houses were ready and anxious to act; the
house of representatives had acted, by an over
whelming majority; but the senate was unable
to act because a little group of eleven senators
had determined that it should not.
"The senate has no rules by which debate can
bo limited, or brought to an end, no rules by
which dilatory tactics of any kind can bo pre
vented. A single member can stand in the way
oc action if he have but the physical endurance.
The result in this case is a complete paralysis
alike of the executive branch and of tho gov
ernment. "This inability of the senate to act has ren
dered some of the most necessary legislation of
the session impossible, at a time when 'the need
for it was most pressing and most evident. The
bill which would have permitted such combin
ations of capital and of organization in the ex--port
and import trado of the country as tho
circumstances of international competition have
made imperative a bill which the business
judgment of the whole country approved and
demanded has failed.
"The opposition of one or two senators has
made It impossible to increase the membership
of the interstate commerce commission or to
give it the altered organization necessary for
its efficiency.
"The conservation, bill, which should have
released for immediate use the mineral re
sources which are still locked up in tho public
lands, now that their release is more impera
tively needed than ever, and tho bill which
would havo made tho unused water power of
the country immediately available for industry,
have both failed, though they have been under
consideration throughout the sessions of two
congresses and have been twice passed by tho
houso of representatives.
"The appropriations for the army have failed,
along with the appropriations for the civil es
tablishments of the government, the appropria
tions for the military academy at West Point
and tho general deficiency bill.
"It has proved impossible to extend the pow
ers of the shipping board to meet the special
needs of the new situation into which our com
merce has been forced, or to increase the gold
reserve of our national banking system to meet
the unusual circumstances of the existing fi
nancial situation.
"It would not cure the difficulty to call tho
Sixty-fifth congress in extraordinary session.
The paralysis of the senate would remain. The
purpose and spirit of action are not lacking
now. The congress is more definitely united in
thought and purpose atthis moment, I venture
to say, than it has been within thenT&mory of
any man now in its membership.
"There is not only the most united patriotic
purpose, but the objects members have in view
are perfectly clear and definite. But the senate
can not act unless Its leaders can obtain unan
imous consent. Its majority is powerless,
vhelpless.
"In the midst of a crisis of extraordinary
peril, when, only,.-definite and decided action
can make th& nation; safe or shield it from war
itself by the, aggression- of others, action is im
possible. "Although, as &- matter, of fact, the nation
. and the representatives of the natidn stand
back of the executive with unprecedented
unanimity and spirit, the impression made
abroad will, of course, be that it is not so, and
that other governments may act as they please
without fear that this government can do any
thing at alL
"We can not explain. The explanation is in
credible. "The senate of the United States is the only
legislative body in the world that can not act
"when its majority is ready for action. A little
group of willful men, representing no opinion
but their own, have rendered the great govern
ment of the United States helpless and con
temptible. "The remedy? There is but one remedy.
The only, remedy is that tho rules of the senate
shall be so altered that it can act. Tho country
can be relied on to draw tho moral. I bolievo
that tho senate can be called on to supply the
means of action and savo the country from dis
SENATE CHANGES RULES
A Washington dispatch, dated March 8. says:
After more than 100 years under rules permit
ting debato limited only by tho physical endur
ance of senators and tho provisions of tho con
stitution, the senate tonight by a voto of 76 to 3
put power in tho hands of two-thirds of Its
members in tho future to limit discussion and
to say when a voto shall bo taken on a pending
measure.
Never while tho amendment is in tho senate
rule book can a minority prevent a vote upon u
bill before the senate if two-thirds of their col
leagues will othorwise. Tho organized filibuster
as recognized in tho senato is dead.
Action camo unexpectedly after six hours de
bate on tho new rule, drafted by a bi-partisan
committee. Although both democrats and re
publicans had approved tho chango in caucus,
and Senator Martin, the majority floor leader,
had given notice that the senato would bo kept
in continuous session until a voto was taken,
nearly everyone looked for a much longer dis
cussion. Senators LaFolletto and Gronna, two of those
who opposed the' armed neutrality bill, and Sen
ator Sherman, who favored it, cast tho negativo
votes., .Senators Cummins, Kenyon, Klrby, Lane,
Norrls, Stone, and Vardaman, who were against
the armed neutrality blllr voted for tho amend
ment. Colleagues of most of the senators ab
sent announced that If they had been present
they would have supported it.
Tho exact use of tho rulo will not becomo ap
parent until It is enforced, but it probably can
not bo successfully used to prevent the spectac
ular one-man filibusters by which senators have
talked bills pending In tho closing hours of a
session to a legislative grave. Such filibusters
probably can not be prevented unless they are
foreseen, but an organized affair which must be
planned two days or moro ahead of a session's
end can be disposed of easily.
In brief the new rule provides that on peti
tion of 16 senators to close debato on a pending
measure the senate by a two-thirds voto on the
following day but one, may limit debate there
after to one hour to each senator. It Includes
provisions to prevent dilatory tactics and the
introduction after cloture Is ordered of amend
ments not germane to the pending bill.
PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION CALLING
AN EXTRA SESSION
A Washington dispatch, dated March 9, says:
The President's Proclamation calling the extra
"session of congress follows:
"Whereas, Public Interests require that the
congress of the United States should be con
vened in extra session at 12 o'clock noon on the
16th day of April, 1917, to receive such com
munications as may be made by the executive:
"Now,, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, president
of the United States of America, do hereby pro
claim and declare that an extraordinary occa
sion requires the congress of the United States
to convene in extra sqssion at tho capitol in the
city of Washington on the 16th day of April,
1917, at 12 o'clock noon, of which all persons
who shall at that time be entitled to act as
members thereof are hereby required to take
notice.
"Given, under my hand and the seal of the
United States of America the 9th day of March
in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine .hun
dred and seventeen, and of the independence of
tho United States, the one hundred and forty
first." The following statement also was Issued at
the White house:
Secretary Tumulty stated In connection wifli
the President's call for an extra session of con
gress that the President Is convinced that he has
the power to arm American merchant ships and
is free to exercise it at once. But so much
necessary legislation Is pressing for considera
tion that he is convinced that it Is for the best
interests of the country to have an early session
of the Sixty-fifth c.ongress, whose support he
will afso need in all matters collateral to the
defense of our merchant marine..
PRESIDENT WILSON'S INAUGURATION
(Continued from Pago Sovcn.) 4
alalo in tho contral doorway of tho capitol was
tho first signal for cheers from tho waiting
throngs outside.
With baro head tho President npproached the
Inaugural platform and bowed to tho distin
guished guests about him and to tho great
crowds In tho plaza Jammed In closely to the
stand. Although a brilliant sun had broken
through tho blanket of lowering clouds which
earlier had threatened to mar the day, a chilly
wind swept ovor tho assemblage and prompted
managers of tho occasion to hasten tho pro
gram. Long before tho Inaugural guests from
tho senato chamber had reached tho platform
the President had taken tho oath and begun his
address. Ho began speaking at 12:45 o'clock,
and at 1:10 was seated In his carriage ready for
the return nt tho head of tho parade.
Never boforo was a president, or president
elect so carefully guarded as today. Both to
and from tho White houso tho oxccutlvo car
riage was completely surrounded by secret ser
vice men On foot and mounted troops, whllo
files of police rodo near tho curbs Jimt insldo
tho lines of New York national guardsmeu
drawn up on either sldo of tho broad avenue.
Arriving at tho Whlto houso upon roturnlng
from, the Inaugural, tho President and his official
party tarried 20 minutes for refreshments be
fore proceeding to the rovlewing stand. There
for iriorc than two hours the chief cxecutlvo
acknowledged tho salutesf participants In tho
pageant In his honor. In tho ovonfng with his
family ho watched a display of fireworks ovor
tho Washington monument grounds which
brought tho Inaugural ceremonies to a close.
ADVERTISING INTENTION TO HELL LIQUOK
In tho senate of the United States, January
9, 1917, Senator Charles Curtis, of Kansas, In
troduced tho following bill;, which was read
Lv n aud referred to the committee on the Ju
diciary: "A bill prohibiting the Issuance o special
tax stamps authorizing tbe salo of dfbtlllod
spirits or other Intoxicating llquora unless pub
lic notice by advertisement has oeou given, and
for other purposes. "
"Bo It enacted by the senate and house of rep
resentatives of the United States of America In
congress assembled. That no stamps denoting
payment of tho special tax authorizing the salo
of distilled spirits or other intoxicating liquors
shall bo issued to any wholesale cr retail li
quor dealer in tho United States until evldenco
shall havo been submitted that notice by adver
tisement of the intent to ask for the issuance
of such stamp has beon published Ly said ap
plicant in a newspaper of general circulation
In tho community in which the applicant resides
and intends to do business for six consecutive
Insertions in a dally newspaper or three con
secutive insertions in a weekly newspaper, said
advertisement to contajn the name and address
of the applicant, the particular place at which
said liquor is to be sold, the date on which tbe
application for the Issuance of such stamp will
be presented, and the name and address of tho
official to whom said application is to be made.
"Sec. 2. That it shall be the duty of tho
commissioner of Internal revenue to make all
necessary rules and regulations for the enforce
ment of the provisions of this act."
LETTERS FROM COMMONER READERS
Geo. F. Struble, Iowa. I am In full sympathy
with Mr. Bryan's movement for the- next four
years; and I will do all I can to help the good
causo along.
T. J. Billings, Mo. I heartily Indorao the
plan announced by Mr. W. J. Bryan for the next
four years. I firmly believe that two-thirds of
tho voters of the United States will stand be
hind Mr. Bryan In his righteous battle.
L. W. Bettlnger, N. Y. I appreciate Tho
Commoner very much and particularly am In
terested in the fight being waged by Mr. Bryan
for the sake of the common people of which I
am one. The question of prohibition is close
to my heart, and now that Mr. Bryan is using
his great influence to divorce the democratic
party from tho liquor influences, vmy hearty do
operation will bo extended
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