PROTECTION OF CONGRESSIONAL MINORITIES. 



(Abstract of a Paper read before the Society.) 



BY W. M. HALL. 



Abuse of the technical powers of majority and of minority 

 has not in any state legislature gone permanently beyond the 

 control of public opinion. But the House of Representatives at 

 Washington is notorious for frequent straining of such powers, 

 and there is little reason to expect a return to moderation with- 

 out material changes in parliamentary law. Blame of one party 

 or the other is useless towards finding a remedy. The trouble 

 is old, and its marked increase in the present Congress is due 

 chiefly to the possession by one party of all three legislative ele- 

 ments. Before, when the President or the Senate was hostile, 

 the majority in the House had less temptation to ride rough- 

 shod, and the minority could leave the defense of its interests to 

 its allies beyond; repressive or obstructive abuses, when they 

 did occur, were often caused by the formation, on particular 

 measures not strictly partisan, of temporary majorities alike in 

 both houses, either in sympathy with the President or thinking 

 themselves strong enough to over-ride his veto. But now the 

 motives for parliamentary misbehavior on both sides are kept 

 permanently alive, and the descent is rapid. 



When troublesome obstruction has become frequent, the 

 majority always does something to preserve its right to legis- 

 late; but always hitherto by partial destruction of rights val- 

 uable to the country — the minority rights to debate, to offer 

 amendments and have them put to vote, to make a conspicuous 



