THE SENATE: Trimming the Filibuster

It was one of the most intricate struggles in the history of the Senate's many battles over the filibuster. Finally, the urgencies of practical politics prevailed. The liberal Senate majority, determined not to be blocked by endless argument over legislation in a period of economic crisis, last week approved a compromise that achieved the first new limitation on debate since 1959. A filibuster will be choked off if 60 Senators (three-fifths of the total membership) vote to do so. That is seven less than the number (two-thirds) that had been required under...