New-York tribune., 1872-04-30
XLIID CONGRESS-IID SESSION
A NEW GAG LAW ESTABLISHED IN THE SENATE
THE SUPPLEMENTARY TEXAS PACIFIC
RAILROAD BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE
FACILITATING THE PAYMENT OF DUTIES

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Mr.. ANTHONY Rep., II. IL presented re-
monstronce signed by the Admiral and other officers OF
the Navy against the transfer OF officers from the re-
tired to the active without the OF OF
The Department and also against the advancenen. VI
officers by legislation without snen reconi"ienu''"
tiSn TO limit DEBATE on fhe Appropriation bill to ave
minutes for each Senator on each amenament. o
Mr. CAssERLY em Ca} GpgGsed inc re'0'u''0" "'
Mr.. TRUMBULL tRep., Ill also opposed the resolu,
ton Some OF the most nportant laws ,s hs and the
adoption OF this rule would enable the maJory w
any measure they chose ater se rue and pra
tce VI the Senate debate was designed io the pro
teOn OF II the the gs majority ns and urg this
should remember that the timo would come "hen tne'
"SIrd ASToNY Se " ON RCp r advocated the resolution
as OF improving the character OF the debates ana
eiui Mr.. VICkERs CDem, Md offered amendment re-
strcting the five minute rule TO debate on amendments
ME- TRUMBULi said that the debate this amend.
mept showed the real design Of the majority In 0herhe
the pending resolution, namely, to get gag hW ny
which tbey could force any measure, however I'M
portant through the Senate an amendment 10 an ap
Al the expiration OF the morning hour, Mr. SCOTT
moved to lay the unfinished business over infofma so
"' Mr.. Ar TRaUMBuLL objected.
Mr.. SCOTT then moved to lay the unfinished business
The Senate then resumed the discussion of the resou
ton. 49,. ,,ot,
rCA
ORR TrumbuD that the vote that has just been taken
reveals the design Of the majority In onerhg TINS reso
ton When up here this morning heard runors
OF one Of those dark assemblies unknown to the law and
Mr.. C0NKLING Rep. N. YIN violation Of bOth'
NJ CAssERLY-I did not say that, Sir; but do say
thew are standing menace TO the Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof they are standhg
menace against all freedom Of opinion ana dcon On tb
morning that the majority had held caucus anu me rhe
vote that has just been taken confirms that ror f. Lne @
aioritv baU tIp tO
certainly they haze Naa @ so sSv p6at the minor
y heTe have pOOO facOHy opposed or delayed
any Of business before the Senate. This resolution Is
unjust to the great interests that committed to all
here. There are Senator'S listening TO me- ana VINO aVor
in the minority in the Senate and ask them # any such
gag this ever put into their mouths III were
member OF the majority would never consent to
proposition like this, and OF my party could
bring me support what regard as violation OF the
e yo ean init G @ on Ss class Of b can
limit it on all bills. You can establish general gag,
which viii kill statesmanshp aud reduce this body To
mere congregation of voters
Mr. TRUMBULL said that the manner In which IT. II was vas
sought to pass this resolution was In harmony %h ne
resolution itself. 1t was lit that rule calculated to
forced through without debate He had served in the
minority In the Senate when the domineerDg majority
II hs niI ecoptoa P without dscuSsoa unless they
would discuss ii at unreasonable hours But even tnat
Majority in the hight OF their rule power never Thought
Mr.. WILSON dRep., Mass.) was unable to see, any
saw hat it would prevent legitimate debate because
every Senator would be at liberty to discuss as fully as
Mr. TRIJMBJJLL asked Mr. Wilson whether he had not
within two years. offered bill remodeling the army as
amendment to an appropriation pii ana whether IL
Mr.. WILSON replied in the affirmative, but again de-
MED that there anything IN the proposed rule that
would interfere with the full discussion of bill or rs
provisions when should be put on its passage sun
rather than have the idea entertained by Senators or Dy
the people that it designed to interfere with the
rights OF the minority lie would prefer tat the res0
ton should lie over for future consideration, although
he believed that such rule must be adopted u order
to dispatch the business OF the Senate.
sMr. MOTION (Rep. Indl advocated the RESOLUTION,
and in reply to the charge that II would cut OF debate
be pointed out that the rule was to be limited TO this
one c class Of biiisyapropraiion bils-and 10 aacd
ments them. and that after any such bill should have
would be at liberty to discuss the bill as amended
fully as he wished. The resolution necessary for
the dispatch Of business anil "a TO ts being dangerous
or the result any deeplaid scheme ho was not aware
OF it, and did Lot believe it.
ing member OF twothirds majority, had No reason To
fear this other rule because II 1t stood IN his way
that what sport Tor him might be death to the
Mr. sGoTT Rep. Penny said Mr.. Casscrly had asked
what this resolution meant, and he would reply that 1t
Mr CAssERLY said he had no doubt of that, but the
question was, what kind OF business.
Mr. SHERMAN Rep., Ohio) SAID he believed that II
this experiment was once tried, nobody in the Senate
would desire to back 10 the old system Of unlimited
not form Of previous question:" and he thought
it highly desirable that the Senate should adopt some
thing Of that kind to check the tendency to endless and
wearsome debate, which had been growing Tor years
He bad seen more eXrayagant and vicious legislation
caused by the wearisOme night sessions into which,
under the present rule, few determined Senators could
force the body than by anything else and as the ma
power TO control the action OF the Senate.
Mr.. TRUMBULIi said that the right 10 discuss an ap
preparation bill on its passage after it had been amend
ed under this fve-mnute rule, was only the right to
discuss q after 1t had been adOpteda right
which 1t would not be either pleasant or profitable to
exercise.
amendment to an appropriation bill shall be In order
unless it IL germane the bill, aud provides for an APP
preparation OF public money in pursuance OF existing
law. Reiected-Yeas l. Nays 81.
Mr. TRU UMBULL offered amendment providing that
Amendments proposing general legislation not ger
the bill shall be offered to appropriation bill
LOst-Yeas IL, Nays 81.
Mr. EDMUNDS (Rep, Wy moved to add to the orig
inal the following: And no amendment To any such
bill making legislative provisions other than such "a
shall directly relate TO the appropriations contained IN
49, The resolution amended was then adopted by
OF 80 Yeas to 10 Nays-Messrs AlcorD, B0reman,
Sumner, and Trumbu voting in the negative
The resolution, as passed, provides that during tDe
present session shall be in order at any time to move
n recess and, pending an Appropriation bill, to move 10
confne deba amendments thereto TO fiyo minutes
by Senator on the pending notion and such motion
shall d. decided without debate, and mcndneut to
any such hill making legislative provisions other than
directly relate To the appropriations in the bill
shall be received The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at II o'clock. Under the call
of States number of unmportant bills introduced
and referred several Of them having been read at
length on the demand of the Democratic members 80
have no time in the morning hour for action Oh Mr.
HoOper's supplementary Civil Rights bill.
FACILITATING THE p vMENT OF DUTIES.