Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-12

| as usual, and when the object OF the meet
| ing had been stated, Mr.. Springer offered
a resolution, reciting the Kasson resolution
and declaring that it was the duty of the
] minority to protect themselves against the
proposed infringement of their rights by
every means in their power. Mr.. Randall
explained that the effect of the resolution
adopted by the house, would be to COM
pletely gag the minority and putt in the
power Of a majority to terminate abruptly
and at their own pleasure all debate or
amendments of the tariff bill, which will
| como to the house as an
amendment to the house internal
revenue bill, and pass it without
debate or amendment. If they choose
they might treat the whole senate tariff
bill as one amendment to the house iuter
nal revenue bill, and by non-concurring
in the amendment send the whole of it to
a committee of conference, where the sre-
vision of the tariff could be adjusted to
suit themselves. MIR. Randall agreed with
Mr.. Springer that the Kasson rule would
be an outrage upon the rights of the mi
nority. They ought not submit to it with
out earnest resistance. He, however, as a
member of the committee on rules,
stated that the committee had
not yet considered the Kasson
resolution, and suggested that any action
by the Democrats would be premature and
impolite at this time. Carlisle, Hammond,
Ellis, Mcmillan and others made some re-
marks, substantially agreeing that no
formal action should be taken upon the
resolution offered by Mr.. Springer, and in
view of Mr. Randall's statement that the
committee on rules had not yet done any
thing with the Kasson resolution, Mr..
Springer withdrew his proposition. Car
Isle, Ellis, and Hammond expressed the
opinion that there were enough conserva-
tive men on the Republican side to
prevent the adoption Of the new gag rule,
even if it should be urged upon the house
by such men as Robson, Kejfer, Reed and
Haskell. The committee on rules will hold
its regular meeting Monday morning,when
the subject will probably receive consider
alton. 1t is generally supposed that Kas-
sons object is to get the senate tariff bill
into a committee of conference, which
would be composed of majority of high
protective tariff men, by whom the bill
could be fixed up to suit
the wishes of the majority and
then passed by the house with scarcely
the tormality of consulting the minority
The Democrats generally want this con
gress to pass some bill for the revision of
the tariff; but they will insist that it shall
be done in the regular order of parliamen-
tary proceeding. Yet it is improbable
that they would as body consent to fill
buster or resist further than might seem
to be necessary to emphasize their pro-
test against the arbitrary and unprece-
dented methods adopted by the protection
lists to carry their scheme through. 1t is
understood that Randall, like other
Pennsylvania Democrats, does not
like either the senate or the
house bill, but that he would prefer the
former if it should be submitted to the
house in regular way. 1t is probable
that the Republicans themselves will have
to caucus on the Kasson resolution, be-
cause Kelly has already committed him
self against even considering the senate
tariff bill. He says the house would sur
render one of its highest prerog ogatives, and
of the committee of ways and means, if it
should recognize the right of the senate to
originate a tariff bill. There is very
great difference of opinion among house
Republicans as to the propriety of adopting
the rule proposed by Mr.. Kasson, which
would enable a majority to take the senate
tariff bill from the speakers table and to
bring it up for immediate consideration.
The adoption of that rule would make it
possible to pass the senate bill or nOn-con-
cur and send it to a conference committee.
The ruling of Speaker Keifer in the con-
tested election cases last session would
prevent any flibustering, as he then de
cided that but one dilatory motion would
be entertained on any proposition affect
ing the right of the majority to make The
rulings of the house. This was the
strong point Of Keifer's po-
sition, that the constitution
authorizes the house to make its own
rules, and, that the majority of the house
was certainly contemplated by the consti-
tuition. If the Kasson rule should there
fore be reported from the committee on
rules it could be adopted by Republican
vote with two or three roll calls, provided
the Republicans were there. The Repub-
licans are not now there, and very probably
they will not be there this week, although,
in anticipation of some such action, good
many Democrats, who are known to have
important business, have abandoned
their trips, and have decided to
stay here to endeavor to prevent the adop-
tion of the rnle. The Democrats intend to
pass the rule, but of this there are very
grave doubts. Indeed, the indications are
that the rule will not be reported from the
committee. The Democratic members
Randall and Blackburn of urse,will vote
against it on the ground that it would be
an unwise precedent to give the majority
such power. The Republican members of
the committhe are Keifer, Reed and Robe
son. Mr.. Reed Certainly is not anxious
tO hova in 10