The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-03
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Blair Resolution to Limit Debate--Tari6
Discussion Continued.

Blair Resolution to Limit Debate--Tarin
Discussion Continued.
WASHINGTON CITY. Aug. 1.-The Senate
met at 10 o'clock. At the calling of the
roll forty-nine senators, six more than
quorum, were present. The resolution
offered yesterday by Blair, instructing the
committee on rules 10 report within four
DAYS rule for the incorporation of the
previous question or of some method for
limiting and closing debate in parliament
tary procedure, was taken up. Blair said
that senators had spoken to him indicat-
ing their desire to be heard before action
should be taken in the matter. and who
were not ready to proceed. He should.
therefore, not press the resolution this
morning, but he desired to say that he had
offered the resolution, not with
special reference to any pending
bill, but with the feeling that
there was q necessity for the proposed
change. The period had arrived when In
the transaction of the country's business
the Senate must have some way by which
larger number of important public meas
ures could be decided. As it now was, the
whole business of the country was at the
mercy of one or two individuals who might
be opposed to measure. The majority
was practically under the control of the
minority. Nobody could complain that
there had been o disposition to procrasti-
nate or to obstruct the ordinary course of
debate and decision on the tariff; yet, al
though the Senate had already spent ten
days upon it, only fifteen pages had been
disposed of, out of 1S2 pages in the bill,
and the great subjects of the discussion,
such as sugar, reciprocity, etc., were still
to come. There was no reason to suppose,
therefore, that under the existing rules the
bill would be concluded before next De.
cember. He had not offered the resolution
with view to any pending measure, but
as fundamental, radical, indispensable
change in the parliamentary procedure of
the Senate.
Morgan reminded Blair of the long time,
six or seven weeks, consumed in the con-
sideration of the educational bill, and said
that the time had not been wasted. As a
pesult of the discussion of that bill it had
been defeated, just as be hoped the debate
on the tariff bill would result in the defeat
of that measure.
The resolution was referred to the COM
mittee on rules.
The tariff bill was then taken up, the
question being on Vests amendment to
reduce the duty on decorated china to so
per cent. ad valorem and on plain white
china to 40 per cent instead of 60. and So
and so as proposed by the finance commit
tee. The amendment was discussed pro
and con at length. German thanked Ali
son for his frank statement.
After further discussion on the china
ware paragraph, George took up the floor
and made long speech on the general
subject of the tariff.
Platt replied and denounced an asser-
ton made by George to the effect that
while the duty on steel rails was Sill a ton,
the labor in the production of the article
cost only si.45. The fact was that the pro-
duction of ton of steel cost $24 The
labor portion of that cost was not only
81 81, but ten times that amount.
Jones of Arkansas supported Georges
statement about steel rails, and also spoke
on chinaware matters, apropos OF which,
he read from the papers a report from
Findlay, o., as to the purchase by an Eng
lish syndicate of various glassware factor
les, and said the effect of tariff legislation
was to encourage trusts and syndicates.
Reagan warned the senator's that the
Farmers Alliance and workingmen's asso-
Citations were not to be ignored.
A conference was ordered on the sundry
civil appropriation bill. At O'Clock.
Aldrich. intending to move adjournment
proposed that vote on the pending ques-
lion be taken Monday, without further dis
cussion.
take vote now, we are ready; we are
always ready to vote as soon as discussion
is over" were the responses from several
senator's on the Democ. attic side. Aldrich
did not think there was quorum, but he
was willing to try. A vote was taken on
Vests amendment and stood: Yeas IL,
nays 20; no quorum.
Paddock and Plumb voted with the DEM
ocrats. The Senate then adjourned.