Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-05
OPPOSED TO HASTE.
Republican Senators Who Object to Cute
ting OF Debate.

Senator Blair stirred up q congressional
| hornets nest yesterday evening when he called
for the reading OF an editorial from the New
York Tribune, in which it was charged tina,
there had been needless delay in senatorial con.
sideration Of the tariff bill.
Senator Plumb was first to defend the situa.
ton. He read from the platform of the Kan.
sas state republican convention Of last month
to show that his constituents at least believed
there was enough Of protection under the
present law.
$50 far as know the sentiment of tina,
western country" said he sit il not especially
hurgering for tariff legislation / agree that
inasmuch as the subject has been broached a
bill ought to be passed. though do not regard
the paper which has been spoken of. nor any
other paper published east of the Allegheny
mountains. nor any other single paper, nor any
other half dozen papers published in the United
States anywhere, as necessarily representative
of the sentiment of the American people upon
| this subject, and l do know that if that paper
which has been spoken of had had its way and
other papers which represent the interest
which is driving us forward upon this tariff
bill had had their way another great measure
which has been recently passed never would
have been passed at all. to wit, the silver bill
Therefore take great deal Of liberty to
doubt whether those utterances represent the
wishes of the American people. Iknow they
do not represent the wishes and interests of
the people of Kansas, and therefore am free
to say that l think it would be better not to
pass tariff bill than to pass one that was
not right; that to pass a bill for
the sake of passing it is unwise legislation and
that if it is meant that we shall have a rule
which will cut off debate. and thereby enable
something to pass which could not by debate
be passed, should regard that as peryersion
of legislative power and as blow at free instI-
tutions ~,
Senator Teller scarcely less emphatic
| than senator Plumb in opposition to Senator
Bair's endeavor to chop off debate on the tariff
bill He said: Il dc not yield to any member
of this body in my devotion to the protective
system. / believe in it. believe
it is essential to the prosperity
OF the American people. But /
do not share the opinion expressed Ly the SEN
ator from New Hampshire (Mr. Blair), as taken
from one of the prominent. leading newspapers
of the country, that there has been unnecessary
delay in the passage of this bill or that the
Senate is recreant to its duty because it does
not proceed more rapidly with the bill
"Whie am in full sympathy with the pur-
vision of the tariff, putting it up whenever it
is found to be too low, putting it down when
ever it is found to be too high, and while | do
not propose to go into any discussion of the
tariff, l want to say to the Senator
from New Hampshire. and want to say to
the country itself everywhere, newspapers and
others, that, SO far as l am concerned, the pres
ent rules Of the Senate have been sufficient for
the discharge of the duties of this body in an
orderly and decent manner, aud am prepared
myself to resist as vigorously and efficiently as
u can any change in the rules for the purpose
OF fastening the passage of this or any other
bill that may come before this body"