Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-24
THE RIGHT OF MAJORITIEs.
Senator Hill Speaks of the Deadlock
in the Senate.

Senator Hill Speaks of the Deadlock
in the Senate.
Senator d. B. Hill Of New York in ad-
dressing the democrats Of Brooklyn last
evening said Of the pending struggle in the
United States Senate and the apparent ne
cessity Tor a change in the Senate rules:
Il believe that clear majority of the
whole Senate a majority made up of both
democrats and republicans. are in favor of
the unconditional and speedy passage of
the repeal bill. have been in favor Of that
course from the outset and / have not
changed my position.
THE Senate rules adopted in 1906, and
substantially remaining unchanged from
that date. together with the so-called 'cour-
tesies Of the Senate. have each been in
voked to prolong discussion and to prevent
final action. For myself, 1 do not hesitate
to say that am not profoundly impressed
with respect to the traditions Of the
Senate. Most Of them ought to be abolish
ed. They are only hindrances to the prompt
transaction Of public business, and are not
adapted to this age Of progress.
In the desperate effort to prevent or de-
lay the passage Of this bill the freedom of
debate has been abused. Physical endu--
ance rather than Intellectual argument has
been made the test Of success. 1t has been
shown that the existing Senate rules. which
have come down to US from our fathers, are
weak, defective and insufficient. 1t has
been proven that under them II is impossi-
bic for the majority to pass a measure to
which large minority strenuously objects.
and for that purpose is willing to invoke
the right Of unlimited debate. 1t was open
ly avowed in the Senate that under the ex-
listing rules the repeal bill would never be
permitted to come to q vote. That was the
ton. For one. 1 believed that 1t vas the
duty Of the majority to no longer submit to
the dictation Of the minority. and 1 under
took last week to provide a remedy.
The Right to Change Rules.
If 1t was true. as asserted. that the rules
gave such privileges to the minority as te
| cradle them to prevent final action on 9
bill Gas seemed to be the easel, then be-
lieved the rules should be amended. Their
the minority claimed the right Of unlimited
debate upon the very question Of tn,
amendment Of the rules. That right
stoutly resisted. and think made 1t plair
to the country. If not to the Senate itself
that the power Of the majority to change it.
rules was a constitutional right, and that &
could not be successfully resisted or pre-
vented by unlimited debate. The heatet
discussions Of last week upon this vital ant
| important point overshadowed every othe
question.
"Undisturbed by threats Of the minorit,
we proceeded to offer an amendment to tn
| rules 80 as to authorize the majority I,
compel a vote after reasonable debat hac
been had, to wit. thirty days. I believe IL
the perfect constitutional right of tn
majority to pass that amendment and {,
prevent unlimited debate upon its adoption
The amendment is now pending and ma,
be brought forward at any moment whei
| forty-three Senators are willing to give
their support.
l. Opposed to Compromise.
| speaking for myself alone, I decline t
consider any compromise or any proposition
which embraces less than unconditional re
peal until 1t shall have been SATISFACTORY,
ascertained that a majority Of the Senat
Is unwilling to change its rules. II tina
majority cannot be obtained-if timidity
hesitation and doubt prevails--if the tradi
lions Of the Senate are SO strong that Sena
tors hesitate to adopt the only method tina
Is possible to enable a majority to pass
| measure without the consent of the minor
tty. then OF course we must submit to tn.
| inevitable and accept the best terms posi-
| Ole. For one am in favor Of heroic action
and advocate resoiute effort to establish
forever the sacred principle that a majorit,
must be permitted to rule in the Unite(
states Senate as well as in every othe,
legislative body in the country.
Not a Fflibusterer.
| mo matter what may be the outcome o.
the present struggle. the necessity OF {
change in the Senate rules has been abund
| ant1y demonstrated. I promise you that tn,
effort for a change will be continued, ire
spective Of the fate Of the present bill. Tn.
| country may need relief In the future. a,
well as now. Parliamentary obstruction
unreasonable and prot-acted-shouid be .
thing Of the past. The right Of unlimite,
debate Is inconsistent with the duty of tn,
Senate to legislate. The majority must b,
| permitted to regulate and control its pro
| sible." Soo
During Mr.: Hill's speech he was frequent
| ly applauded.
Resolutions were read and adopted piede
Ing hearty support to the administration o.
president Cleveland: demanding the promp
and absolute repeal of the purcha sins
clause Of the silver BILL commencing tn.
course Of Mr.. Hill In the Senate; approvins
the administration of Gov. Flower; Indoors
ing the platform and nominations of the
state convention held at Saratoga and re
amrming faith In the integrity and ability
| Of Mayor Body.
Before the mass meeting the democratic
chieftains Of Brooklyn gave a reception IL
honor Of Senator Hill at the Clarendon
Hotel. where large number OF jubiian-
democrats grasped the Senator's hand
After the meeting Mr.. Hill left for Wash