Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-12-07
CHECKS on FILIBUSTERING.
The Senate Will be Asked to Reform
Its Faulty Rules.

Inc delay IN the passage OF the
silver repeal bill had the effect, Incl
dental to most conflicts of great
length in the senate, of arousing a
number of senators to the Importance
of change which should place in
the hands of the senate the power to
bring any issue to close at def
mite time and to make the majority
the Judge of the proper limitation of
debate upon any subject.
Senator Blackburn, chairman of
the committee on rules, became so
impressed with the Importance of
reform of this characterthat towards
the close of the extra session he ask
ed authority, which was granted, for
his committee to sit for the purpose
Of considering the question with
the view OF suggesting a course of
action to the senate. The commit
tee has held no meeting during the
recess, but the subject will be taken
in hand at an early date after the
convening of congress, as Mr.. Black
burn has announced his intention OF
urging action.
The committee will find abundant
material to work upon when it meets,
as there are before it no fewer than
nine amendments looking to the
accomplishment of the end in view.
OF these Mr.. Hill is the author of
four, Mr.. Platt of two and Messrs.
Voorhees,, Hoar and Manderson of
one each. A majority of the reso-
lutions provide for the closure of de-
bate and the others look to the de-
termination of quorum.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO RULE.
Mr.. Hill displayed greater inter-
est in the matter during the extra
session than others and he and Mr..
Voorhees, united upon the form of
an amendment for closure, provid-
ing that majority of senators could
demand a vote upon any bill which
had been under debate in the senate
for thirty days. Others of his pro-
posed amendments look to the main
tenance Of quorum-one by au-
thorizing the presiding officer to
count senators present who refuse to
respond to roll call to determine the
presence of a quorum and another
by authorizing the counting of sena-
tors paired and presens on vote for
the purpose of making a quorum
and seeking to prevent recourse to
another method of delay by prohibit
ing senators from raising the ques-
ton of lack of a quorum while an
other senator is speaking. and by
also providing that the question OF
the want of quorum should not
under any circumstances be raised
oftener than once an hour.
Mr.. Manderson's amendment is
simply an amendment to Mr.. Hills
proposed amendment concerning
pairs.
The amendments of Messrs. Platt
and Hoar look to the closing of de-
bate, but differ in time and method
from Mr.. Hills suggestion in the
same direction. Mr.. Platt's amend
ment provides that upon written
request of a majority of senators at
any stage of debate upon any bill
the Vice President shall fix date
for close of debate five days after
ward and Mr.. Hoar's that, after a
bill shall have been under consider
alton for one day, any senator may
demand the close and if he is Sec
onded by majority of the senate,
the debate is to discontinue forth
with and the vote be taken after
each senator shall have had an op-
portunity to speak once not to exceed
an hour.
A HEATED CONTEST PROBABLE.
1t is presumed that if any changes
should be recommended by the com
mittee on rules they would be or
the lines indicated by these proposed
amendments, as they cover about
all the ground. With power to count
a quorum and to prevent the con
tinued recalling Of the roll, the Vice
President would be in a position t
expedite the consideration of any
measure, and with the additiona
authority to fix the day of voting
upon any given measure, ther