The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-17

then it strikes me that the best thing
for the senate 10 do is TO endeavor to
amend the rules, 80 that majority can
pass bill that they desire to pass.
Mr.. Vest-Yes, Mr.. President, l heard
that when we we're discussing the force
bill, in varied intonation and much
rhetorical utterance, but the rules were
not changed.
PERTINENT INQUIRIES.
Mr.. Aldrich-Does not the senator
believe that if a majority Of the senate
had been in favor of what he chooses to
call the force bill the rules would have
been amended and the bill would have
passed?
Mr.. yest-Why, no. AS the rules
exist untirNyou get into the chair an
occupant who will strike down the rule
permitting one-ffth OF the senators
present to demand the ayes and nays,
and who will put question and carry
it without regards to the votes OF SEN
ators, you cannot effect against the op-
position one.ffth OF the senators pres
ent any legislation which is so odious
rs to require and demand this action.
Mr.. Aldrich-The party Of the senator
from Missouri is charged with the res.
possibility Of legislation not only in
this body but in every department OF
the government If one-ffth OF the SEN
ate can prevent any action upon any
subject how does that senator expect to
pass the bill reported by the senator
from New York (Mr. Hiilj, to repeal
the election laws? How does that sena-
tor expect that mis- party will carry out
its pledges for tariff reform. il the doc.
trine laid down by him is TO prevail and
is the correct doctrine for the govern
ment OF the senate2 Would not one
fifth OF the senators upon this side be
justified in preventing what we believe
TO be ruinous legislationP
Mr.. Vest-A second Daniel come to
judgment. laughter. l have not said
it is the correct doctrine. ihave simply
called attention to the fact which every
one knows to exist, that certain status
is upon us. Ii it is not SO. l will be
obliged to the senator from Rhode
Island ii he will tell US what he would
do.
Mr.. Aldrich-If I had my way the
senate would change its rules.
Mr.. Vest-But you have not got your
way. Laughter. If the senator had
his way he would have passed the force
bill, but thank God he did not have it.
GOOD REASON.
Mr.. Aldrich said the reason he did
not have his way was because major.
ity of the senate voted the other way.
Ii the majority Of the senate had been
in favsr OF changing the rules at that
time, they would have been changed.
at would not have passed" said Mr..
Vest, "as every intelligent senator here,
undertake to say, will grant to him.
self if not publicly"
Mr.. Hill said he repudiated the doc
trine that one-fiith Of the senate could
absolutely prevent legislation. The
power to make rules Implied the power
TO change them and the senate could not
by tho adoption OF any set of rules alb.
solutely prevent itself from legislating.
1t could not tie itself up 80 that by rea.
son OF its rules it was impossible for the
iiiaiSEtby W 4tShSiNSS AAAA NAAN tAAhNNkhNj
could dictate legislation.
Mr.. Vest inquired whether the sena'
tor from New York meant to say that
the majority in the senate could change
rules without debate.
Mr.. Hill replied that the question Of
the Limitation OF debate was within the
discretion OF majority Of the senate.
That solved the question. He had
heard great deal in the debate about
the tyranny OF the majority in its bona
tide efforts to pass the repeal bill, and it
has been repeatedly asked what could
be worse than the tyranny OF major
ity. He answered the tyranny of the
minority. The failure OF the bill would
have to be attributed to both political
parties and not TO only one.
"Has it come to this" asked Mr.. Hill
in closing, "that the senate is power
less, first to legislate, and second, to
change its rules so that it can legislate
hereafter? II it has, it might as we'll
disband."
Mr.. Call (Dem.) rising to personal
explanation, said he was willing, when
ever debate was exhausted, TO vote.
At o'clock the repeal bill was laid
before the senate.
MIR. Jones (Rep., Nevada} then took
tho floor and proceeded to deal with the
function of money, its value and how it
was regulated.
Mr.. Jones occupied the floor until 8
o'clock, and then, as he was not we'll,
said ne would resume at another time,
He was astonished that men credited
with intelligence should have said that
the debate was simply a consumption
Of time. That was not true, At S:45
he asked. the indulgence OF the senate,
and said that in day or two no would
reply to what he called "tbe rather flip
pant statement Of the senator from New
Jersey (McPhersonl concerning the
cost OF the production OF silver"
Mr.. Mcpherson cited as authority for
his statement certain English writer's
and the director OF the United States
mint, and inquired OF Mr.. Jones where
he could find any better authority.
II will tell you, !" said Mr.. Jones; "the
senator from Nevada, who is now on
the floor, and who is not very high
authority either"
A LITTLE sQUABBLE.
Mr.. PETER then took the floor. Mr..
Palmer. Of Illinois, got into a parlia-
mentary squabble with Senators Kyle