Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-21
ClOTURE IN THE SENATE.
A Lively Debate Upon Senator Platt's
Resolution to That Effect
Senator Lodge Places the Responsi-
bility for Not Voting Upon the
Democratic Majority.

man act was made bit more uncomfor-
table today. They were placed in the posi-
ton Of a starving man to whom food Is
shown behind iron bars The hope Of re-
lief from the pending disease, unlimited de-
bate was held out temptingly by the re-
publicans in the full glare Of the truth that
1t Is impossible Of attainment.
Senator Platt called up his amendment to
the rules as soon as all the bills had been
introduced, notwithstanding whispered pro-
tests from Senators Teller and Faulkner.
The resolution. providing for a cloture on
the application Of a majority. with notice
In all Of seven days. was read. and Sena-
tor Platt said that he was not sure that 1t
was drawn In the proper shape to secure
the ends he desired. He gave his reasons for
presenting the resolution, as will be found
in the regular Senate proceedings.
While Senator Plat was denouncing the
theory that unlimited debate should be per
smiled to hear his republican friend out
line course Of 'ilibustering that could
successfully take up the whole winter.
1T Is almost inhuman," he continued,
ito keep Senators here in continuous ses-
sion like a jury that is to be forced to give
verdict for murder. We are losing our
self-respect. I'll stand by this amendment
through thick and thin. / realize that 1t
Will uOt receive tne same COuSlOeTdtlOu
coming from me as II would II it came
from a committee 50 / give notice that I
shall ask its reference to the committee on
rules"
Senator Hoar called to mind an amend
ment that he proposed some years ago pro-
viding for cloture by different means.
All eyes were on Senator Voorhees, when
he secured the floor.
He said that he felt that the Senate owed
its thanks to the Senator from Connecticut
for his clear exposition Of the case and his
able arguments in favor of limiting useless
debate. He then asked that the repeal bill
be taken up. but Mr.. Gallinger took the
floor to introduce his amendment providing
for q commission Of three civilians, three
Senators and three members of the House
to investigate the subject Of the silver pro-
duction Of the United States and its effect
upon commerce and trade.
Mr.. Lodge Favors Cloture.
Mr.. Lodge obtained permission from Sem
ator White Of California, who was booked
for a speech ON the bill. and made a power
full argument in favor Of cloture. He first
alluded to the remarks OF Senator Dubois
the other day that he was playing the drum
in the repeal procession, saying that the
time had come for action, and drum beat
ing was more becoming than mere conver-
satfon- He announced that he was In thor
ough accord with the principles of Mr..
Platt's amendment, and proceeded to give
q logical argument to show why senatorial
courtesy should not interfere with the right
OF the majority to govern legislation.
Courtesy he said. must be reciprocal.
more sacred than the right to debate
When Senators refuse to name a day for
one sided"
Then Mr.. Lodge paid his respects to the
majority. and laid on their shoulders the
responsibility for the delay In doing this
he scored his republican friends who failed
to coma to the aid Of the bill that he put
history as the Inflated force biIl"
The Majority Responsible.
Senators opposed to a measure" he
said. ARE able to filibuster because the
majority doesn't prevent 1t. The majority
IL responsible for not reaching q vote. 1t
Is pitiable when the great senatorial cour-
tesy only exists for those who obstruct
legislation. To vote without debating may
be rash, reckless. hasty. but to debate with
out voting Is imbecile. / am quite well
aware that there are other measures that
are likely to come before this body later
that / regard most noxious.
II know that there is to he n tariff bill
that II passed will bring far greater dis
aster to the country than any stringency in
the money market, such as the repeal bill
is intended to relieve. / am aware that the
majority has just rushed into the House
and placed on the calendar a bill that,
COnSlQer, threatens tne very rights OF the
majority, the right of pure elections. Yet
here are Senators on the other side calling
on US on this side for non-partisan sup
portv'
Mr.. Stewart secured the floor long enough
to give notice that II the amendment is
pushed he will present many precedents
showing the immense value OF unlimited
debate.
resolution had been referred to the commit
tee on rules. Senator Platt had moved to
that effect during a moment OF confusion,
and the Vice President, hearing no obJec-
nous consent this order was rescinded. and.
on motion of Mr.. Teller, who said that he
wanted to debate the subject 1t was laid
over until tomorrow.
Senator Hilrs Plan.
An interesting chapter to the history
cloture was added a few minutes later,
when Senator Hill got the floor and intro
duced q further amendment to the rules
providing for cloture that would be
quicker and more efficient than even that of
Senator Hoar. 1t provides that after any
bill or resolution shall have been debated
in the Senate for thirty days a motion to
fix day for q vote may be made. and shall
be neither amendable nor debatable This
shall terminate the debate without further
notice.
The proposition for cloture will probably
not muster more than a dozen votes In the
WHoic oSudte, put IL serves the purpose Tor
which 1t was probably intended, namely,
that of putting the democratic friends of
the repeal bill in the anomalous position of
voting against a measure that would give
them the very relief they are SO earnestly
praying for.
1t was rumored that Senator Blackburn.
chairman Of the committee on rules has
declared that the amendment will never be
reported by that committee II referred to IL
Will Not Hasten Action.
The taking up Of the cloture proposition In
the Senate this morning is not calculated to
hasten action on the Voorhees, bill A great
many more Senators are ready to flibuster
against cloture than there are those who
would resist the passage Of the VOORHEES,
bill 1t will probably take very much longer
and harder fight to adopt the cloture than
would be necessary to force q vote on the
other measure: The bringing UP of that
question therefore is liable to retard action
on the voorhees, bill II It is passed The
situation in other respects is not mater
tally changed. The program mapped out
In the Star yesterday which contemplates
the long session this evening and probably
continuous session the day following is
expected to be carried out, but no one
knows what the result may be.
THE YELLOW FEVER DISTRICT,
The Situation at Brunswick Believed
to BE Unchanged.
The marine hospital service was In re-
ceipt Of no news from the south this morn