Morning journal and courier., 1893-10-20
DISCUSSING THE RULES.

DISCUSSING THE RULES.
 The Senate Drops the Repeal Bill fol
 One Day to Indulge in Humer, ant
 at Times Words Of a Harsh Natur, | are InduIged Nm.
 WASHINGTON, Got. 19.-The question O
 the proposed change in the rules was dis cussed more seriously in the senate to-day than a compromise repeal bill. Mr. .Duboi declared in shert speech that he woult not withdraw from the position he hsG taken against the repeal bill, even if th, l penalty of expulsion were visited upor him, as suggested at one of the night sss sions by MT. White of Louisiana, who's, language on that occasion was, he said more fit for barroom than for the sen ate.
 Mir. Hill, in Mir. Whites absence, said that he had not so understood Mir. White'l remark on that occasion, and was asked by MT. Dubois whether he subscribed to that doctrine. He stated what he understood MT. White to have said-to the effect that for senator to sit client and refuse te vote was violation of the rules and was dtsorderly conduct.
 Mir. Palmer, dem., of Illinois, suggested in humorous manner that the motion on which all the debate was occurring, and which was that Mir. Teller's name be en- tered on the journal, should be agreed to by unanimous consent, MT. Teller's re- quest being reasonable. Such peculiarly courteous body as the senate should grant 1t immediately.
 Mr. Quay gave notice of an amendment to the repeal bill-providing that the act shall take effect on January l, 1896.
 The senate was then addressed by Mr. Call against any change in the rules. He was followed by MT. Butler in condemna- tion of the positions taken by Senators Hill and Mills. Those positions were, he said, that majority of the senate could adopt any amendment to the rules in utter disregard ofthe code of rules. If their propositions wore adopted there would be bedlam in the senate If not anarchy. Some change, he said, had come over the spirit of the dream of those senators-althoueh he doubted whether his friend from New York ever had dream. Osughter). To show the inconsistency of Mir. Mills on the subject of the rules he read from an article of his in the American Review.
 In connection with sentence in the ar- ticle MT. Butler asked whether the major ity now had some desperate enterprise on foot. Within three years from the publi- cstion of that article, he said, the senators from Texas and New York proposed to override the limitations prescribed in the constitutions and rules and to railroad" through the senate & motion to cha pge the rules to enable (as they said) the majority to transact business. But it will never, p-Sl @1,akf Al my consent. recognize the right of the majority to express its verdict in consti- tutional manner.
 MT. Hill asked whether, if the senate de- sired to pass the repeal bill, the senator would point out how it could be done
 MT. Butler replied that when the msjor- ity found itself in that position with 8 strong, determined, sincere anxiety to pass the bill 1t will make some concessions in order to get it through. If that was not done the bill ought not to pass.
 MT. Hill-The plain doctrine announced by the senator Is that the majority could not pass bill that 1t desires to pass-be- cause it must always compromise with the minority. do not believe that.
 Mir. Butler-The senator has made & side issue and has dodged the question when he says that the majority could never pass 8 bill without the consent of the minority.
 MT. Hill understand the senator to say that if majority refuses to compro- mise with minority the bill ought not to pass.
 Mir. Butler-I repeat it. Nine-tenths of the measures which become law in this country are the results of compromise.
 Mir. Hill-My position is that the minor ity has right to express its views and has a right to enaesvor to impress them upon the majority. If the msjority recognizes the views of the minority it has s right to do so. But cannot find anything in the constitution which says that minority of senators can pass bill. [Applause.I
 Mir. Butler-Nor I. 1 have made no such statement.
 MT. PAlmer-Can I, as a senator from Illinois, be allowed to vote for the repeal of the Sherman acti '-.
 Mir. Butler-The senator has the right to vote whenever the opportunity is offered.
 MT. Palmer-When can have that op- porSunity9 sa. --.
 MT. ButlerAwhen debate closes.
 MT. Palmer-I deny the right of the minority to debate for the purpose of de- lay.
 MT. Butler-Nobody elaine that. Who is to determine whether I am now speaking for obstruction or nott
 MT. Palmer-First, the senator himself; second, the majority. Applause in the galleries. A well dressed man in the gal lery declared in loud voice that, as he had been conspicuous offender he would withdraw. And he did 50
 Mr. Butler dieclaimed the idea that any of the plaudits of the gallery were intended for him, and intimated that the galleries had been packed for the benefit of the sen tor from New York.
 T. I.,et Aol on the idea that any restriction in the rules whereby the majority was deprived of the power to amend was not binding. He re- marked: "We have tied our hands. pro- pose to unite them so we can change the rules."
 Mir Butler-Ho99
 Mr. Hill-By offering, at the proper time and place and occasion, an amend ment to the rules and then proceeding, as may be regulated by the majority, to vote upon it. There is no practical difsculty If (snd be emphasized the 'if" and repeated it the majority of the senate desires to change the rules. have thus far pro cesded under the strict letter of the rule, but what position the majority shall take on this question will depend very much on the attitude of the minority. hope that before this debate is through the majority will be found by my side ready to insist on It's constitutional right to amend the rules whereby the senate can carry out the will of the majority.
 Something in the last remark of Mir. Hill seemed to convey to Mir. Buffers mind the idea either that Mir. Hill was not sure of msjority, or else that he vas weaken | ing in his position. He made some remark about MT. Hill coming over finally to the side of the minority and Mir. Stewart re marked that MT. Hlll was half way ovel l now.
 ! MT. Butler-I think that perhaps if tn, on our side altogether. Usuehter) Mir. Hoar made remark, and Mr. But Ter asked whether he thought there wa any power in the senate to prevent obstruc | tion.
 q do," Mir. Hoar replied. 'In a motiol I to change the rule"
 In other words. Mir Butler remarked,
 rec firmation of the higher law doctrine
 It is, Mir. Hosr retorted, higher law t
 some people than the law they practice. =
 Shortly after MT. Hosr excused himssl
 to MT. Butler for not being able to remain
 and Mir. Butler good humoredly declare
 that the entente cordisle had been restored l Mir. Butler criticised Mr. Mills statemen
 yesterday that the government was in
 state of paralysis as absurd and ridiculous
 He then drew ludicrous picture of Nil
 Mills and Mir. Sherman joining in cordia
 loving. voluptuous embrace. Laughter
 He referred to MT. Mills taunting remar
 about those who followed the lead of Mi l Pc fer, and said: "The age of wonders an } surprises will not end with seeing me