The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-04

will be decided and earnest effort at
the approaching regular session to amend
the rules of the Senate so as in measure
to prevent resort to dilatory tactics
and to provide for the closing of debate.
The delay in the passage of the silver re-
peal bill had the effect incidental to
most conflicts of great length in the
Senate, of arousing a number of Senators
to the Importance of a change which
would place in the hands of the Senate
the power to close debate at definite
time and to make the majority the judge
of the proper limitation of debate upon
any subject Senator Blackburn, chair
man of the committee on rules, became
SO impressed with the Importance of
reform of this character that towards the
close of the extra session, he asked
authority which was granted, for his
committee to sit for the purpose of con
sidering the question, with the view of
suggesting course of action to the
Senate. The committee has held no meet
ings during the Congressional recess. but
it is presumed that the subject will be
meeting of Congress. as Mr.. Black burn
has announced his intention Of taking
up the question as soon as practicable.
The committee will find abundant
material to work upon when it meets, as
there are before it no less than nine
amendments looking to the accomplish
ment of the end in view. OF these Sem
ator Hill is the author of four, Senator
Platt of two, and Senators Voorhees,.
Hoar and Manderson of one each. A
majority OF these resolutions provide for
the closure of debate, and the others look
to the determination of quorum.
Senator Hill displayed greater interest in
the subject during the extra session than
any other Senator, and he and Mr.. Voor-
hees united upon the form of an amend
ment for closure providing that a majori-
ty of Senators can demand vote upon
any bill which has been under debate in
the Senate for thirty days Two of Mr..
Hill's proposed amendments look to the
maintenance OF quorum only by
authorizing the presiding officer to count
Senators present who refuse to respond
upon -oIl-call to determine the presence
of quorum, and by authorizing the
counting Of Senators paired and present,
on vote for the purpose of making a
quorum. He also seeks to prevent re-
course to another method Of delay by
prohibiting Senators from raising the
question of "no quorum while another
Senator is speaking and also by providing
that this question shall not under any
circumstances be raised oftener than
once an hour. Mr.. Manderson's amend
ment is simply an amendment to Mr..
Hill's proposed amendment concerning
pairs The amendments of Senators
Platt and Hoar look to theVclosing of de-
bate, but differ ilT time and method from
Mr.. Hills suggestion In the same direc-
tion. Mr.. PIatt's amendment provides
that upon the written request of a
| majority of Senators at any stage Of de.
bate upon any bill the Vice President
shall fix date for the close of general
debate five days afterwards, and Mr.
Hoar's that after bill shall have been
under consideration for one day any
Senator may demand that it cease, and
if it is seconded by majority of the
Senate debate is to be discontinued
forthwith and, the. vote be taken after
each Senator shall have had an oppor-
tunity to speak once, not to exceed an
| hour. 1t is presumed that if any changes
should be recommended by the commit
| tee on rules they would be on the lines
indicated by these proposed amendments,
| as they cover about all the ground. With
power to count quorum and to prevent
| the continued calling of the roll the
Vice President would be in position to
control the consideration of any measure,
and with the additional authority to fix
the day of voting upon any given
measure, there woold probably be no
| more ground for complaint of delay in
that body.
Those opposed to the changes argue that
the complaint would be from the oppo-
site direction, and that the country
| would soon have cause to apprehend
more serious consequences from hasty
legislation than it now has from tardy
action. If the question of the change
contemplated should be taken into the
Senate by the action of the committee,
the country may expect to see one of the
most animated debates ever witnessed in
that body 1t is subject which has
| been frequently before the Senate, and is
one which never fails to arouse the
strongest antagonism.