St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-01
THE SENATE's DELINQUENCY

AAAA' SCNh h > DNAINSlO ENVY.
1t is now month since the revised
tariff bill was passed by the house and
transmitted to the senate. 1t was re.
ferred to the finance committee of that
body, and that committee has since
been considering its provisions with
more or less diligence. The committee,
it is said, has agreed to number of
important amendments, but their exact
nature and scope are as yet unknown,
for it would be contrary to the dignity
and precedents of the senate to take the
public into its confidence on any mat
ter, important or otherwise. For more
than two weeks we have been promised
report almost daily. yet it does not
come. The people are in the position of
Enocb Arden
"a shipwrecked sailor looking for sail;
No sail from day to day
1t may be that some time before "Ga-
briel blows his trumpetin the morning"
the senate committee may conclude that
they have consumed enough time in
deliberation and report the bill back to
the senate. And then. after deliberately
considering the eXpediency of consider
ing the bill, the senate itself may take 1t
up in open session. Then will begin
the real work OF the session. There are
lightweight senators. Each is engaged
in the preparation of speech on the
tariff. 1t is safe to say that not one of
those speeches has yet been completed.
Each senator will doubtless give notice
that on some future day he will address
few remarks to his colleagues and the
country on this subject. By following
this plan each senator will be able TO
delay the final consideration Of the bill
at least week, and so eighty eight
weeks may be consumed-the entire
available time of two regular sessions.
Senatorial courtesy will not permit of
greater haste, no matter what the ext
gencieS of the country may be. The
business of the nation may go to 1.-THE
demnition bow-wows," for ali the SEN
ators care, SO long as their dignity is
maintained and their traditions pre-
served inviolate.
If we may judge by present appear
ances no hope need be entertained that
the tariff bill will be finally passed upon
by the senate in the present year of
grace. There are other subjects Of far
more Importance i'll the eyes of the grave
and reverend senators than the tariff
They have speeches to deliver upon the
Hawaiian question. 1t is true that the
public has ceased to take an interest in
that topic. but the senators care nothing
for the public. They want to air their
jingoism, and will not forego the oppor-
tunity. Then there is the seigniorage
coinage bill, the ant!.option bill and
various other measures upon which
time may be consume.i. There is 10
matter so trivial that 1t will not be given
precedence over the alI-important tariff
bill. That is so important. in fact. that
it is doubtful if the senatorial mind will
ever be able to consider it fully.
The delays of the senate in acting
upon matters of the utmost concern are
exasperating in the highest degree, and
| if long persisted in will arouse public
Indignation to such an extent as to call
| for the abolition Of body so recreant
to its trust, even at the cost of revolu-
| ton. Cromwell dissolved the ''long
parliament" with a troop of soldiers.
| Some American Cromwell may be forced
| to dissolve the United States senate by
the same method. 1t will be we'll for
the senators if they have care lest they
test the patience of the American peo-
| pie too severely. There is point be-
yond which fOrbearance ceases to be a
virtue, and the senate has almost
reached that point.