Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-18
HILL ON THE RULES
The New York Senator Strongly Ad-
vocates a Change.
he BELIEVES IN COUNTING A QUORUM
Debate on the Carlisle Currency
Bill Begins.
QUESTIONS FOR MIR. SPRINGER


One of the first acts of the Senate today
was to pass an appropriation bill of 100000
for pub!ic printing. Chairman Cockreli of
the appropriations committee saying that IL
was absolutely necessary, or the public
printing would come to a stop this evening.
Mr. Dolph, in reporting adversely gen.
eral land grant forfeiture bill, expressed the
belief that Congress had not the power to
forfeit these lands, but that the right to
them was vested in the railroad; even IL
Congress had the power to forfeit them 1t
would be unjust and inequitable to the rail-
road companies
Mr.. Berry (Ark.) said, in reply to Mr.
Dolph's remarks, that the majority in COM
mittee for reporting the bill adversely was
but one, and that five members, including
himself, had voted favorably for its pass
age In order TO get the bill on the calendar
one member had changed his vote and had
consented to an adverse report for that
purpose. He declared that the Senate ought
10 pass the bill, and said that the railroads
We're not entitled to one foot of the land.
On motion of Mr.. Carey WyoD, the Sem
ate passed the bill to perfect title 10 the
town site of Yuma, Col.
The Annexation of Canada.
Mr. Gailinger (N.H) presented a resolu-
tion inviting the annexation of Canada. In
r..
1t had been written by one of the Test
known subjects of Great Britain, a strong
advocate of continental union, a member
for nine years of the dominion parliament
and now connected with of the New
York papers. He (Gallinger) had no doubt
of the ultimate political union of Canada
and the United States, and he would DO
anything in his power at any time to fur
ther its consummation. He asked the ref
erence of the resolution to the committee
on foreign relations.
Mr.. Lodge introduced a resolution calling
on the President for the correspondence in
the extradition case of Gen. EZeta, ana
asked for its present consideration, but Mr..
Gray Oel) objected.
MIR. Hill on the Rules.
Mr.. Hill (N.Y) then took the floor and
made a speech on the rules of the Senate.
He said:
The sentiment of the country manifest
ed through the press, pulpit, the rostrum
and every other avenue through which pub
lie opinion is usually communicate ted, seems
to desire the adoption of some new meth
DDS of procedure here whereby necessary
legislation may be better facilitated, the
sessions of Congress may be materially
shortened and the best interests of the
country, so interviewer with or largely af-
fected by congressional action may be more
securely preserved In their normal con-
ditions. The demand for a change is not
limited by any party environments; IL is
not sought merely to secure partisan ad-
vantages; it does not challenge either the
patriotism the integrity of the Senate
itself, but 1t reflects the deep conviction
that time is unnecessarily wasted that USE
full legislation Is at times unreasonably OBJ
structed and that the conclusions of ma
jority do not find adequate and prompt ex-
preston in the enactment of laws essential
to the welfare of the people.
ut Is due to the country, and II is due
to the Senate itself, it is due to the CO.
ordinate and popular branch of Congress,
that the abuses which are possible and
frequent, and the delays which are in
should be remedied at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
Inconsistent Compromises.
II assert that the privilege of unlimited
debate in a legislative body is inconsistent
with and destructive of the right and
power Of legislation. Such condition Of
affairs naturally forces compromise and
concessions of doubtful propriety as a con-
dition of any legislation being permitted.
1t is an open secret, or at least it is largely
believed, that during the recent tariff de-
bate many concessions were made and
amendments accepted to the bill for the
very purpose of avoiding the intermina-
BILE debate which was threatened pro-
posed by some of the minority. However
this may have been, it may be safely as
serted that the tariff bill finally per-
fected would have been materially dif-
ferent in many particulars had there ex-
listed in our rules some appropriate pro-
vision whereby a majority could have fixed
an early date for final vote thereon.
1T is believed that the present affords an
opportune time for the accomplish hment
of the proposed innovation especially when
there is not now pending in the Senate
eny general political measure upon which
unusual interest is centered and demanding
protracted discussion.
Anticipating the Future.
1T is wise to anticipate the future and
folly to shut our eyes to the signs Of the
times. 1t is as certain anything i'm po-
itical affairs can be that when our re-
publican friends obtain control of this
body and desire to enact important legisla-
ton to carry out their principles they will
boldly amend the rules to enable them
to do 1T promptly, and their reluctance to
join with us now in framing reasonable
rules to regulate debate leads TO the sus-
picion that they intend something alto
gether more radical and sweeping than
anything we have proposed. The path Of
safety lies in moderate and conservative
action now while the opportunity remains
to US, thereby satisfying the demands
of the people, who have become impatient
at our delays and disguised at our ina
bility to act promptly at critical periods.
Besides there is another view of our
duty which presents itself, and which
ought not to be ignored.
Opposed to Inaction.
THE President in his recent annual
message has seen fit to recommend certain
legislation pertaining to the tarin-a few
material notifications of the existing law.
l believe that these recommendations are
entitled to consideration. But spirit Of
lethargy seems to have crept over this
body, creating the general impression that
nothing Is to be enacted this session Of
political nature, at least nothing TO
which the minority does not consent
am strenuously opposed to any such policy
of inaction.
I'VE owe II to the country, We owe 1t to
the party to which profess allegiance.
and we owe 1t to ourselves that before the
control passes from us we should en-
deayor to fully redeem our pledges and to
correct any mistakes which may have been
committed"
Some financial legislation seems desira.
tle but how is it expected that during this
short session, and in the absence OF any
power to force vote, there can be en-
acted a financial measure embodying demr
ocratic policy and views unless 1T shall %
framed so colorless as to be valueless, or
be shaped entirely satisfactory to our re-
publican friends, and therefore probably
unacceptable to the democracy.
30 OnDrum.