Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-18
4 HEATED DEBATE Resulted in the Senate From an
 Effort TO FILL A VACANCY On the Finance Committee Hill Raises His Usual
 Objections.

AdiA dblcuuduC6 Ol beudlOES db LuO OPSbAhS of the days session. As soon as the journal was read Mr. Harris, acting chair man of the finance committee, moved that the senate fill the vacancy on the finance committee occasioned by the death of the late Senator Vance of North Carolina by the appointment of tue senator from Cali fornia, Mir. White.
 MT. Chandler objected to the consdera- tion of the motion now. It was really resolution, and as such it should go over until tomorrow under the rule.
 ''I take it, said Mr. Harris, ''that this is privileged motion, and is not subject to thernle as to ordinary resolutions" ; "Has the senator any authority for that proposilion?" asked MT. Chandler.
 ''It is privileged, said Mir. Harris; ''in the fact that it looks to the organization of this body.''
 ''It is rather late in the day." said Mir. Chandler, sneeringly, 'sto talk about the organization of this body. The rules re. quire the resolution to go over one day un- der one objection. The vacancy has ex- isted for months, and now, as the session is approaching it's close, it is proposed to fill it."
 ''It Is not necessary, MT. Aldrich said, ito make any argument In favor of the pO5lttOu tdhSN Oy th0 run 4NcW Hampshire. l take it for granted that we will not enter now on revolutionary pro- ceedlng in matter of this kind, and l be- Iieve there will be resistance to any such revolutionary process. But presume that the rules of the senate will be carried out, and take it for granted that the presiding officer makes no further suggestion.
 sfMy motion, ,'' said MT. Harris, "looks to the completion of the organization of this body, and is not in my opinion sub ject to the objection which the senator from New Hampshire makes. It is with pro- found astonishment that hear such an objection from the other side of the cham Der. During the eighteen years that have had the honor of holding seat on this floor, no matter which party was in have named at will, without objection, criticism or question, such committee rep resentatives as they were entitled to, and no voice was ever heard on this side of the chamber to object to this arrangement, and this side of the chanlber uo matter which tered a word Of complaint. This is the moot revolutionary Of all the revolutionary ideas that ever heard suggested since have had the honor of holding a seat on this floor. Let the chair decide the ques- ton as the chair thinks the parliamentary law demands, but l cannot refrain from putting on record the facts as l have stated them and the expression of my profound astonisbme and if were to indulge my self would put on record language that would not, perhaps, be altogether parlia- mentary.'
 MT. Hill reinforced MT. Chandler. 'If the caucus agreement,'' MT. Hill said, with show of passion, ''is to be rent in twain and if new bills are to be passed in sections desire to bring to the attention of the senate certain amendments to these bills. desire to have a vote of this body upon propositions which were voted down not because they were disapproved, but be- cause senators felt that they could not vote according to their judgment and con- science. feel bound, if all caucus agree ments are to be cast aside, to present these questions again for the consideration of the senate. These bills have been referred to committee of this body against my vote. am willing to have them taken up and dis or an adverse report from the finance com u1ittee. l need not remind the senate of the complexion of that committee. will not remind you that there was a majority of it against the income tax. And if they had felt at liberty to vote according to their judgment and conscience there would have been an adverse report to that portion of the bill. What are you seeking to do today? To pack that committee in order that my proposition for the repeal of the income tax shall come before the senate with an adverse report? Heretofore in the appointment to vacancies on committees the democratic members of this body have consulted. When vacancies were filled the other day on the commerce and other com-- mittees we were called together in confer ence, and the so-called steering committee submitted to our judgment certain names before they were brought into the open senate. l have heard of no such consulta- tion now. The democratic members of this senate have not been called together, but without my Knowledge, without any op- portunity for consultation, it is proposed suggestion of-I don't know by whom possibly of the steering committee. l may assume that to be the case. l don't know why different course is sought to be pur- sued in the filling of this important va cancy from that pursued in the filling of those other vacancies. As representa- tive of a great and populous state the most populous state in the union I might have been permitted to suggest that might have been consulted. do not propose now to speak of the complex ion of the present steering committee or of the finance committee. I will wait and speak of that matter hereafter if 1t shall be necessary. 1 now address myself to the particular question of this resolution. defy the gentleman to point out the rule which says the filling of vacancy on coinmittee is a matter of privilege. Let let us have consultation as before. agree with the senator from Tennessee that this is our matter and lot that of the other side of the chamber. 1t is matter which we should dispose of ourselves. I regret to see thrown into the senate the idea that the other side should be permitted substan- tialfy to select Q democratic member Of Q