The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-19
HILL AND HOAR IN HARMONY.
The Two Senator's Speak in Favor Of a
ClOtuIe Rule.


Demand for a Change in the Existing
Practice is Not Limited by Party
Environments - Useful Legislation
Un-easonably obstructsd and Time
Wasted Under the Present Rules.
Hoar Admits That a Change Is Needed,
But Regards Hilrs Rule as Defective.
Turpie Again Attacks the Nioaraeua
Canal Bill.
Washington, Dec. is.-In the Senate to.
day the bill appropriating 100000 to sup
ply an urgent deficiency for public print
ing and binding was received from the
House and was passed without references
10 the committee on appropriations-Mr.
Cockrell. chairman Of that committee.
stating that the bill had been considered
informally and had been unanimously
agreed 10. as unless II were passed to-day
the work az the printing ofice would havsS
TO stop this evening
Mr. Lodge. rep. OF Massachusetts,. of
fered resolution, calling on the Presi-
dent for the record OF the extradition pro-
ceedings in the case OF Gen. Ezeta. and 10
went over tiu tomorrow.
Mr. HIN. dem, Of New York called uug
his resolution for a cloture rule, and adj
dressed the Senate in advocacy OF II. Ha
said that the sentiment Of the country
seemed to desire the adoption of some suchs
rule
The demand for change was not linz
tied by any party environment. II was
not sought merely TO secure partisan ad-
vantages, but it reflected the deep convic-
ton that time was unnecessarily wasted.
that useful legislation was at times, un~
reasonably obstructed: and that the con.
clusions OF a majority did not find ade>
quate and prompt expressions Theses
views were widespread and could not lon
ger we'll be ignored. He asserted that
the privilege Of unlimited debate in q
legislative body was Inconsistent with.
and destructive OF, the right and power oe
legislation. An inability to stop debate
was an inability 70 legislate at all,
II was a significant fact that some
method Of closing debate existed in the
principal legislative bodies OF every civ-
ilized government IN the world except in
the English House Of Lords and the Uni
ted States Senate, but the House OF Lords
was surely not a body from which the
| United States Senate should pattern, es-
pecially I'm view OF It's loss or public conf
dence, It's defiance OF public sentiment and
its wen known general antipathies to pro-
gressive legislation in the interest Of the
masses It's rules were a portion OF it's
methods for obstructing popular REFORM
SO far as the Senate was concerned. par
lamentary reform was the need of the
hour. The present afforded an opportune
time for the accomplishment Of the pro-
posed innovation. The course was as open
now as II ever would be for such a
change The responsible majority In sthe
Senate should not abdicate its functions
without such "A change OF rule as would be
retained after the democratic control OF
the Senate ceased. The means of their
fairness and wisdom now would be their
security for just treatment hereafter. No
silly cry Of gag law" no false assertion
of "suppressing debate" no idle clamor
about "the tyranny OF the majority
which always ignored the tyranny OF the
minorty-should be permitted to deter
senator's from their plain duty In the
premises.
The continuation Of mo cloture" meant
compromise on every measure. 1t meant
no legislation without the consent of the
minority, 1t means continued inertion to
the end. If the first necessary step were
taken, the Senate's pathway would be
cleared for action
Mr.. Hill occupied about an hour In the
by Mr.. Hoar. who expressed his fuIH
agreement with Mr. Hilrs view of the
necessity OF a change of the rules of the
Senate. IL was one of the gravest public
questions likely TO arise and ought to
be dealt with care and circumspectiou
equal to what should be bestowed on am
important amendment to the constitu-
tion of the United States. He thought that
Mr.. Hills proposed rule was defective.
The best scheme which occurred to him
CHoar) was that, after a particular time.
the Senate should be authorized to order
the previous question and that after that.
every member OF the body should have
an opportunity to address the Senate for
some fixed time. perhaps, at least, onS
hour. That would bring the debate to an
end in 100 hours If there were ten sena-
tors and each wished to speak.
After another discussion Mr.. Hills res-
olution went over till tomorrow and the
consideration of the Nicaraguan bill was
resumed
Mr. Turpie continued his argument be.
gun yesterday against the bill He dis
cussed the concession held by the COM
pany. and said that its forfeiture was
possible II the canal were not completed
within ten years from 1887. The provisions
re garding those matters were exceeding
~ strict. The concession given in 1887
would be absolutely forfeited in 1897; and
what title, he asked. did the company
have in the canal route, certainly not
fee simple, not even an easement. The
company had nothing TO mortgage and
nothing to sell The concession gave to
the company no title and no sort of prop
erty rights.
Much Of Mr.. Turpie's speech was de- !.
voted to the engineering difficulties in
the way Of the enterprise, particularly as
to the impracticability of maintaining
earthen embankments in tropical or SUBJ
tropical regions, and to the unreliability
as he contended, of the estimates of the
cost.
without concluding his speech, Mr..
Turpie yielded to a motion to proceed
to executive business, and at 4:25 o'clock,
the Senate adjourned until tomorrow.