The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-12-19
POWER WOULDN'T Vote
HE TELLS HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mineral Land eiil and the Rail-
road Land Grant Forfeiture
Diil Get Tangled Up and
Gauge q Row

WASHINGTON, Dee. 1&-One Of tho first
acts Of the senate to-day was to pass the
appropriation bill for $4,000 for public
printing, Chairman Cockrell Of the appro.
priations committee saying II was abso.
luisg necessary or public printing would
come to . stop this evening.
Dolph. In reporting adversely the gen.
sral land grant forfeiture bill, expressed
the hslief that congress had not the power
10 forfeit thsse lands; but the right 10
them was vested in the railroads. Even II
congress had the power to forfeit them II
would bs unjust and inequitablo to tho
railroad companies.
Berry Of Arkansas said tho majority of
the committee was In favor Of reporting
the bill adversely but one. Five members.
includiug himself, had voted for its pass-
a&s. In order TO get the bill on the caien.
dar one member had changed his vote
and had eonsentsd to an adverse report
for that purross. He declared the senate
ought 70 pass the bill and SAID the rail.
roads were not entitled to one foot Of
land.
Ths vote on reporting tho bill stood -
follows, Ayss-Bsrry, Pacco. Martin,
McLaurin, Allen. Nays-vllas, Dolph,
PsttisFsw. Carey, Dubois. Not voting
Power. Allen Afterwards changed bis
vote 20 - to permit the bill to be reported
adversely, ~ that appeared 10 be the only
way Of getting Il reported at all.
Power declined 10 vote either way. He
said after the adjournment Of the commit.
tee that hs was opposed to the bill, but be
took exception to the antagonism to his
mineral land bill by some Of the western
senators who opposed the land forfeiture
bill, and be took his position to-day on
that account.
On motion Of Carey Of Wyoming the
senate passed the bill 10 perfect tho title
10 the townsite OF Yuma, Col.
Callingse Of New Hampshire presented
Q resolution inviting the annexation al
Canada. Gallinger said II was written b.
. strong advocate Of q continental union,
o member for nine years OF the dominion
parliament and now connected with q
New York paper. He asked the references
Of the resolution to the committee on
foreign affairs.
Lodge introduced Q resolution calling on
The prssldsnt for the coerospon,leucs 10
- szAsNAition case Of General Ezsta and
asksd fee tts present consideration. Oh
jsction made.
Hill Of New York then made q spescf
favoring the changes In the rules Of the
senate to expedite business.
Hill said: "Ths sentiment Of the coun'
try, manifested through tho press. ros.
tsum and the other avenues through
which public opinion 10 usually communi-
Gated, seems to desire the adoption ol
somo new method Of procedure herl
whereby the necessary legislation may
hetter b facilitated; the sessions Of CON
eress may b materially shortened and
the best interests Of tho country 20 inter.
woven with or largely affected by con
eressional action may be more seriously
preserved in their normal condition. The
demand for . change 10 not limited By
any party environments. II 10 not sought
merely to secure partisan advantages. II
does not challsnse either the patriotism
or integrity Of the senate itself. but 1t 70
fleets the deep conviction that the time |,
unnecessarily wasted, that useful legisla
tion 10 at times unreasouably 10
stricted. I assert that the privilege
Of unlimited debate in this legislative
body 10 inconsistent with and destructive
Of the right and power of legislation. Such
o condition Of affairs naturally force,
compromises and concessions Of doubtful
propsioty ~ condition Of any legislation
before permitted. II 10 On open secret. OF
at least Il 10 largely beloved, that during
tho recent tariff debate many concessions
were made and amendments accepted Ia
the bill for the very purpose Of avoiding
intermluablo debate winch was threat
ened by some Of the minority. II IL be.
lieved tho present ttme affords IN oppor-
tuuity for the accomplishment Of the pro.
posed innovation, especially whom there
10 not pending In the senate any general
political measure upon which unusual in
tsesst 10 centsrsd and demanding pro.
tracted discussion.
ut 10 wise to anticipate tho future and
folly to shut our eyes to the signs Of the
times. II 10 as certain as anything in po.
litical Affairs, IL our republican friend,
obtain control Of this body and desire te
enact important legislation TO carry oul
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
tho debate leads to tho suspicion that
they intend something altogether more
radical and sweeping than anything we
have proposed"
Tue senator argued In favor Of counting
o quorum, and closed by declaring nc
silly cry Of ''eag law" should prevent the