The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-18
SESSION OF The SENATE.
Mr.. Harris Seemingly Casts a Fire
brand Among the Members.

OCEdL5 SnouAO consult BEFORE Act
ing-He Says the Tariff Legislation
Has Been Marked by "Blunder
Upon Blunder."
Washington, Aug II There was a
fair attendance OF senators at the opening
of the days session. As soon as the
journal was read, MIR. Harris, acting for
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 the senator from Cal
ifornia, MIR. White
Mr. Chandler objected TO the consider
alton Of the motion now 1t was really a
resolution, and, as such, it should go over
TILL tomorrow, under the rules.
Il take it" said Mr.. Harris, that this
is privileged motion, and is not subject
to the rule as to ordinary resolutions"
Has the senator anv authority for that
propositions" asked MIR Chandler.
1T is privileged, d" said Mr. Harris, Gin
the fact that it looks to the organization
of this BODY"
ut is rather late in the day." said Mr..
Chandler, sneeringly, "to talk about the
organi alton of this body The rules re-
quire resolutions to 20 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."
1T in not necessary" Mr. Aldrich said,
ITO make any argument in favor of the
position taken by the senator from New
| Hampshire. ] take it for granted that
we will not enter now on a revolutionary
proceeding in a matter of this kind, and
l believe there will be resistance to any
such revolutionary process. But pre-
sumo that the rules of the Senate will be
carried out; and l take it for granted
that the presiding officer needs no fur
ther suggestion. n.----~~-
My motion, said Mr.. Harris, Clocks
to the completion Of the organization of
this body, and is not, in my opinion, sub
lect TO the objection which the senator
from New Hampshire makes. II is with
profound astOnishment that ] hear such
an objection from that side of the cham
Der. During the eighteen years that
have had the honor Of holding a seat on
this floor, no matter which party was in
the majority, members on the other side
have named at will, without OBJ ection
criticism or question, such committee
representatives as they were entitled to-
And no voice was ever heard on this side
suggest anything contrary to their
wish. And this side of the cham
Der, no matter which party was in
| the majority, has named without objection,
without suggestion and without word
of complaint, its representatives on the
various committees of this body. This is
the most revolutionary of all the revolu-
tionary ideas that l ever heard suggested
since ! have had the honor of holding a
I ont 10 OF hn oh ufsa 4,
! the question as the chair thinks the par
| liamentary law demands. But l cannot
| refrain from putting on record the facts
| as | have stated them, and the expression
| of my profound astonishment; and If
| were TO indulge myself, | would put on
record language that would not, perhaps,
! be altogether parliamentary" Hill reen-
! forced Chandler.
! "If the caucus agreement" Mr.. Hill
! said with a show of passion, sis TO be rent
! in twain, and if new bills are to be passed
! in sections, desire to bring TO the atten-
| tiOn of the Senate certain amendments TO
these bills ! desire TO have vote of this
body upon propositions which were voted
! down, not because they were disappro we'd,
| but because senators did not vote accord
| ing to their judgment and conscience
! feel bound, il all caucus agreements are
now TO be cast aside, to present these
questions again for the consideration of
the Senate These bills have been re-
r ferred to a committee Of this body against
my vote ] am willing. TO have them
taken up and disposed of, without
either having favorable or an
adverse report from the linanC G committee.
| need not remind the Senate of the com
pleXion of that committee before ! need
not remind you that there was a ma ority
of II against the income tax. And if they
had felt at liberty 10 vote according TO
their judgment and conscience, there
would have been an adverse report to
that portion of the bill. What are you
mittee 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 va
cancies on committees the democratic
members of this body have been con
suited. When vacancies were filled the
other day on the commerce and other
committees we were called together in
conference, and the so-callcd steering
committee submitted to our judgment GER
tain names before they were brought into
the open Senate. have heard Of no such
consultation now The democratic mem
bers Of this Senate have not been called
together. But without any knowledge,
without any opportunity for consultation,
IL IS proposed LnlS morning 10 NIL t0iS
vacancy at the suggestion OIL don't
know whom possibly of the steering com
mittee. ! may assume that TO 10 be the
case. ] do not know why a different course
is sought 10 be pursued in the filling of
this important vacancy from that pursued
in the filling of those other vacancies
AS a representative Of a great and popu-
lous state-the most populous state
in the union might have been permitted
10 suggest that its interests should have
been consulted. do not propose now to
speak Of the complexion Of the present
steering committee, or Of the finance com
mittee. ! will wait and speak OF that
matter hereafter If IL shall be necessary.
l now address myself 10 the particular
question of this resolution. / defy the
gentleman to point single provision in
the rules which say that the filling of
vacancy on a committee is a matter of
privilege Let the resolution 70 over till
tomorrow, and let US have q cOusuta-
tion, as before. l agree with the senator
from Tennessee, that this is our matter
not that of the other side. II is a matter
which we should dispose Of ourselves. !
regret 10 see thrown into the Senate the
idea that the other side should be per-
mtted substantially 20 select democratic
members Of a committee. We should
settle that on this side. IL Is
wiser that we shall consult
in regard TO this matter 10
can do no harm; and IL may do much
voOd Esiupa tho pounrueurquauf Of thrift