The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-19
HILL FOR CL0TURE RULE
THE SENATOR MAKES 4 BOLD STAND
FOR PANLIAMENThRY REFORM
Mr.. Hosr Agrees That the Rules should be
Changed, But Doesn't Like Hits keso.
lution-Nicarsgu Canal Bili.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. iS.-The DILL
appropriatins $4,000 to supply an urgent
deficiercy for public printing and binding
was received from the House, and WAS
passed without reference 10 the Commit
tee on appropriations. Mr.. Cockrell, the
chairman OF that committee, stating that
the bill had been considered Informally.
and had been unanimously agreed 10, as.
unless II we're passed to-day. the work
at the Printing Office would have to stop
this evening.
Mr.. Lodge offered a resolution callinS
on the President for the recoyd OF the
extraction proceedings in the case OF
General Ezeta, and II went over tlii to-
mol row.
MR.. HILL ADVOCATES cLorURE.
Mr.. Hill called up his resolution for a
clOture rule, and addressed the Senate ia
advocacy OF It. He said that the senti-
ment OF the country seemed 10 desire the
adoption OF some such rule. The demand
for a change was not LIMITED by aay par
" environments. lt was not sought mere
~ 10 secure partisan advantages; but IL
reflected the deep CONVICTION that time
was unnecessarily wastSd; that useful leg
isldtion was, at tines unreasonabiy OBJ
structed, and that the conclusions OF y
majority did not find adeQuate and prompt
expression. These yiews were widespread,
and could not longer well be ignored tie
asserted n at the prlvilege OF unlimited
debate In a legislative body was neon
sistent with, and destructive Of the right
and power OF legislation. An inability 10
stop debate was an inability TO legislate
at all. IL was significant fact that
some method of CLOSING debate existed in
the principal legislative bodies OF every
civilized government in the world, except
IN the English House OF Lords and the
United States Senate. But the House OF
Lords was surely not body from which
the United States Senate should pattern,
especially in view of its loss OF public
confidence rs defiance OF public senti-
ment. and its wcil-known general antipa-
thy To progressive legislation In the inter-
est of the masses. It's rules were por-
tion of its methods for obstructng pop
ular reform.
FOR PARLIAMENTARY REFORM
So far as the Senate WAS concerned.
parliamentary reform was the need of the
hour The present afforded an OpDortuno
time for the accomplishment Of the pro-
posed innovation. The course was as
open now as II ever would be for such "a
changc. The responsible ma aiortty in the
senate should not abdiCate its functions
without such a change Of rule as would
be retained after the Democratic control
or The Senate ceased The measure OF
their fairness and wisdom now would be-
Their surety for just treatment hereafter.
Ne silly cry of gag law no false AS
sertlon OF "suppressing debate" no idlo
clamor about the tyranny Of the ma
lorlty' which always ignored the tyranny
OF the minority. should be permitted To
deter senators from their plain duty In
tne premises. 4 ne continuation OF mo
cloture" peant compromise on every
measure u meant no legislation without
the consent of the minority II mennt
continued inertion to the. end. IL the first
necessary steps were taken the SenateS
pathway would be cleared for action.
Mr.. Hill occupied about an hour In the
delivery OF his speech.
SENATOR HoAR's VIEWS
He was followed by Mr.. Hoar. who OK
pressed his fun agreement with Mr.. Hilfs
view of the necessity of change Of the
rules Of the Senate.
~ was one OF the grayest public puta-
tions likely to arise. and ought To bc dealt
with with care and circumspeCtiOn equil
to what should be an important amend,
ment 10 the Constitution Of fhe Initcd
States. He thought that Mr.. Hllrs pro-
posed rule was defective. The bcst
scheme which occurred TO him UioaD was
that, after a particular time. the senate
should be authorized TO order the pre-
Vous question, ana that, after that every
member Of the body should have an Op-
portunity to address the Senate for some
tXe,. time. perhaps, at least, one hour'
That would bring the debate 10 an end in
one hundred hours, II there were one hum
dred senator's and each wished TO speak.
1HE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL
After further discussion MIR. nhl's reso-
luton went over until tomorrow, and
the consideration of the Nicaragua Canal
bin was resumed
Mr. Turpie continued his argument tbe-
gan Yesterday against the bill lie dis
russed the concession held by the COM
pany. and said that It's forfeiture was
possible If the canal We're not completed
within ten years from 1887.
The provisions regarding those matters
were exceedingly strict The cOnce ssion
given In 1881 would be absolutely for
feited in 1897; and what title, he asked
did the company have IN The canal rolteY
Certainly not Zee sutple-nOt even an
easement. The company had nolhlng 10
mortgage and nothing TO sell. 1he con-
cessiOn gave the company no llile d.id
no sort OF property rights
Much of Alr. Turpies speech was De
voted TO the engineering difficulties in mo
way OF the enterprise, particularly as 10
the impracticabilty OF maintaining earth~
en- embankments I'm tropical or suO-iropi-
cal regions, and 10 the unreliabihty, as ne
conteuded Of the estimate OF cost.
Without concluding his speech, MF iur-
ple Welded 10 motion TO proceed t0
executive business, and at 40 j. VI. the
senate adjourned until tomorrow.
The pcTsion apr Jpriatlon Dill wac re-
Dorted 10 the Senate from the committee
To-day lust as IL passed the House,
The Military Academy appropriation
bill was also reported to the Senate
with two amendments cutting down tho
bill by sal 500.