The Helena independent., 1894-12-19
THE SENATE.
UniayoTable Report on the Land Forfeiture
Bill and Other Business.

Ill allA PHloF pheNVeeet
Washington. Dec. is.-One OF the first
acts Of the senate to-day was to pass
an appropriation OF 100000 for public
printing, Chairman COckrell said un-
less II was passed the public printing
would stop this evening. Dolph. In re-
porting adversely the general land
grant forfeiture bill. expressed the belief
this congress had not the power 10 for
felt these lands but the rigBl 10 them
was vested in the railroads. Even II
congress had the power TO forfeit them
II would be unjust and lncqultable TO
the railroad companies, Berry, OF Ar
kansas, said the majority In the COM
mlttee for reporting the bill adversely.
/ Mas but one. Five members including
himself. had voted for It's passage. Ia
order To get the bill on the calendar onc
member had changed his vote and had
consented 10 the adverse report for that
purpose. He declared the senate ought
to pass the bill, and said the railroads
were not entitled To one foot OF land.
Gallinger, OF New Hampshire, pre-
ssnted a resolution Inviting the annex
alton OF Canada. Gaillnger said IL was
written by "A strong advocate OF CONT
mental union. n member for nine years
Of the dominion parliament, ana now
connected with IA New York paper. He
asked the reference Of the resolution 10
the committee on foreign affairs.
Lodge introduced "A resolution calling
on the president for the correspondence
in the extraditlon case OF Gen. Ezeta.
and asked for its present confederation.
but Gray, OF Delaware, objected.
Hill, OF New York, then made a speech
favoring changes In the rules ofthe sen-
ate, 10 expedite business. lie said: The
sentiment OF the country manifested
through the press, rostrum and other
avenues through which public opinion
Is usually communicated, seems 10 de-
sire the adoption OF some new methods
OF procedure here whereby necessary
. legislation may better be facilitated. .
the sessions Of congress may be mate
rally shortened and the best interests
! Of the country, 80 interviewer with or
largely affected by congressional action,
may be preserved In their normal condl-
tion. The demand for u change IL not
limited by any party environments, IL
Is not sought merely 10 secure partisan
advantages, IL does not challenge either
the patriotism or integrity OF the senate
itself, but IL reflects "A deep conviction
that time is unnecessarily wasted. that
useful legislation Is at times unreason-
ably restricted.
81 assert that the privilege OF unllm-
tied debate In legislative body ls In
1
right and power OF legislation. Such
a condition OF affairs naturally forces
compromises and concessions OF doubt
ful propriety as a condition OF any legls-
lation. II Is an open secret, or at least
II ls largely believed that during the re-
cent tarin debate, many concessions
were made and amendments accepted
To the bill for the very purpose Of
avoiding intermlnable debate, which
was threatened by some OF the minority.
II is believed the present affords an Op-
portunity for the accomplishment of
the proposed innovation. especially
whore there Is not pending In the SEN
ate a general political measure upon
which unusual interest Is centered and
demanding protracted discussion.
1T is wise to anticipate the future
and folly to shut our eyes 10 the signs
OF the times. II is NJ certain as any
thing In political affairs. if our republl-
can friends obtain control OF this body
and desire 90 enact important leglsla-
ton 10 carry out their principles. they
viii boldly amend the rules TO enable
them 10 do II promptly. and their re-
lucthnce To Join with MS now In framing
reasonable rules 10 regulate debate
leads Ia the sus. .picion that they intend
something altogether more radical and
sweeping than anything we have pro-
voked,"
The senator argued ih favor OF count
ing n quorum and closed by declaring
no silly cry OF "Gag-law" should pre-
vent an amendment 90 the rule.
At the conclusion of Hills speech
Harris gave notice he would call up the
shiloh Park bin tomorrow. aud Turpie
resumed his speech ON the Nicaragua
bnt
without waiting the conclusion ~
Turpic's speech. the senate at ans y.
m went into executive session and AZ
! l.g5 H. IN adjourned,