New-York tribune., 1896-02-05
SENATORS PASS A GAG RULE
POWER GIVEN TO CUT OFF DEBATE SUM
( MARILY on ANY BILL.
ELLSWORTH AND RAINES. THE PLATT LEADERS,
PROVIDE WAY FOR sTIFLTNG oP-
POSITION TO CONSOLIDATION OR
ANYTHING ELSE THEY MAY
CONSIDER DESIRABLE.


CONSIDER DESIRABLE.
tFRoM REGULAR coRREsP oNpEHT or THE TRIBUNE
Albany, Feb. 4-senators Ellsworth. Lexow
and Ranes the Platt leaders made their prepa-
ratons to-day for forcing the Greater NewYork
bill any other measure which they especially
favor through the Senate without permitting
more than two hours' debate Never before has
such gag rule been adopted by the State Sem
ate 1t puts It in the power of the majority al
most to prevent the minority from uttering Its
sentiments as to any BILL howsoever important.
This revolutionary policy adopted, OF
course under plea OF partisan necessity. but. as
a matter Of fact, there no such necessity,
the Democratic minority being so small that its
resistance to any political measure. even the
resistance Of long speeches, could not be effectual.
Besides. the majority already possessed In the
closure rules Of last year a sufficiently drastic
method Of dealing with an obstructive minority.
The hours OF debate after closure was decreed
unnecessarily shortened. The rules adopt
ed to-day will be menace, not to the Democratic
minority. but TO all independent Republicans who
do not take their orders from Thomas G. Plat
or from any one else. The new rules make the
following provisions:
Upon a report from the Committee on Rules.
which committee may 81 ut any time, a motion to
bring the Senate to direct vote upon the I'm
mediate question or questions on whcn II mas @ Ieen
debate is ordered on any proposition on Which there
has been no debate Il shall be IN order 10 debate
the proposition to be voted on for TWO hours. one
half Of such time 10 bo given to debate IN oppcsi-
uon 10 such proposition
The Committee on Rules has its members
Senators Ellsworth. Ranes and Cantor. Ellis
worth and Ralnes therefore. have all legis!a-
tlon in the hollows OF their hands. Such bills
they declare closure upon come almost I'M
rnediately before the Senate.
The independent men among the Republican
Senator's. unfortunately. did not see that their
own liberty WAS mcnacel. well az that of the
Democrats and they voted with the machine
Republicans in favor OF the new rules. II may
he predicted now that within month they VIII
regret their course. and viii find the closure
rule applied 20 measures which they VIII think
should be more fully debated.
Senator Cantor. the Democratic leader, OF
course. FOR political reasons. opposed the new
closure rule. II was an uncxampled rule ne
declared. II would stide all debate. II Mr.
Cantor had not been guilty In 1892 II passing
closure rules which shut off the Republicans
from propor debate Of legislative measures. his
speech would have had more effect. Hut, never
thcless, his assertion that the present e'suGs .l
rule is the seycrest the state senate mas ever
had was u,t controverted.
Senator Grady assailrd the rules as aggressive
beyond measure. and tyraunical beyond express
sion. Senator's Ellsworth and lAines' ne ne-
J.
could at any time close Gebat" on railroad
or an Insurance measure. "A committee oi l'o-
hy!sts sitting for week." said he. could not
IN the English language And words more suited
for their purposes han the words used Ior tHls
proposed closure rule
senator Ralnes defended the closure rule as
being necessary f0r the protection oi the majority
The people. n saiG. sent the majority 70 Al,
hanv 70 lcglslate and not 10 Sc bills defeated
with endless talk by the minority. senator I'M
had introduced closure rule In the United
states Senate In the List Congress such a ruic
Az the present one was adopted by the House OF
Reprosentatiycs TIE minority would be per-
miitcl to express It's sentiments. but not To de-
feat legislation.
senator Lcxow a's) defended the Jules as
necessary FOR the advancement of l"@slai''n
The senate then. by a vote ~ 80 10 -. adopted
the rules n" Republicans voting IN the aillEina-
tive and the Democrats I'm tn" negative.
The Senate today passed these bills:
Senator Ellswor,h's providing for the construc-
ton u cycl- paths IN Nt-ara County ana Tor tax
Inc ~ cycles from Jp cents tu 81 q lctr
Senator lf'gtie's. autnorz.nc thr f.-h"rrs ''anH
and Forest &. mnls-ion 90 hear ana determine con-
troiersies regarding 'he leasing ~ ihc ahdS uhleT
water for the cultivation of shell l-H . -
senator farsouss. amending iur act aufhoUZihS
the use Of the 3ycrs automatic ballot machine.