The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-23

From the Senators and Applause from
the Galleries Bankruptcy Bill |
Taken up-The House Adjourns in Mem |
ory of Representative Miiliken.
SENATE.
Washington, April 21.-The maturing |
of the tariff bill was indicated by the |
deluge of petitions relating to tarlf |
rates presented to the senate today.
Senator Spooner, republican, Of Wis |
consin, sent bundle containing several |
hundred petitions, urging a re-enact- |
ment o. the Mckinley rates on lumber. ,
Senator Morgan reported favorably
from the committee on foreign relations
an amendment to the sundry civil bill
proposing an appropriation OF $oO,OOO
to improve Pearl harbor, Hawaiian is
lands.
Senator Cullom's resolution, intro
duced yesterday, calling on the secre-
tary Of the treasury for information
relative to internal revenue taxes on
distilled spirits was agreed to.
This cleared the way for an unexpect-
ed and very breezy speech from the
new senator from Illinois, Senator Ma
son, which received the close attention
Of senators and aroused two out bursts
from the galleries. 1t occurred on the
resolution Of Senator Mason. intro
duced yesterday, directing the COM
mittee on rules to report a rule prOvid-
ing for the closing of debate and for
the previous question. He said he de-
sired to have the resolution go to the
committee on rules, but he gave notice
that unless some report was fOrthcom-
ing at an early day, he would move to
have the committee discharged so that
the resolution could be brought before
the senate. 1t was agreed on all handS,
proceeded the senator with vein OF
sarcasm, that the United States senate
was a great body. That was the view
particularly of those within the body
and on the payroll. But every one
knew also that it was the only legisla-
tive body in existence incapable of DO
ing business. He said he hoped he
would be forgiven for these reflections,
for he was still in the kindergarten
class" and he recognized that he was
thrashing over old straw; but he pro-
posed to keep thrashing over this old
straw during the next six years in the
senate. He referred to the approach
ing tariff debate. The bill would be be-
fore the senate soon. 1t replaced an act
which promised a tariff for revenue"
and gave a tariff for deficiency 1t
was now proposed to give protection to
American industries and to the Ameri-
can laboring man. And yet the bust
ness interests were trembling on the
verge of ''despondency and democracy
because they knew the fate of the
bill depended, not on the majority, but
on the minority. Every one Knows,
he declared, that while We profess to
be a government by the people, when
we reach the highest body in the gov
ernment there is a rule OF the MINOR
ity'' He glanced around the chamber
and said as he observed the smile on
the faces of some of his cOllea CUES.
They all liked power, and as soon as
man entered these senate doors his en-
ergies were directed to retaining power
in the old way. Il want to deliver a
message from the people before this
hope Of power possesses me- exclaimed
the senator and the galleries gave re-
sponse by hearty applause.
Senator Mason spoke of the paralysis
in the senate on all great questions.
Here. at the close of the nineteenth
century the great question was pre-
Sented whether international offerings
We're to be settled by arbitration or by
the methods of FitzsimmOns and Cor
bett. The senate had listened to
speeches. but in this as in all other
questions there was no action. The
senator from Alabama (MOrgan) had
presented a resolution as to Cuba, in
volving the great Cuban question
handed down to US by Grover IL
But where was that resolution? 1t
was impossible to tear down the golden
god Of the senate rules in order to act
on Cuba. The senator asserted that
there was majority of insurgents
in this body; a majority was ready to
~y1 1lr ~ ,fv,nv f1y
in control. 1t was time to do away
with these barnacle rules. L would
not scuttle the old ship he exclaimed
vigorously, but would like to put her
in drydock long enough to have her
bottom scraped." and there was an
other round of applause as Mr.. Mason
concluded.
Senator Hoar replied briefly, pointing
out that the other branch of congress
was more open to criticism than the sen
ate. He was in accord with Senator
Mason, however. on the need of new
rules.
Senator German promptly moved to
refer the resolution to the rules COM
mittee.
Senator Mason protested saying this
committee on rules was recognized as
the altogether lovely graveyard to
which are committed the bodies Of de-
The roll was called on Senator Cor
mans motion to refer and it prevailed
30 to 24.
At 2 O'Clock the bankruptcy bill was
taken up.
Senator Nelson secured an agree
Inent that the voting on the substitute
and all a,nendn ents to the bill be f. EN'l
at O'Clock p. rs, tomorrow.
An amendment proposed by Sen--,or
Turpie was agreed to, emitting public
corporations from the operation of the
bill.
At 4 O'Clock the bill was laid aside
and the senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
The chaplain of tke house, Mr.. Cou
den, in his prayer today gave thanks
that this nation was at peace with all
others and prayed that higher and
hoIier methods than war might prevail
everywhere He prayed for the friends
of Representative Mflliken, of Maine,
who died Sunday and whose desk was
draped in black and covered with