The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09
Growing Sentiment Among Republics
ans i'm Favor Of Adopting Some
Form of Cloture.
VIEWS OF Mr.. FAIRBANKS
THINKS PROMPT PASSAGE OF THE
TARIFF BILL NECESSARY.
Republican Estimates of the Revenue
TO BE Derived from the Amend-
ed DingIey Measure.
Special to the indianapolis Journaz.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, May S-"Here is a BILL"
said Senator Fairbanks, picking up copy
of the Senate tariff bill, which, if Congress
could pass tomorrow instead of a month
from or two months, would save this
country $1000O0,000"
The senator. in his remark reflected the
intelligent and fully-formed judgment Of a
very large majority of Republican senators.
The conviction that every days delay in
reaching a vote on the bill is sinking deep
into the Senate understanding, and it Is
becoming hourly palmer that tremendous
effort will be made to force early action
and discourage talk. Whether this purpose
will be successfully carried out depends on
the majority If majority wants to put
limit debate in can do it in an hours
time by a method adopted by the speaker
enforcing cloture in the English House OF
Commons in 1881. and something of the
sort is likely to occur in the Senate OF the
United States if discussion goes beyond
reasonable period.
Vice President Hobart is confessedly in
favor of putting the power of limiting de-
bate in the hands of majority, and he is
known to be earnestly studying the parlia-
mentary situation and getting thoroughly
posted on points that might have a bearing
on the sensational departure from Senate
usages and traditions suggested. A strong
party is forming behind the Vice President
which has not fallen under the influence of
Senate traditions, and which believes that
the Senate is behind the times in not pro-
viding a way by which it can do business;
that it is not necessary that the Senate
should sacrifice everything for the sake of
retaining the veto power (for that is what
| 1aI,o nGl. hnt uh a
country demands certain legislation and the
business Of the whole country waits on it.
sharp action can be compelled; that an end
less output of language is not necessarily
wisdom, and that the material interests of
TO- 900 human beings are of greater inn
portance than the opinion and feelings of a
few Old gentleman who object to having
their talking privilege cut off or curtailed.
In the opinion of one of the very best au-
thorites on parliamentary law in the
United States, if not the leader of them all,
the President Of the Senate, with a ma
jority back of him, can put motion at
any time to fix limit ON the debate on any
pending proposition, and when carried exe-
cute the will of the majority. He could re-
fuse to recognize senators arising to fur
ther debate after that limit had expired,
and that would end the matter. If this
plan should be carried into effect several
eminent and respectable gentlemen might
be much startled, but no other injurious
results would be likely to follow. Senator
Mason stands ready to make the necessary
motion if the programme as outlined
should be agreed upon and d ma
| jority is found ready to go through
with it. This contingency is be-
| ing continually discussed among senators
and sentiment is slowly, but surely, crys-
| talizipg in favor of an organization strong
enough to control Senate action and put
the brakes apparently irrepressible
| disposition to talk on forever wherever
| and whenever such vocal practice is found
| to be detrimental to the public interests.
This revolutionary spirit was never strong
er and more aggressive in the Senate than
it is to-day and the necessity of lodging
| legislative power with the Senate majority
has become an issue that is forcing itself
| to the front as of first Importance. 1t will
be in the foreground Of popular thought
| every minute of the tariff debate and the
| Senate cannot escape from it. Nothing is
more generally discussed in Washington to-
| day.