Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-22
BREEZY AND FULL OF SPICE Was the Maiden Speech of Ma
 son, of Illinois. SCORED THE OLD FOGlES And Severely Criticised the Anticipated Rules
 of the Senate.
A COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN SENATORS
To Represent That Body at the Grant Cere- monies-Bankruptcy Bill Again Civ eran Airing-House Meets fora
 Few Minutes Session.

Washington, April 21.-Senator Mason of Illinois, made his maiden speech in the senate today and signalized it by some breezy criticisms on the antiquated rules of the senate: It wes such va riation from the prosy debate of recent days that the senator was accorded close attention and twice received the hearty applause of the crowded galleries. The maturing of the tariff bill was indicated by the deluge of petitions relating to the tariff rates presented to the senate today. MT. spooner, republican, of Wis corsin, sent a bundle containing several hundred petitions urging a re-enactment of the Mckinley rates on lumber.
 MT Morgan, democrat, of Alabama, re- ported favorably from the committee on foreign rela an amendment to the sundry civil bill proposing an appropria- ton of S50000 to improve Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian islands.
 A resolution of MT. Hawley, repub- lican, of Connecticut, was agreed to duly acknowledging the invitation of Mayor Strong, of New York, to participate in the coming Grant ceremonies and provid- ing committee of fifteen senators to be appointed by the vice president to repre- sent the senate.
 MT. Cullom's resolution introduced yes terday calling on the secretary of. the treasury for information relative to in- terral revenue on distilled spirits, was agreed to.
 This cleared the way for an unexpected and a very breezy speech from the new senator from Illinois, MT. Mason, which aroused cheers from the gallery. It occurred on the resolution of MT Ma son introduced yesterday directing the committee on rules to report rule pro- viding 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 forthcoming at an early day he would move to have the committee discharged so that the res olution could be brought before the sen- ate It was agreed on all hands, pro- ceeded the senator, with view of sar- casm that the United States senate is a great body. This was the view particu- larly of those within the body and on the pay roll. But everyone knew also that 1t was the only legislative body in existence incapable of doing business.
 MT. Mason said he hoped he would be forgiven for these reflections, for he was still in the kindergarten class" and he recognized that he was threshing over old straw But he proposed to keep threshing oyer this old straw during the next six years in the senate.
 MT. Mason referred to the approaching tariff debate. The bill would be before the senate soon. It remained an act which promised a tariff for revenue and gave a tariff for deficiency" It was now proposed to give protection to American industries and to the Ameri- can laboring man. And yet, the business interests were trembling on the verge of "despondeney and democracy, because they knew the fate of the bill depended met on the majority, but on. the minority. Everyone knoWns, he declared, that while we profess to be a government by the, people when we reach the highest body in the government there is a rule of the minority.
 MT Mason glanced around the cham Der and said he noticed smiles on the faces of some of his colleagues. They all liked power and as soon as a man entered the senate doors his energies were directed to retaining power in the old way.
 ''I want to deliver message from the people before this hope of power pos sesses- me-" exclaimed the senator and the galleries gave response by hearty applause.
 MT Mason spoke of the paralysis of business in the senate on all great ques- tions. Here at the close of the nine teenth century the great question was presented whether international differ ences were to be settled by arbitration or by the methods of Fitzsimmons and '. Corbett, the senate had listened to speeches. but in this, as in all other questions, there was no action. The senator from Alabama( Morgan) had pre- sented resolution as to Cuba involving the great Cuban question, handed down to us by Grover l" But where was tear down the golden god of the senate rules in order to act on Cuba.
 The senator asserted that there was a majority of insurgents" in this body; a majority was ready to act but was held back by the minority in control It was time to do away with these barna- cle rules.
 q would not scold the old ship ex- claimed the senator vigorously, but would like to put her in dry dock long enough to have her bottom scraped.'
 There was another round of applause as MT. Mason concluded.
 MT. Hoar, republican,, of Massachu- setts, replied briefly, pointing out that open to criticism than the senate. He was in accord with Mr. Mason, however, on the matter of new rules.
 MT. German, democrat of Maryland, promptly moved to refer the resolution to the rules committee.
 MT. Mason protested saying this com- mittee on rules was recognized as the altogether lovely graveyard to which is committed the bodies of deceased meas urss."
 The roIl was called on MT. Gorman's motion to refer and it prevailed, 32 to 2i
 Mir. Hoar followed with a motion to discharge the, committee on rules from further consideration of his resolution introduced some time ago for the revision of the senate rules.
 MT. German asked that the subject go over until tomorrow and this arrange ment was made.
 At 1:15 D. rn.. the senate went itno ex- ecutive session.
 The doors were soon reopened and the legislative session resumed. There was considerable difficulty in securing a quorum and 1t was necessary at one time to direct the sergeant-at-arms to- sum mon absent members
 MT. Chandler, republican, of New Hampshire offered a concurrent resolu-