The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-04-29
A LIVELY BREEZE IN THE SENATE
Old Bones Ratified by the New Sena-
tor From Illinois.

Washington, April 22-The staid senate
was startled and the galleries broke
forth into applause when the new sena-
tor from Illinois. Mr. Mason. berated that
body upon it's mildewed customs. 1t oc-
CURED on the resolution of Senator Ma
son, directing the committee on rules to
report a rule providing for the closing of
debate and for the previous question. 1t
was Senator Mason's maiden speech in
the senate and he was followed with great
interest. He said he desired to have the
resolution so to the committee on rules,
but he gave notice that unless some re-
port was forthcoming 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 sena-
tor with vein of sarcasm, that the
United States senate is a great body.
That was the view particularly of those
within the body and on the payroll. but
every one knew also that 1t was the only
legislative body in existence incapable OF
doing business. Senator Mason said he
hoped he would be forgiven for these re-
Elections, for he was still in the kinder
garten class" and he recognized that he
was threshing over old straw. but he pro-
posed to keep threshing over this cid
straw during the next six years in the
senate.
Senator Mason referred to the APP
preaching tariff debate. The bill would
be before the senate soon. 1t remedied
an act which promised a tariff for rev.
enue" and gave q tariff for deficiency"
1t 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
"despondency and democracy" because
they know the fate of the bill depended
not on the majority but on the minority.
Every one knew. he declared. that while
we profess to be government by the
people, when we reach the highest body
l- ,,t1, .f n
minority
Mr.. Mason glanced around the cham
ber and observed the smile on the faces
of some of his colleagues. They all liked
power, and as soon as a man entered
these senate doors his energies were di-
rected to retaining power in the old way.
II 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 APP
plause.
Senator Mason spoke of the paralysis
of business in the senate in all great
questions. At the close of the 18th cen
tury the great question was presented
whether International differences were to
be settled by arbitration or by the meth
DDS 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 presented a resolution as to
Cuba involving the great Cuban question
handed down to us by Grover H." But
where was that resolution? 1t was i'm
possible to move the golden rod of tn.
senate rules in order to act on Cuba. The
senator asserted that there was major
ity of ''insurgents' IN this body ready tt
act, but 1t was held back by the minority
in control 1t was time to do away witt
these barnacle rules.
'I would not scuttle the old ship" ex
claimed the senator, but 1 would Ike
to put her in dry dock long enough t'
have her bottom scraped.'
There was another round of applause
as Senator Mason concluded.
Senator Hoar replied briefly to Senate
Mason. He pointed out that little coul'
be expected of the committee on rules
as several of the members were engaged
on the tariff bill and other work.
! He was in accord with much that th
| Illinois senator had said as to the 1ee'
of action, but he differed from him oi
some of the criticisms against the senate
Senator German promptly moved to re
/ fer the resolution to the rules committee
Senator Mason protested, saying I'M
committee on rules was recognized as IN
altogether lonely graveyard to which ar
committed the bodies of deceased meas
ures."
The roll was called on Senator German
motion to refer, and 1t prevailed-32 I