The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-14
HOW THE DEBATE DRAos ON.
Difference Between the House and Senate
Speeches.
ESPECIAL TO TIE pREss.1

/ ESPECIAL TO TEE FRESH
Washington, June 12.-The progress on
the tariff bill the past week has been ex-
ceedingly slow SO far as the number Of
paragraphs has been concerned. But per-
| haps considering the Importance of the
subjecti considered fair speed has been
maintained. The sugar schedule has
been the great bone of contention in all
recent tariff legislation, and therefore
large amount of debate was to be expect.
| ed During this week some very long
| speeches have been made, generally on
the Democratic and Populist sides, the
Republicans adhering to their plan to let
their opponents do the talking. Senator
Stewart of Nevada is gradually getting
warmed up by the progress of the talk,
and each day launches out into loud
speech and never a short one, on-not
sugar and the tariff-but on the none
tary system and the crime of '73. Sena-
tor Caffery of Louisiana, who does not
believe in protection but wants duty on
Lousianas sugar product "for purely
ISfOuuO puIpOoSo, e1lSO tebhCH d
great deal of time.
These proceedings illustrate the differ
ence between the House and Senate meth
DDS in debate on bill by paragraphs.
In the House any member may speak as
often as he may get the floor, but has but
five minutes If he really has something
to say which is worth the attention of the
IL nT1c hn H.
getting his time. extended for is minutes
or even half an hour. This is almost al
ways done unless there are several wait
ing to speak. But if it is evident that the
member is talking simply to get himself
into the record, or if he is talking on free
silver when the subject is the tariff, he is
shut off promptly at the end of five min
utes.
The result of this plan, which the large
number of members in theHouse makes alb
solutely necessary, is that there are short,
crisp and valuable speeches upon the sub
ject Immediately at hand In the Senate
on the other hand, where any one can
speak as often as he can get on the floor,
and can talk as long as he wishes to, the
speeches are liable to be very diffuse,
and may be on almost any subject but that
under debate. The real leaders on both
sides of the Senate make shorter speeches.
A man of capacity to be of great influence
among his colleagues is not necessarily
garrulous He couldn't keep his influence
if he was. If a man is going to lead he
must not begin by firing out his follow
ers. So it happens that the longest speech
es are almost always made by men whose
opinions and conclusions are of least
value in the debate. When Mr. Stewart
rises and begins to speak it is the signal
for unattention and listlessness on the
floor, for every one knows just what he
is going to talk about. Debate ceases
and defamation begins
There has been. much real debate, how
ever, in the week just passed. The new men
r ON the South who have been shaking I'D
Democratic traditions SO rudely, have
had purpose, and their speeches have
been intended to convey to the Senate
those purposes. The Senate has been all
alive with interest while they have spok-
en-, and also while they have been an
oW6fSu NY 1uOu LING OIty, Mills clil 6SU.
Suddenly, in the midst of the excite
ment and interest, one of the garrulous
men would rise and be recognized AS
soon as he would begin to speak the
effect would be noticeable at once. 1t is
like the coming of bore with an inter-
minable story into a circle of good con,
versationalists. Listlessness takes the
place of life, and the business of the SEN
ate halts.
In the House there are such characters
but the House will not hear them. Dur
n g the tariff debate, Mr.. Bland of Mis-
souri,, who is apt to want to talk inter-
minably of silver, got the floor and in
fiicted his views on silver on the House
until his time expired He asked for an
extension and was about to get it, when
an old member of very quiet turn, who
never makes speech in the House if
he can help it, walked down the aisle
and objected. Some one demonstrated
with him, when he turned very testify and
said, 81 have heard all of it I want to
and I don't propose to stand it. any long
err That settled it. Mr. Bland stopped.
In the Senate there is no such method
of doinghis.