The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-01
SENATE MANGLING THE BILL
AMENDED BEYOND RECOGNfTION
BY THE SUB-TARIFF COM
MITTEE.
PErrIGREw PRoDs THE SENATE,
Sflverites Out-GOOd Words for
Mason.

ing Dfngley bill by business men
throughout the country. as well as
by politicians in the national capital.
Everybody is anxious to know approx
inately the time when the tariff bill
will be favorably reported from the
committee on finance, and when it Is
likely to be passed by both houses
of congress and become a law. 1t is
the expectation Of the Republican
members Of the committee on finance
that they will be able to complete the,
formulation of the bill, and report #
to the full committee some time dur
ing the coming week. It is probIemati-
cal. however, and exceedingly doubtful
If their hopes can be realized. It is
more than likely that the bill will not
be reported to the full committee for
ten days or two weeks. After the bill
shall have been reported to the full
committee by the Republicans now in
charge Of it, the measure will be con-
sidered by the full committee for at
least six weeks. Consequently, it may
be expected that the bill will not be
formally and officially laid before the
senate until about the first day of
June.
The original Ddngley bill has been
ground to pieces and almost pulver-
lied. After the full committee has dis
cussed and modified the schedules the
committee will have formulated an en-
tirely new bill. Then, after delibera-
ton and debate in open senate for a pc
Rod of six weeks more, the measure
will be absolutely a new proposition
for. the purpose Of raising revenue.
With this outline Of probable procedure,
it may we'll be understood that the
Dingley bill is not likely to become
law until about the first day Of August;
certainly. not sooner than the middle Of
July.
The steering committees of the four
factions in the senate have been con-
sidering the proposition that the vice
president shall be authorized to fill
vacancies on committees, temporarily
This suggestion was regarded with ia
vor by the Democrats and silver Re-
publicans until the real animus Of it.
was disclosed by Senator Pettgrew, of
South Dakota, chairman Of the Popu-
list caucus. He called a caucus Of his
little silver party and Informed them
that the scheme had for it's real object
fill the vacancy on the committee on
finance. thereby taking the control Of
that committee away from the silver
men. Senator Pettigrew also stated
that the vacancies on the committees
on. appropriations and the Judiciary
would be filled by gold men, if the
vice president should be given such
power. The matter having been con-
sidered in Democratic caucus, Senator
German stated that the power to fill
vacancies on committees had always
been held by the senate itself, and il
would be a dangerous precedent for the
senate to put such power into the
hands of the vice president; a power
never contemplated to be given to the
presiding officer by the trainers Of the
constitution.
1t has also been finally decided by
the Republican steering committee that
it will be necessary to submit to
reorganization of the senate in accor-
dance with the propositions made by
the silver Republicans. They recog-
nize the fact that, although plurality
party in the senate, they are minority
party with the allied silver forces
against them This they will continue
to be. even if the Oregon legislature
should send Republican senator to
fill the vacancy from that state.
AS result of existing conditions,
the Republicans will be given the chair
manships of the leading committees.
Thus they will assume responsibility
for all legislation 1t is dangerous
thing for the Republicans to do. AL
though they are to have the chairman
ships, they will be in the minority on
every committee. The allied silver fac
tions will control the committees on
finance, appropriations, Judiciary pub
lie lands, Indian affairs and foreign
relations. With the senate thus de-
livered into the control Of the silver
men. the Republicans. by accepting
chairmanships, assume bsfore the coun-
try all the responsibility for legisla-
ton; a responsibility which they ap-
pear likely to regret individually and
as a party. The silver senators have
in Senator Pettigrew a leader Of great
experience and marvellous forensic and
parliamentary ability. He is very
fertile and resourceful politician. More
over, he is exceedingly venemous to-
ward his former Republican associates,
because they have tried to deprive him
of all standing in the senate.
''The legislature Of Illinois made no
mistake" says ex-CongresSman Frank
Aldrich. of Chicago when a majority
Of that body voted to send Billy Mason
to the senate. When he was a member
of the house of representatives Mason
was d Ildppy, SO-1uChy, witty sui VI
fellow, and great many Of his oppo-
nents in Illinois during the past two
years have said that he would be I'M
fitted for senatorial career, because
of his apparent carelessness Of dispo-
sition. Nobody ever said anything
against his public or private character,
but the fact that Billy Mason was
jolly fellow, was used as an argument
against his advancement to the senate.
hoc hoor, q little while
but has managed to meet all the re-
quirements Of dignity and courtesy, and
has already shed lustre upon his state
in the high position to which he has
been chosen, by the delivery of re-
markable speech in favor of change
Of the senate rules in order that that
body may do business.
az was not expecting Senator Mason
to make a speech, but was sitting in
the senate gallery with friend from
Chicago, when the senator began his
address We people in Illinois have
long known Senator Mason to be
superior orator on the hustings, but
the members Of the senate did not know
how much Of the fire Of genuine oratory
our junior senator possesses, until he
electrified them by the earnestness of
his speech. / was particularly proud
Of our new senator when he engaged
in colloquial debate with such veterans
as Senator German, Of Maryland, and
Senator Hoar, Of Massachusetts,. and
acquitted himself with credit and dis
tinction. He met them at every point
in most dignified manner; and finally
disposed of Senator Hoar with an I'M
expectedly sarcastic and penetratingly
witty expression, which caught the
galleries and resulted in uproarous APP
plause. Senator Mason first demon
strated his ability as q dignifed de-
bator in a densely dignified body with
an ebullftion Of that remarkable wit