The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-22

agreed on all hands, proceeded the
Senator with a vein of sarcasm, that
the Senate is a great body. That was
the view particularly Of those WITHIN
the body and on the pay roll But
everyone knew also that 1t was the
only legislative body in existence IN
capable of doing business.
Mason said he hoped he would be for
given for these reflections, for he was
still in the kindergarten class. ana ne
recognized that he was threshing over
old straw But he proposed to keep
threshing over this old straw during his
next six years in the Senate.
Mason referred to the approaching
tariff debate The bill would be be-
fore the Senate soon. It remedied an
Act which promised a tariff for reve-
nue. only and gave tariff for def
ciency" 1t was now proposed to give
protection to American industries and
to the American laboring man. And
yet the business interests We're trem-
bling on the verge of dependency and
Democracy because they knew that
the fate of the bill depended not on the
majority, but on the minority. Every
one knows" he declared. that While
we profess to be a government by the
people, when we reach the highest body
in the Government there is d rule of
the minority"
Mason glanced around the chamber
and said he 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 directed to retaining power in the
old way
Il want to deliver a message from
the people before this hope of power
possesses me- exclaimed the Senator,
and the galleries gave response by
hearty applause.
Mason spoke of the paralysis of bust
ness 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
presented resolution as to Cuba, in
Volving the great Cuban question
handed down to us by Grover IL"
But where was that resolution? 1t was
impossible to tear the golden god of the
Senate rules in order to act On Cuba
The Senator asserted that there was
majority of insurgents in this body
ready to act, but was held back by
the minority in control. 1t was time
to do away with these barnacle rules
L would not scuttle the old Ship
exclaimed the Senator. vigorously
but l would like to put her in dry dock
long enough TO have her bottom scrap
ed"
There was another round of applause
as Mason concluded
Hoar of Massachusetts replied brief
ly to Mason. He pointed out that lit
tie could be expected from the Commit
tee on Rules as several of the mem
bers We're engaged on the tariff bill and
other work. He was in accord with
much that the Illinois Senator had said
as to the need of action, but he differ
ed from him on some of the criticisms
against the Senate.
German CD of Maryland moved to
refer the resolution to the Rules Com
mittee.
Mason protested, saying this Commit
tee on Rules was recognized as the al
together lonely graveyard to which are
committed the bodies of deceased meas
ures"
The roll was called on Germans. mo-
ton to refer, and it prevailed-32 to a
as follows:
Yeas-Allen, Bacon, Baker. Bates
Berry Butler, Chiffon. CockreII Faux
ner, German, Gray, Harris of Kansas.
Hawley Heitfaldt, Jones of Arkansas,
Lindsay, McEnerney, Mcmillan. Nor
gan, Mitchell, Murphy, Pascoe. Petit
grew, Pettus, Quay, Rawlings. Roack
Sewan. Smith, Tillman, Turpie and
Walthall-32
Nays-Burrows, Chandler Clark. Cul-
lom, Davis, Fairbanks, Foraker, Frye.
Gear. Hansbrough, Hoar, Mason. Mills.
Nelson, Perkins, Plat of New York,
Pritchard, Proctor, Spooner, Turner,
Vest, Warren, Wellington and Wilson
"a
Hoar followed with a motion discharg-
ing the Committee on Rules from fur
Their consideration of his resolution, in
troduced some time ago, for the revis-
ion of the Senate rules.
German asked that the subject go
over until tomorrow, and this arrange
ment was made.
The calendar was taken up and the
following bills passed For the relief of
the homestead settlers on that portion
of the great Sioux Reservation lying in
Nebraska, formerly in the Territory of
Dakota. now in the State of South Da-
kota; granting lands in the Black Hills
to the Nashville Presbyterian Church of
Asheville. s. d.
At 11:15 the Senate went into execu-
| tive session.
The doors We're soon opened, and the
| legislative session resumed. There was
| considerable difficulty in securing a
! quorum, and it was necessary at one