Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-04-21
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April 81.
SENATE.

The maturing of the tariff bill was
indicated by the deluge of petitions re-
lating to tariff rates presented to the
Senate to-day. Mr.. Spooner sent 8
bundle containing several hundred Pc
titions urging reenactment OF the MIC
Kinley rates on lumber.
Mr.. Mantle presented telegraphlc
memorial from the Montana stock
growers association asking an amend
ment to the tariff bill 80 that adequate
protection would be given to the hide
industry.
Among the other petitions was one
from leading commercial houses in San
Francisco opposing the abrogation ofthe
Hawaiian treaty of reciprocity.
Mr.. Morgan reported favorably from
the committee on foreign relations an
amendment to the sundry civil bill pro-
posing an appropriation of $4,000 to
improve Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian
Islands.
A resolution by Mr. Hswley was
agreed to duly acknowledging the invi-
tation of Mayor Strong, of New York, to
participate in the coming Grant cere-
monies and providing committee OF
10 senators, to be appointed by the
vice. president to represent the Senate.
Mr.. Cullom's resolution introduced
yesterday, calling on the Secretary of
the Treasury for information relative
to internal revenue taxes on distilled
spirits, was agreed to.
This cleared the way for breezy
speech from the new Senator from Hi.
nois, Mr.. Mason. 1t occurred on the
resolution of Mr.. Mason, introduced
yesterday, directing the committee on
rules to report rule providing for the
closing of debate and for the previous
question. He said be desired to have
the resolution go to the commit
tee on rules, but he gave notice that
unless some report was forthcoming at
al early day he would move to have
the committee discharged so that the
resolution could be brought before the
Senate.
Mr.. Mason referred to the approach
ing tariff debate. The bill would be
before the Senate soon. 1t remedied
an act which promised a tariff for
revenue" and gave tariff for defcien-
cy." 1t was now proposed to give pro-
lection to American industries and to
the American laboring man. And yet
the business interests were trembling
on the verge of dependency and de-
mocracy" because they knew the fate
of the bill depended not on the MAORI
ty but on the minority. Every one
knows, he declared, that while we pro-
TESS to be government by the people,
when we reach the highest body in the
government there is rule of the mi
nority. Mr.. Mason glanced around the
chamber and said he observed the
smile on the faces of some of his COL
leagues. They all liked power, and as
soon as man entered these Senate
doors his energies were directed to re-
tanning power in the old way.
II want to deliver message from
the people before this hope of power
possesses me-" exclaimed the Senator,
and the galleries gave response by
hearty applause.
Mr.. Mason spoke of the paralysis of
business in the Senate on all great
questions. Here at the close of the
nineteenth century the great question
was presented whether international
differences were to be settled by arbi-
tration or by the methods of Fitzsim-
mons and Corbett. The Senate had lis
tened 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
involving the great Cuban question
handed down to US by Grover H."
But where was that resolution? TWAS
impossible to tear down 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; majority was ready to act but
was held back by the minority in con-
troll. 1t was time to do away with these
barnacle rules. II would not scuttle
the old ship" exclaimed 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 Mr.. Mason con.
cluded.
Mr.. Hoar, one of the veterans of the
Senate, replied briefly to Mr.. Mason.
He pointed out that little could be ex-
pectod from the committee on rules, as
several of the members were engaged
on the tariff bill and other work.
Mr.. Mason caused some amusement
by ironically referring to Mr.. Hoar as
one Of the new members of the Senate
who might need assistance in devising
a plan for changing the rules. He
withdrew his motion to refer the reso.
luton.
Mr.. German promptly moved to refer
the resolution to the rules committee.
MIR. Mason protested, saying this
on rules was recognized as
the altogether lovely graveyard to
ceased measures"
The roll was called on Mr. Germans
motion to refer and it prevailed-ayes
80, noes "a.
Mr.. Hoar followed with motion dis
charging the committee on rules from
further consideration of his resolution,
introduced some time ago, for the
revision of the Senate rules.
Mr.. German asked that the subject
20 over until tomorrow and this ar
was made.
The Senate went into executive seq
sion. The doors were soon opened and
,he legislative session resumed. There
was considerable difficulty in securing
, quorum, and it was necessary at one
line to direct the sergeant alarms to
summon absent senator's