The San Francisco call., 1897-04-23
Morgan Declares That
Congress Is Merely
Dictatorship.
In a Fiery Debate He Styles
Speaker Reed the "Great
White Filibuster.
Allen Introduces Resolution Ex-
pressing Sympathy for the
People of Greece.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 22.-As
soon as the routine morning business of
the Senate WAS concluded the Populist
Senator from Nebraska (Allen) offered a
resolution expressing the sympathy Of
the people OF the United States with the
people OF Greece in their struggle with
the Turks.
A resolution was offered by the Populist
Senator from North Carolina (Butler) in
structing the Postoffice Committee TO
inquire and report whether a postal saw
ings bank system can be successfully put
in operation by the Government.
This resolution was made The basis of a
fiery speech by Morgan. He took the
ground that there is now no regularly
organized committee in ;he Senate, in
asmuch as vacancies had not been filled
and he was particularly severe in his
structures on the House on account OF its
disoreanized condition. In fact, he said,
the Fifty-fifth Congress was not Con.
gress, but a pure dictatorship, entirely
contrary to the spirit of the Government.
There had been no action taken in either
house relating to their organization which
did not have distinct reference to the
future prosperity of political parties
There were great many things pressing
for attention in Congress and there never
was more occasion for generous comp
hensive and deliberate action than al
present
Sewell of New Jersey reminded Morga
the Senate was acting under a resolution.
adopted at the close of the last session,
continuing the com mittees as at present
organized until further orders.
Morgan replied that he thought the
Senate was acting in very haphazard
way. He characterized the proposition to
establish a closure rule as comical ex-
pertinent, particularly III view of the fact
that the Senate refused to name the COM
mittees necessary to carry out legisla ton.
He bitterly scored the Houses policy in
action, characterizing Reed as the "Great
White Filibuster."
Butler withdrew his resolution, and
then Allen offered one declaring that no
business, legislative or executive Except
the consideration OF appropriation bilIs),
shall be transacted by the Senate during
this Congress until the committee yacan-
cies are flied.
There was some badinage between Al
len and Chandler. Chandler objected to
the present consideration of the resolu-
ton and it went over.
Hoar asked to have laid aside for week
his resolution for the discharge of the
Committee on Rules from further consid-
Grafton OF his proposed amendment es-
tablishing closure. This was agreed to,
with the addition that A Hens resolut ion
shall take precedence OF it.
AT o'clock in pursuance of the previous
agreement the vote was taken on Nelson's
substitute for the bankruptcy bill ana it
was agreed to-ayes "a, noes 22-after
the statement by Nelson that aIl bodies S
technically known as corporations were
excluded from its operations. The SUBJ
stitute, having thus taken the place OF
the original bill, was then open to further
amendments. On motion of Bacon the
eighteenth section, which provides the act
shall be construed to repeal or suspend
State laws on the subject, was stricken
out. The bill was then passed-ayes 49, noes
8. 1t lifts the operation of the law from
cases OF voluntary bankruptcy, exclud-
ing from its operation any debtor, other
than corporation. owing 5000 or more,
who, being unable to pay his debts, m ay
file petition in the United States District
Court, attaching to the petition a schedule
and list of all his property and debts and