The herald., 1897-04-22
DULLNESS
OF DEBATE
Relieved by MasOn's Caus-
tic Comment
SENATE RULES CRITICISED
AND A DEMAND MADE FOR
NEEDED AMENDMENT
The Bankruptcy Bill Given Prolonged
Attention and a Vote viii
Be Taken Today
SENATE RULES CRITICISED
AND A DEMAND MADE FOR
NEEDED AMENDMENT
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator
Mason of Illinois made his maiden speech
in the senate today and signalized 1t by
some breezy criticisms on the rules OF
the senate. 1t wac such variation from
the prosy debate of recent days that the
senator was accorded close attention,
and twice received the hearty applause
of the crowded galleries. The speech was
in support of resolution introduced by
the Illinois eenator directing the COM
mittee on rules to report a rule by which
debate could be closed and the previous
question ordered. In this connection Mr.
Mason sarcastically referred to the in
action of the senate on all great ques-
tions before it, the long and fruitlese de-
bate on Cuba and the delay Of the arbi-
tration treaty
Hoar of Massachusetts, replied briefly,
pointing that the other branch OF COM
gress was more open to criticism than
the senate. He was in accord with Mr..
mason, noWcNSi, oh ehe AS~N ~ @~S".
rules.
A vote was taken on Gorman's mo-
ton to refer the Mason resolution to the
rules committee, which prevailed-S2 to
"a.
A further discussion of the subject 10
promised. as Hoar has pending reso-
luton to dischare the committee on
rules from further considering the re-
form of the rules.
Most Of the day was given to the
bankruptcy bill. The vote on the SUBJ
stitute and amendments will be taken
at p. m. tomorrow.
1t was agreed that a COMMITTEES of
fifteen senators should represent the
senate at the coming Grant memorial
ceremonies.
The maturing of the tariff bill was
indicated by a deluge of petitions relat-
ing to tariff rates presented to the senate
today. Spooner, Republican Of Wiscon-
sin, sent in bundle containing several
hundred petitions urging the re-enact-
ment of the Mckinley rates on lumber.
Mantle, Republican, presented q tele-
graphic dispatch from the Montana
Stockgrowers association, asking an
amendment to the tariff bill so that
adequate protection be given the hide In
dustry.
Morgan, Democrat of Alabama, re-
ported favorably from the committee on
foreign relations an amendment to the
sundry civil BILL proposing an appro-
priation of $4,000 to improve Pearl har-
bor. Hawaiian islands
Senator Perkins presented two peti-
tions from California-one for and the
other against the abrogation OF the Ha-
waiian reciprocity treaty. There is q
great deal of interest in this question
on the Pacific coast, and while some are
contending for the abrogation OF the
treaty so that sugar imported from
Hawaii shall pay the same duties as
sugar from other countries, other per-
sons insist that the treaty shall not be
disturbed. These petitions have been re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tions, and copies sent to the finance
committee. If any action is taken, it
probably will be in the form of an
amendment to the tariff bill. though it
it probable that the foreign relations
committee may consider the subject and
make some recommendations
Cullom's resolution yesterday. calling
on the secretary of the treasury for in-
formation relative to internal taxes on
distilled spirits. was agreed to-
This cleared the way for an un expected
and very breezy speech from the new
seator from Illinois, Mason, which
aroused two outbursts from the gal
lery. 1t occurred on the resolution of
Mason introduced yesterday, directing
the committee on rules to repori rule
I'M for ho oIa oP
for the previous question. 1T was Ma
sons maiden speech In the senate, and
he was followed with great interest. He
said he desired to have the resolutions
go to the committee on rules, but he
gave notice that unless some report was
forthcoming at an early day. he would
move to have the committee discharged
so that the resolution could be brought
before the senate. 1t was agreed on all
hands, proceeded the senator sarcaeti-
cally. that the senate is a great body.
That is view particularly OF those
within the body and on the pay roll. But
every one knew also that it was the only
legislative body in existence incapable
of doing business. Mason said he hoped
he would be forgiven for these refiec-
tions, for he was still in the kinder
garten class" and he 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 before
the senate soon. 1t remedied an act
which promised "tariff for revenue"
and gave "tarif for dehciency.s L
was now proposed to give protection e
American industries. and to the Amert-|
can laboring man. And yet the business
interests were trembling on the verge
Of dependency and Democraey. ho<
cause they knew that the fate Of The M
depended not upon the majority bit -