The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-25
RESOLUTION TO LIMIT DEBATE
Occasians the FIercest Sort Of Debate
in the Council

Guthrie, o. r: Feb. 24-(SpeciaL) -sena-
tor Ravens introduced in the council this
afternoon the following motion to change
the rules governing debate:
No member shall speak more than once
to the same question either in the council
or in committee of the whole, without the
consent Of the council or committee; nor
shall any member occupy more than ten
minutes in debate upon any question in
the council, nor more than five minutes
in committee of the whole without the
consent of the council or committee"
The apparently innocent motion imme-
diately threw the council into a whirl-
wind of debate. There was a motion to
lay on the table which was lost, by the
following vote: Ayes-Biddison, Clarke,
Garrison, Thaeker Winkler, Mr.. President
%. Nays-BeLamy, Brett, Candy, Ha-
vens, Huston, Hutto, Magness-7. Senator
Clarke conceived the suspicion that the
motion to limit debate was the forerunner
Of the introduction Of the omnibus bill to
locate the public institutions of the terri
tory, and proceeded to savagely assail the
alleged effort to choke off dscussiorM, He
charged that a corrupt combination con-
eral officials and professional lobbyists and
bribe-givers We're behind the public build
ing propositions and were holding nightly
Caucuses, to which members of the council
were invited. Senator Winkler opposed
the adoption Of the motion and urged that
If it were the purpose OF the council TO cut
off full and free debate upon any question
of Importance he might as well pick up his
hat and go home. Others who spoke in
opposition were Thacker, Biddison and
Garrison. Senator Bellamy and Senator
Hutto favored the adoption Of the motion
on the broad ground that il would cut off
superouss and tiresone debate. Senator
Ravens defended his motion, and in reply
to the insinuations of the senator from
Oklahoma county that the motion covered
a corrupt purpose, hotly said that when he
heard a man ever prating about corrup-
ton he spotted that man as a corruption
ist. Senator Clarke at this point moved
that q committee be appointed TO investi-
gate his charges, and Senator Havens curt
~ said: Il know nothing to investigate"
He then went on to state that the motion
10 change the rules was not to further the
pubic building combination. but was made
in good faith 10 expedite legislation in the
limited days of the session yet remaining
Senator Clarke said that this was not the
first case Of injured innocence he had en-
countered in his legislative experience. It
rarely happens, he said. that a man who
accepts a bride win so on the witness
stand and tell the truth and it is equally
rare that n man who is in corrupt COM
ainaton is willing that the full light Of
public discussion should be turned on It.
The vote on the motion was : for and E
against, and President McCredie declared
it lost. not having received a two-thirds
vote OF the council. This led 10 another
hot debate. Senator Havens contending. on
| d point Of order, that a majority vote was
all that was necessary to change the rules.
In the midst Of a general row of words
Senator Belamy moved an adjourned until
> o'clock tomorrow. which was carried.