The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-09
oUT-CZARS tom REED.
DEMOCRATIC MINORITY IN STATE
SENATE UNDER ABSOLUTE
SURJECTION THESE DAYS
LIKE JUDGE "NECEsSITY''
Who Knew No Law, the Autocratic
Lieutenant Governor Rides
Rough Shod Over Any Minority
Member Who Dares to Stick His
Head Up-Senate Takes a Firm
Stand Against BOuntfes

Chief Revolutionist Smith Lyndon
A, Rep. Chippewa) rode rough shod
over the parliamentary authority of
the senate in support of an effort OF
the Republican majority to crush the
minority without form or ceremony.
Senator Du Tot Dem), of Carver
threw the Republicans into a state of
panic by calling up his recent resolu-
ton, on which Senator Greer (Rep), of
Wabasha, gave notice of debate 1t
called upon the public examiner TO in
quire into the fees of the office of the
clerk of the supreme court. Senator
kratvold Rep0, Freeborn, moved that
the resolution lie on the table, remark
Ing that this resolution revealed the
purpose of, the recent bills to increase
the star of the examiner: it was in
tended by him to extend his work into
untrodden fields Senator Everett
Oem), LIE Sueur thought possibly a
committee of the senate should inves-
ugate. Senator j. D. Jones (Rep),
Todd, who once had the job himself,
said he would be willing to vouch for
the accuracy of the report Senator
Sheehan RepD, Ramsey, and Clerk
Reese's alter ego almost defended
the report. Senator Baldwin Dem),
of Duluth, insisted on a roll call on the
motion TO lay on the table, but Lieut..
Gov. Smith permitted Senator Knat-
void to withdraw the motion and serd
up an amendment referring the subject
TO senate committee of three.
The lieutenant governor took refuge
behind the second clause of rule % Of
the senate. The rule is:
After a motion is stated by the
president or read by the secretary, it
shall be deemed to be in the possession
of the senate; but may be withdrawn
at any time before decision or amend
ment''
At the time that Senator Baldwin in
sisted on an opportunity to vote on the
motion, which would put the Repub-
Hcans on record Lieut.. Gov. Smith had
directed a roll-call. but he laid down
the rule broadly that the motion might
be Withdrawn by its author at any time
until it was decided or amended This
would apparently permit it to go up
to the time when the vote was an
nounced. when a defeated motion might
be snatched like a brand from the
burning
The senate rule does not provide In
what manner the withdrawal should be
made, but the rules of the senate pro-
vide in rule 80 that THE rules of par
liamentary practice comprised in JEFF
fersons manual shall govern the SEN
ate in all cases in which they are ap-
plicable, and in which they are not in
consistent with the rules and orders
of the senate.
Section 20 of Jefferson's manual of
parliamentary practice declares:
when motion has been made it is
not to be put TO the question or debated
until it is seconded. 1t is then, and not
until then, in possession of the house.
and cannot be withdrawn but by leave
of the house,
Section 33 of the same manual says:
Leave asked to withdraw a motion.
u . of n hQin
motion made and seconded is in the
possession of the house, and cannot be |
Withdrawn without leave, the very
terms of the rule imply that leave !
may be. given, and consequently may
be asked and put to the question"
Lieut.. Gov. Smith did not put the |
request TO the senate, in spite of Sen
ator BaldWin'S insistence.
CUSHING, EVEN MORE EXPLICIT,
Sec. 1887. of Cushing's manual goes
further, as follows: The usual form
of proceeding in the withdrawal of
accord or upon the suggestion of the speaker
or some other member to express a wish to
withdraw his motion; if the seconder gives
his consent. the speaker then puts the ques-
ton that the motion be withdrawn; and if
there is no dissenting voice the motion is
Withdrawn, accordingly. If any one member
but must be decided by the house.
Sec. 1888 supplements this follows:
After motion has been proposed by the
speaker and thus put into possession of the
house the mover and seconder have no more
control over it than any other member.
Even the latest parliamentary man
ual, that of the Fifty-fifth congress,
declares the rule as follows:
"A motion cannot be withdrawn af-
ter the yeas and nays have been or
dered on agreeing to it, Journal. sec
ond session, F'ifty-third congress, p.
324
Then the Republicans revealed thei1
purpose to cloud the main issue by
amendments of various Sorts Senator
Miller CRep), Rock, wanted the reso-
luton to include state barber inspec-
tors. surveyors general of logs and
lumber, oil inspector. and governors
private secretary.
Senator Knatvold moved to refer The