The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-10
Arid Land Legislation
Is Expected at the Present
Session Of Congress

viii be Is question that cannot be de-
cided at this writing.
Senator PeJtigTeW is reported as say
ing that he would talk the shipping
subsidy bill 10 death. There is a great
deal of doubt of the enactment of the
shipping subsidy bill al the coming ses-
sion, especially in its present FORM
But il il is defeated il viii not be be
cause PeutigTew or any other one sena-
tor put quietUS on il by talk. It
win be because there viii not be ma
jOTity Of senators bent on passing it.
Endurance Tests In the Past.
Theoretically, there is no Limit to de-
bate in the senate, and vote IS never
taken except by unanimous consent.
These lend themselves to delay, and
they have never vet and doubtless new
er viii defeat the passage of a bill
through the senate that has a clear
majority in its favor. The majority
in the senate intent upon the passage
of measure has always been able to
force a vote. The method is very sim
pie. When the majority decides that
the minority has been given time
enough in which 10 debate the matter
under consideration. it quietly refuses
to adjourn until after a vote has been
had This is known as the test Of ply
steal endurance It never fails TO bring
a vote
The last time il was resOrted TO was
in the special session of the Fifty-third
congress, called to repeal the silver
purchasing clause of the Sherman act.
The minority was desperately defiant,
and determined to talk the Oil to
death. Finally the time came when
she majority refused TO adjourn. and
refused to take part IN the debate. The
minority was compelled to keep some
one on the floor talking ali the time,
day and night 1t was on this Occas-
sion that SEM tor Allen. the giant Pop
ulist from Nebraska, then a new man
in the senate. talked all through one
night from o'clock in the evening un-
til O'Clock the next morning, nearly
fifteen hours. This feat gained for him
the title of the champion long distance
orator of the United States.
After Two or three nights Of this sort
Of thing, the minority was forced to
yield and TO consent to a vote 1t was
taken and the clause was repealed I'M
COndiuOnally- SO it viii be with the
shipping subsidy bill, provided a ma
jOTTty of the senator's make up their
minds 10 pass 1t. whether or no.
Outlook For Bill Dubious.
The outlook is that the sponsors of
that measure have taken a good deal
for granted, and that their pet meas
ure viii meet With opposition in both
houses from unexpected sources. It
looks now as though in the senate this
measure may find itself in the condi-
ton the election or sO-called force
bin did in the Fifty-fTst congress. The
bill was passed in the house under
whip and spur. In the senate it met
with solid Democratic opposition, led
by Senator German, of Maryland, one
of the abIest parliamentary leaders
seen in congress for years. Day after
day he maTshaIled his forces and with
stood the assaults of the Republicans
led by Senator HOar, of Massachusetts.
Try as he would, HOar could not bring
on vote.
German insisted that all he wanted
was time in which to debate properly
this great question. All the time he
was engaged in coming To an agree
ment with certain Republicans of the
group known as silver Republicans.
Senator HOar could not master a ma
jOTity to sic it out The regular ad-
jOurnment was taken every day a ;
O'Clock IN the evening. AT last, one
day, d motion was made to proceed to
the consideration Of another bill. 1t
was carried by a majority of one. The
election bill replaced by the other,
lost its parliamentary position, went to
the foot of the calendar and was heard
of = more.
TIL was a case where the majority
of the senate was nOminally. but not
really. in favor of the pending bill For
that reason the majority declined TO
enter upon test of physical endur-
ance. They found il easier. too, to kill
the election bill Indirectly by taking
up another bill in its place than by di-
reCJIy voting against it,
Signs are not wanting that this may
be the fate of the shipping subsidy bill.
J. :. VAN ANTWERP.