Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-06
4 THREAT Of qOIURE
STIRRED THE SENATE.
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE
RULES DRAWS FORTH STRONG
OPPOSITION.
TEDDY RECEIVED APPLAUSE.
SENATOR MASON MADE SOME RE-
MARKS ANENT SENATORIAL
COURTESY.

was llItfe less ina Intense. Inc Seo-
sion was practically the first Of the
Fifty-seventh Congress, that of yester-
day being brief and routine in charac-
ter.
An immense crowd thronged the gal
leries, all anxious to witness the pro-
ceediirgs. Vice President Roosevelt
was the particular magnet which at
tracted the crowds to the galleries, al
though the desire to see the opening
exercises of the new Senate was also
a special attraction, particularly to the
visitors from out of the city.
The floral pieces presented to yari-
GUS Senators were not many, but were
beautiful-even elaborate-in design.
Among those remembered were Mr..
Blackburn (Kentucky), who returns to
the Senate after a lapse of several
years; MIR. Dubois, of Idaho, also a for
mer Senator; MI. Clark, of Montana,
who now returns to the Senate after
one of the most notable contests in the
country; Mr.. Wetmore, of Rhode ISL
and, Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, who after
several years of service in the House
Of Representatives, comes to the north
wing of the Capitol; Mr.. Carmack, OF
Tennessee, who also has served in the
House, and is an experienced legisIa-
tor; and Mr.. Simmons, of North Caro-
lima.
AS the golden hands of the
tai clock opposite to the Presidents
desk indicated the hour of noon, Vice
President Roosevelt stepped briskly
from the lobby through the right door
Of the chamber to his desk. Recognized
instantly by the assembled crowds, he
was greeted with a wave of applause.
The venerable blind chaplain pro-
nounced a brief but feeling invoca-
tion.
AS the Vice President. assembled to
his desk another great wave of ap-
plause swept over the galleries. Then
with a single sharp tap of the gayel
he called the Senate to order.
AS soon as the reading of the Jour
nal had begun, Mr.. Money (Miss.)
asked that it be suspended and that
he might present his colleague, Mr..
McLaurin to take the oath Of Office.
Mr.. Morgan (Ala.) objected and in
sisted that the reading should proceed.
Mr.. Money urged that the PROPOSE
ton he made was a matter of the
highest privilege.
'sMy understanding is" said the
Vice President, " that the reading of
the Journal takes precedence over all
other matters"
The journal was then read.
At the conclusion of the reading
Mr.. McLaurin, of Mississippi, ami Mr..
Nelson. of Minnesota, were sworn i'll.
Mr.. Platt, Conn, gave notice of an
amendment to the Senate rules which
he proposed to offer tomorrow. The
proposition is one to limit debate upon
any bill or resolution ito reasonable
limits in order that the majority of
the body may be able to do business
In the Senate.
Mr.. Cockrell suggested, in a spirit of
righteousness, that the reasons for the
GuOptlOH vi ult picpOoOu uiS LOU
ceased to exist in the Senate. there
fore, it was moi necessary now to
adopt it. This statement caused a
ripple of laughter in the Senate. They
will arise again" remarked Mr.. Platt.
Mr.. Mason, of Illinois, who since
his advent to the Senate four years
ago, has beer insistent that the rules
of the body be changed SO as to enable
the majority to transact the business
of the Senate. gave notice of an amend
ment he proposed to offer to the
amendement of Mr.. Plat. He insisted
that the time should be fixed in the
rule for the limiting of debate. What
is a reasonable time he declared,
was a question that would be dis
cused for twelve moths in the Senate
which, he said, is the only legislative
body In the world in which the major
ity is controlled by the minority. Re-
ferring to the defeat of the river and
harbor bill, in the closing hours of the
session just expired, be declared that
the majority was as helpless to pre-
vent the defeat of the measure as was
the legislature of Kansas.
The amendment he would propose,
he said. was a modification of the Reed
rules of the House of Representatives,
and he said his amendment would en-
able the opposition to any measure to
have ample time for its discussion, but
limited the time of debate to proper
length.
Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia. utterly dis
approved of the proposed change in
the rules, and declared his purpose to
do everything in his power to defeat
the amendment.
Mr.. Wellington, of Maryland, chal-
lenged the propriety of the %presenta-
ton Of such a proposition as that Of
of Mr.. Plat at the extraordinary ses-
sion of the Senate and declared his pur-
pose later to raise against it a point of
order. Speaking of the defeat of the
river and harbor bill, to which he
said he had contributed, he declared:
"This proposed rule is offered as a
means of revenge"
Mr. Platt, i~nterruyting him, said:
II will say to the Senator that |
was not in favor of the passage of the
river and harbor measure"
Mr.. Wellington replied that he was
delighted to know the Senator (Mr.
Platt) was not In the conspiracy to
secure the enactment of the bill. He