The St. Louis Republic., 1901-03-06
Proposed Change in Senate Rules
Likely to Encounter Strong
Opposition.
MAY PR0LONG SPECIAL SESSION
Republican Managers Have Deter
mined That Rules Shall Be
Changed-Would Prevent
Filibustering.


u.
| Washington. March 1.-The resolution by
| Senator Platt OF Connecticut providing for
! n rule to close debate in that body. is the
opering of determined fight for change OF
the rules. The failure of the Senate to
! reach an agreement en- the river and harbor
bill, and the long waste of time on that
measure because of the continued haranSue
Of Senator Carter and the inability of the
Senate TO get vote on the Worlds Fair
bill till Tillman chose TO permit 1t have
emphasized in the minds of many Senators
the need of rule which will permit that
| bcdy to get down to business at critical
times
The adoption CT similar rule for the
House in the Flfty-first Congress was rem
dered necessary by the fact that unlimited
debate admitted of bill being filibustered
20 death. To overcome this difficulty
Speaker Reed applied cloture in compelling
a vote on the rule authorizing it. Since
that time the House has had the power to
limit debate and a protracted tilibuster has
been Impossible in that body. 1t would
have been impossible for any man In the
House TO have talked the river and harbor
bill to death. as did Mr.. Carter in the Sem
ate during the last hours of the Congress
just closed.
1t is understood to be the well-considcred
purpose Of the Republican managers in the
Senate to adopt cloture that the Senate
may be as free from filibusters as is the
House. This will be determ!nedy resist
ed by some Senators and it may greatly
prolong the special session of the Senate.
rendering 1t exciting in the extreme.
Rules of Senate Are Continuous.
The rules of the Senate are continuous
and do not have to be adopted anew at the
beginning of each Congress. 1t will be
from these rules in considering this amend
ment and there is likely to be sensational
contest If the Vice President attempts to
compel vote, as expected. The rule in
troauced by Mr. Platt is the same which
was reported from the Committee on Rules
during the Fifty-first Congress. on which
they could not secure action by the Senate.
In speaking about the proposed new rule.
Senator Platt said that the rule would be
pushed during this extra session. but he
could not tell whether action would be
taken on it or not.
Certainly the Senate had perfect right
to amend or change its rules at this ses-
would be ready to report it at once or desire
to consider it until the regular session, I
cannot say. but it will be referred to the
committee for action.
Certainly" continued Senator Platt, sit
is time that the majority in the Senate
should be able to bring n measure to a
vote after reasonable discussion.
THE majority should at least have half
of the time OF the debate at its disposal,
but now 1t cannot answer the arguments
OF the minority without becoming a party
to the tilibuster and consuming time. In
deed, in the Senate the majority does not
rule, when minority is determined to talk
a bill TO death and it is time some change
Shoultt be made. .i I's
My resolution will be sent to the Com
mittee on Rules and 1t depends upon that
committee whether action will be taken or
not
ROOsevelt's First Ruling.
Promptly at noon Vice President Roose-
Eeit stepped briskly from the lobby through
the right door of the chamber to bis desk
He was greeted with a wave of applause.
The venerable blind chaplain pronounced
brief but feeling Invocation.
AS the Vice President assembled to his
desk. another great wave of applause swept
over the galleries. Then, with q singla sharp
tap of the gavel, he called the SenaI,. to
order ~
AS soon as the reading of the journal had
begun. Mr.. Money of Mississippi asked that
1t be suspended, and that he Nigh. present
MS colleague, MIR. McLaa-in, to take the
oath of office.
Mr. Morgan of Alabama objected ard in
sisted that the reading snouli proceed
Mr.. Money urged that the propositjen he
maze was matter Of She highest rrivi-
iege.
My understanding S." said tie Wee
President. that the reading OF the Journal
takes precedence over all other matters"
The journal was then read
After Mr. Morgan had offered a resolu-
tion declaring the Clayton-I?ulwer treaty
between the United States and tireaI Erit-
ain abrogated. the Senate, at LOS, on mo-
ton OF Mr.. Hoar. went into executive ses-
Sion. ana at l:4o p. M adjourned.