The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-03-06
MASON TELLS OF DEBATE
WITHOUT INTELLECT
And Urgis an Amendment
Whereby Minority Can
not Control Majority

Washington. March 5.-Quite un
expectedly a lively debate was precipitat-
ed today az the hrst business session
OF the senate OF The Fits Seventh COM
aress.
Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut offered an
amendment q The rules 70 limit debate
IN the senate. res opponents had no rur-
pose 20 provoke discussion upon Il today.
but several senators Expressed their
Views in no UNCERTAIN terms.
scuator Mason OF Illinois, thought it
did not go FAR enough ana gave notice
OF an amendment under which he said the
majority would not be under the control
of tho minority.
Senators wellington OF Maryland and
Bacon OF Georgia. denounced the EFFORT to
change the rules as unscomly the f0rm-
er challenging the right Of the scnato 10
consider the proposition at this session.
Many of tho new senator's were rocini-
cnts OF beautiful floral offerings. from
their friends several OF the pieces ON the
democratic side of the chamber being par
ticularly notable.
The president sent the following nomi-
nations 20 the sonatei
John Hay 10 be secretary OF state
Lyman J. GNge, TO be secretary OK the
treasury,
Either Root. TO pe secretary Of war
John ID. Long. to be secretary Of tho
navy.
John w Gness. to be attorney gem
eral.
Charles Emory Smith. to be postmaster
general.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock. to be secretary
OF the insenor
James Wilson. to be secretary OF agri
culture.
They were conhrmed.-
At the conclusion OF the reading Mr.
McIaurin OF Mississippi and Mr. Nelson
of -Xinnesota. were sworn In. Mr. Platt
of Connecticut gave notice OF an amend
ment which he proposed 70 offer tomor-
row. The proposition Is one TO limit de-
bate upon any Dill or resolution to "rca-
sonable limits In order that the majori-
~ Of the body may be able TO do busi-
ness IN the senate.
Mr. Coohrell suggested, in a spirit OF
facetitlousness that the reasons for the
adoption OF the proposed rules had ceas-
ed TO exist In the senate, and therefore.
Il was not necessary now 20 adopt a..
This statement caused ripple Of laugh
ter In the senate
They win rise again remarked Mr.
Piatt
Nj Mason OF Illinois, who. since his
advent 70 tho senate four years ago, has
been inslstent that the rules be changed
so as 10 enable the majority TO transact
thc business OF the senate, gave notice
of an amendment he proposed 10 the
amendment Of Mr. Piatt lie insisted that
ahe time should be fixed IN the rules for
the limiting OF debate. What Is ''rea-
sonable time" he declared, was a cues
tion that would be discussed for twelve
months IA the senate. which he said Is
the only legislative body in the World IN
which the majority Is controlled by the
minority Referring 20 the defeat Of the
river and harbor bill in the closing hours
of the sossion Just expired, nc declared
that the majority was helpless 10 prevent
the defeat of the measure.
The amendment he would propose he
said was modification OF the Reed rules
OF the house OF Representatives. He said
his amendment void enable the oppoai-
tion 10 any meassq to have ample time
Of dsbate 60 proper length,
Mr. Racon OF Georgia utterly disap-
proved of the proposed change IA the
rulcs and declared his purpose to do cv-
erything IN his power TO defeat the
amendment
iio warned the senate that n the pro-
posed rules were adopted Il soon would
Ko the whole lensth ana tho spectacle
n s.F n 90
only the house but the senate also-dom-
mate by one or two men.
Mr. wellington OF Maryland chancng-
ga the proprlety OF the presentation OF
such proposition as that OF Mr.. Platt
az the extraordinary session OF the sem
nto and declared his purpose later 20
rise against II IN q point OF order Speak
Ing Of the defeat OF the river aud harhof
bin TO which he said he haa contributed,
he declared 'rhis proposed rule Is Of
fered az a means OF revsngo'
Mr.. Plat interrupted him, said' y
win say 10 the senator that ! was not
\. ss.-sor of the paering Of the river and
harbor bill"
Mr.. Wellington replied that he WAS de-
lighted TO know that the senator (Mr
Plato was not IN the conspiracy TO secure
the enactment OF the hll. He declared
that while ne was arguing against IA
accordance with his right as a senator
he was threatened that unless ne ceased
his opposition cloture rule would be pre-
aentcd and lts eaoption insisted upon
II desire 10 say" said he, that bow
20 no party and to no man when my con
science tells me that meoHure u
wrong.~ lie was proceedlng TO say thai