The age-herald., 1901-03-06
SHARP DEBATE
 ARISES OVER
 SENATE RULES Mason Insists on the Estab-
 IiShment of CIOture BRINGS OUT QUICK REPORTS Bacon Urged Full Debate on
 All Measures MORGAN GETS UP CANAL QUESTION Introduces Resolution Abrogatng the Clayton-5ulwer Treaty - Roose- welt Cheered as He Opened
 the Senate for First Time.
Bacon Urged Full Debate on
 All Measures
MORGAN GETS UP CANAL QUESTION

Washington, March 5.-Quite unexpect- edly lively debate was participated at the first business of the Senate of the Fifty-seventh Congress. MT. Platt Con necticut) offered an amendment to the rules to limit debate in the Senate Its proponent had no purpose to provoke dis cussion on it today. but several Senators expressed their views In no uncertain terms. Senator Mason of Illinois thought it did not go far enough and gave notice of an amendment under which he said the majority would not be under control of the minority. Senators Wellington and Bacon denounced the effort to change the rules as unseemly. the former chai- lenging the right of the Senate to con sider the proposition at this session Roosevelt On Time.
 As the golden hands of the ornamental clock opposite to the Presidents deek indicated the hour of noon, Vice-Presi- dent Roosevelt stepped brisfiy from the lobby through the right door of the cham Der to his desk. Recognized instantly by the assembled crowds, he was greeted with a wave of applause.
 The venerable blind chaplain pronounced brief and feeling invocation.
 As the Vice-President ascended to his desk another great wave of applause
 swept over the galleries. Then with
 single sharp tap of the gawel he called
 the Senate to order
 As soon as the reading of the Journal
 had begun MT. Money of Mississippi. asked that it be suspended, that he might present his colleague, MT McLaurin, To take the oath of office.
 Mir Morgan of Alabama objected and insisted that the reading should proceed.
 &hak he made was a matter of the highest privilege.
 My understandings said the Vice. President lis that the reading of the Journal takes precedence over all other matters"
 At the conclusion of the reading. MT. McLaurin, Mississippi, and Nelson, Min nesota, were sworn in.
 Mir. P1att, Connecticut. gave notice of an amendment to the Senate rules, which he proposed to offer tomorrow to limit debate on any bill or resolutin to reason able limits, in order that the majority of the body may be able to do business in the Senate"
 Mason Inslted On Change.
 MT. Mason of Illinois who. since his advent to the Senate. four years ago, has been insistent that the rules of the body be changed so as to enable the majority to transact business, gave notice of an he proposed to offer to the amendment of MT. Platt He insisted that the time should be fixed in the rule for the limiting of debate. What is a ''reas- enable time" he declared, was a question that would be discussed for twelve months in the Senate, which he said is the only legislative body in the world in which the majority is controlled by the Referring to the defeat of the river and harbor bill in the closing hours of the session. just expired. he 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 He said his amendment would enable the opposf- tion to have ample time for it's discus sion, but limited the time of debate to proper length.
 MT Bacon of Georgia utterly disap- proved of the proposed change in the rules and declared his purpose to do ev- erything in his power to defeat the amendment The methods pursued now by the Senate permitted full time for the discussion and examination of every measure presented. He asserted that the House of Representatives operating un- der the said rules did not deliberate up- on motions. It merely suggested legis- lation which came to the Senate in crude form and by it had to be put in proper legislative shape. He warned the Senate that If the proposed rule were adopted ft soon would go to the whole length and the spectacle would be presented of Congress in which not only the House. but the Senate. would be dominated by one or two men.
 WeIIington's Objection.
 Mir. Wellington challenged the proprie- ty of the presentation of such a proposi- tion as that of MT. Platt at the extraor- dinary session of the Senate and declared his purpose later to raise against 1t a point of order.
 Speaking of the defeat of the rivers and harbors bill to which he said he had con- tributed. he declared:
 This proposed rule is offered as a means of revenge"
 MT. Platt. interrupting him. said:
 T will say to the Senator that was not in favor of the passage of the rivers and harbors measure"
 Mir Wellington replied that he was de- lighted to know the Senator (Ndr. PlatU was not in the conspiracy to secure the enactment of the bill He declared that while he was arguing against it, in ac- cordance with his right a Senator he was threatened unless he ceased his op- position that a rule would be presented and it's adoption insisted upon. T desire to say" said he, that bow to no party and to no man when my conscience tells me that a measure Is wrong" He was proceeding to say that the proposition was peculiar when he was interrupted by MT. Mason of Illinois with the com ment:
 Ut is peculiar because this Is a pecu- liar body" Q.anghter.)
 After MT. Morgan had offered a resolu- tion declaring the Clayton-Bulwer treaty between the United States and Great