The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-06
CLOTURE IN SENATE
a PROPOSITION MADE TO LIMIT
DEBATE.
DEMOCRATS CONDEMN 1T.
SENATOR BACoN's MAsTERLY or
POSITION.

Present Methods the Best Possible.
He Snid-Under the Reed Rules the
House Does Not Debate Legislation
hut Leaves 1t Crude Work to he
Put In Shape by the Senate-sen-
ate, Like House, Would BE Domi-
rated by One or Two Men.
Washington, March quite unexpect-
edly a lively debate was prcclpitated to-
day at the first business session of the
Senate of the F'ifty-seventh Congress.
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut offered an
amendment to the rules to limit debate
In the Senate. Its proponent had no pur-
pose of provoking discussion upon it to-
day, 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 amend
ment under which. he said, the majority
would not be under the control of the
minority. Senators Wellington of Mary
land and Bacon of Georgia denounced the
effort to change the rules as unseemlv.
the former challenging the right of the
Senate to consider the proposition at this
session.
Many of tho new senators were recipi-
ents OF beautiful floral offerings from
their friends, several of the pieces on the
democratic side of the chamber being
particularly notable Mr.. Simmons OF
Forth Carolina was among the recip-
tents
ex-senator PETER of Kansas was on the
floor during the early part of the session.
and was cordially received by his former
colleagues.
To-day's session OF the Senate was praA
tically the first OF the Fifty-seven.b Con-
gress, that of yesterday being brief and
routine in character
An immense throng crowded the gal
leres.
Applause for RooScveIs.
Vice President Roosevelts appearance
evoked great wave Of applause from the
galleries. After the reading OF the Jour
nal the Vice President administered the
oath of office to Mr.. Nelson of Mime
sofa and Mr.. McLsurin Of Mississippi.
Senators Allison end Cockren were
20 notify the President that quorum OF
the Senate was hi session and ready to
receive any messages
Mr. Fiatt of Connecticut gave notice OF
an amendment to the Senate rules 10
limit debate upon any bill or resolution
10 reasonable limits" TO enable the ma
Jority to do business in the Senate
MT Mason of Illinois, gave notice of an
amendment he proposed to offer to the
amendment of Mr.. Platt He insisted
that the time should be fixed in the rule
for the limiting Of debate. The Senate, he
said. was the only legislative body in the
world I'm which the majority was control
led by the minority.
MIR. bacon Opposes Limitations,
Mr.. Bacon disapproved of the proposed
change In the rules, and declared his
purpose Of doing everything in his power
TO defeat the amendment. The methods
pursued now by the Senate, In his opin-
ion, were the best possible. They permit
ted full time for the discussion and ex-
animation of every measure presented.
As to the proposition of Mr.. Mason to
adopt a modification of the Reed rules, he
asserted that the House OF Representa-
tives operating under those rules, did not
debate upon any legislation. 1t merely
suggested legislation which came to the
Senate in crude form and by II had to be
put in proper legislative shape. He warned
the Senate that II the proposed rule We're
adopted, It soon would go the whole
length and the spectacle would be pre-
sented of q Congress, not only the House,
but the Senate also, dominated by one or
two men.
Mr. Wellington challenged the propriety
OF the presentation OF such a proposition
at an extraordinary session Referring 10
the defeat OF the river and harbor bill
he said;
Revenge for River and Harbor.
This proposed rule is offered as a
means of revenge" Mr.. Platt retorted
that he was not in favor OF the passage
OF the river and harbor measure
Mr.. Wellington replied that while he
was arguing against the river and harbor
bill he was threatened unless he ceased
his opposition that a cloture rule would
be presented and its adoption insisted
upon.
"I bow" he said. Ito no party and to
no man when my conscience tells me
that a measure is wrong"
Mr.. Allison then reported that the COM
mttee had called upon the President and
conveyed to him the Senates resolution
and that the President had indicated his
purpose to communicate Immediately
with the body.
Mel. Pruden. the assistant secretary TO
the President. presented at once a mes
sage from him.
After Mr. Morgan had offered a resoIu-
tion declaring the Clayton Bulwer treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain abrogated the Senate went into
executive session and at l:45 d. m ad-