Evening star., 1901-03-05
Movement to Limit Debate in the
Senate.
TO RESTRICT POWER OF THE MINORITY
Many Spectators of Today's Pro-
ceedings.
EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD

sion was practically the first of the Fifty
seventh Congress, that of yesterday being
brief and routine in character
An immense throng crowded the CALLER
les, all anxious to witness the proceedings.
Vice President Roosevelt was the particu-
lar magnet which attracted the crowds to
the galleries, although the desire to see the
opening exercises Of the new Senate was
also special attraction, particularly to the
visitors from out of the city
The floral pieces presented to various
senators were not many, but were beauti-
elaborate in design. Among those
remembered were Mr.. Blackburn OKy),
who returns to the Senate after lapse of
several years; Mr.. Dubois of Idaho, also a
former senator; Mr.. Clark of Montana who
now returns to the Senate after one of the
most notable contests in the country; Mr..
Wetmore of Rhode Island, Mr.. Bailey of
IeXas. who after several years of service
In the House of Representa- tives, comes to
the north wing of the Capitol; Mr. Car
mack of Tennessee. who also has served in
the House and is an experienced legislator
and Mr.. Simmons of North Carolina
General Shifting of Seats.
There was a general shifting of seats in
the Senate on the assembling of the new
Senate. Senator Blackburn was fortunate
In getting his old seat in the Senate, that
seat having been occupied by Mr.. Chiffon
OF Texas since he has been absent. 1t is
In the second row and on the center aisle.
Senator Bailey has been seated next Mr.
clark OF Montana, on the rear row on the
democratic side, and removed from them
by one seat are Senators Foster of Louis
lana and McLaurin of Tennessee. Mr.. Du-
bois Of Idaho is on the last row near the
center aisle and on the other side. Sena-
fnr
shifting of seats to get away from his
place on the extreme left side of the cham
Der and to take a seat on the rear row.
nearer the center-of the chamber. Senator
Simon has taken the seat vacated by Sena-
tor Carter.
Senators Platt of New York and Fair
banks Of Indiana have each moved nearer
the center Of the chamber.
Senate Called to Order
AS the golden hands of the ornamental
clock opposite to the Presidents desk in
dicated 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 as
sembled crowds he was greeted with a
wave Of applause.
The chaplain pronounced a brief but feel
ing Invocation.
AS the Vice President ascended to his
desk, another great wave OF applause swept
over the galleries. Then with a single
sharp tap of the gavel he called the Senate
to order.
His First Decision.
The Vice President a few minutes after
calling the Senate to order was called upon
to decide the first parliamentary question
that has come before him, and he decided
1t promptly.
AS soon as the reading Of the journal 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 insisted
that the reading should proceed
Mr.. Money urged that the proposition he
made was a matter of the highest privi-
lege.
Il am under the impression" said Mr..
Roosevelt, that the rule requires the jour
nal to be read first
After Mr.. Roosevelt has presided over
the Senate for a time he will say;. THE
chair is under the impression instead OF
using the personal pronoun, but his ruling
was given approval. Mr.. Morgan remarked,
That's right" The reading of the journal
was continued.
At the conclusion of the reading, Mr..
Money escorted Mr. McLaurin and Mr..
Clapp his colleague, Mr.. Nelson, to the
desk, where Vice President Roosevelt ad-
ministered to them the oath of office.
Mr.. Allison Qowa) presented resolution
providing that the Senate should appoint
a committee of two senators to wait upon
the President to notify him that quorum
of the Senate was in session and ready to
receive any message he might have to
submit The resolution was adopted, and
Senators Allison and Cockrell were named
by Mr.. Roosevelt as the committee.
To Limit Senatorial Debate.
Mr. Platt Comm gave motive Of an amend
tn ha fa which nrOnOSp0
to offer tomorrow. The proposition is one
to limit debate upon any bill or resolution
to reasonable limits in order that the ma
jority of the body may be able to do busi-
ness in the Senate.
Mr.. Platt said that in the Fifty-frst Con-
gress he had offered an amendment to the
Senate rules looking to a limitation of de-
bate The amendment which he proposed
today was modification Of that once Of
fered by Mr. Aldrich, which he considered
more desirable In some respects tnan that
which he had framed.
Mr. Cockrell suggested, In spirit OF IA
cetiousness, that the reasons for the adop-
ton of the proposed rule had ceased to
exist in the Senate, and, therefore, II was
not necessary now to adopt IT,
The statement caused ripple OF laugh
ter in the Senate.
"They will arise again." remarked Mr..
Platt.
After Mr.. Hoar (Mass) and Mr.. Aldrich
Or. - briefly had addressed the Senate in
explanation of the amendments each had
offered previously to the rule of the Sem
ate, Mr.. Mason Qll.), who since his advent
to the Senate four years ago has been in
sistent 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 amendment he proposed to Of
fer to the amendment of Mr.. Platt.
Wants Unreasonable Time" Defined.
He insisted that the time should be fixed
in the rule for the limiting of debate.
What is reasonable time,'' he declared,
was a question that would be discussed for
twelve months in the Senate. The Senate,
he said, was the only legislative body in
the world in which the majority was con-
trolled by the minority. He urged that the
majority should be enable to do the busi-
ness of the body, as 1t had tosassume the
responsibility for whatever action was or
was not taken. Referring to the defeat of
|, the river and harbor bill in the closing
hours of the session just expired. he de-
clared that the majority was as helpless to
prevent. the defeat of the measure as was
the legislature of Kansas.
The amendment he would propose. he
said. was modification of the Reed rules
Of the House of Representatives enabling
the opposition to any measure to have am