The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-06
ATTEMPT IS sToUTLY OPPOSED
DEMOCRATS WILL NOT ALLOW ANY
GEAR REEDISM WITHOUT
STRONG PROTEST
NELSON IS AGAIN SWORN IN
Senior Minnesota Senator Takes Oath
of Office at Beginning OF His
Second Term-Nevs of
National Capital

| pectedly lively debate was precipitated
| today at the first business session of the
| senate of the fifty-seventh congress Mr..
Flatt, of Connecticut, offered an amend,
ment to the rules to limit debate in the
| senate. Its proponent had no purpose to
| provoke discussion upon 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 the
control of the minority. Senators We'll
| lingtOn, of Maryland, and Bacon. of
| Georgia, denounced the effort to change
the rules as unseemly, the former chal-
longing the right of the senate to con-
| slider the proposition at this session
Many of the new senators We're recpi-
ents of beautiful floral offerings from
theil friends, several Of the pieces on the
| Democratic side of the chamber being
particularly notable
| Former Senator Peffer, of Kansas was
| on the floor during the early part of the
session ard was cordially received by
his former colleagues
Al the conclusion of the reading of the
journal, Mr.. McLaurin, of Mississippi.
and Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota, were
sworn in
During the debate on the proposed
J
referring to the defeat of the river and
harbor bill in the closing hours of the
session just expired, declared that the
majority was as helpless to prevent the
deteat of the measure as was the legis-
lature of Kansas.
Ihe amendment he would propose. he
sald, was rs modification of the Reed
rules of the house Of representatives He
SAID his amendment would enable the op-
time for it's discussion, but limited the
time OF debate TO proper length.
OPPOSE GAG RULE.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) utterly disapproved of
the proposed change in the rules and de.
clared his purpose to do everything in
his power to defeat the amendment
The methods pursued now py the senate
permitted full time for the discussion
ana examination of every measure pre-
sented. He asserted that the house of
representatives operating under the Reed
rules, did not deliberate upon any Rgfs-
IaItlon. 1t merely suggested legislation
winch came to the senate i'll crude form
ana ny 1t had to he put in proper Iegis-
!atlFe shape. lie warned the senate that
II the proposed rule were adopted it soon
would so the whole length and the sneo
tacie would be presented of a congress.
not only the house but the senate also
dominated by one or two men.
MIR. Wellington (Md) challenged the
proprfety of the presentation of such a
proposition as that of Mr.. Platt at the
| extraordinary session of the senate and
declared his intention later to ra isa
against it point of order. Speaking of
! the defeat of the river and harbor hill tn
which he said he had contributed he
| declared
This proposed rule is offered as a
means Of revenge
| MI. Platt interrupting him said.
VIII say to the senator that 7 was
/ not in favor Of the passa ge Of tho -.
| and harbo" measure
! Mr.. Wellington replied that he vuor
hghted TO know the senator (Mr Platl
/ was not IN the conspiracy to secure tha
! enactment of the bilI. He declared that
"hie he was arguing against it, in ac
/ cordance with his right as senator he
! was threatened unless he ceased his on
~PositioI ~ llaC cloture rule would be
Liesenteo and its adoption insisted unon
! uesre to say said he. that T how.
! TO no party and to no man when nv,
/ conscience tells me that a measure -
wrong" >
lie was proceeding to say that the nron-
! osltlon was peculiar" when he was in
terrupted by Mr.. Mason Qn.) with tho
! comment: 'ii0
:. 10 peculiar because this is DecI-
nar body" daughter
AT times, added Mr. Mason "ba hin,
! Seh had been guilty of utilizing the ruIes
Oh the senate against measure he
cause he had learned rapidly from the
olc senators In the chamber. Some of
theTn' upon measure to which thev
were opposed, would set their mouths
gong anc go off and leave them for
nea[ly n,iaE a week at time without the
sllghtest intellectual effort whatever
Inc regular order was demanded there
being nothing before the senate.
After Mr.. Morgan had offered resold j.
ton declaring the Clayton -Bulwer treaty.
| between the United States and Great
Brltaln abrogated, at 1:S5 o'clock, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Hoar. went into executive
session and at 1:45 adjourned.
The debate on the senate rules was con-
tlnued in the executive session. The
principal participants We're Senator Ma
! son. on the Republican side. and Sena-
tors Teller and Jones (Ark.) of the oppo-
sition
Mr.. Teller said he saw in the move
r1ent which had been set on foot, a de-
termined effort to cut off debate in the
only national tribune in which there was
absolutely freedom of debate. This he
considered step in the subversion Of
liberty. He declared that whatever
SION the rules could not be changed dur
ing the present special session
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Democratic members of the senate
held an informal conference after the ad-
! Journment of the senate today to con-
slider the wisdom of filing minority places
On the senate committees made vacant
J by the retirement of senators on the
| Democratic side, but adjourned without
deciding whether action should be taken
| or not.
/ There was also discussion of the cloture
movement in the senate, and while no eff
fort was made to obtain a formal expires
! sion upon the subject there was a suf-
! fcient exchange of opinion to cause
! those present to conclude that the move
! would be resisted to the end of the ses-
! sion
| The conference was attended by Sena-
! tors Patterson. Dubois, Harris, Turner and
| Heitfeld,' all of whom heretofore have
acted with either the Silver Republicans
or Populists.
RIVER AND HARBOR JUNKET.
The house committee on rivers and
1