The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-06
PROPOSE A GAG
RULE IN SENATE
Republicans to Stifie 0ppO-
sitiOn of Democrats.
WOULD PLACE TIME
LIMIT ON DEBATE
Scheme to Carry All Measures
With High Hand.

Washington, March 5.-Quite unex-
pectedly a lively debate was precipi-
tated today at the first business ses-
sion of the senate of the F'ifty-seventh
congress. Mr.. Platt Comm offered an
amendment to the rules to limit de-
bate in the senate its proponent had
no purpose to provoke discussion upon
it today, but several senators expressed
their views in no uncertain terms Sen
ator 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 Wellington of Maryland and
Bacon OF Georgia denounced the effort
to change the rules as unseemly, the
former challenging the right of the
senate to consider the proposition at
this session.
Many of the new senators were re-
cipients of beautiful floral offerings
from their friends, several Of the pieces
on the Democratic side of the chamber
being particularly notable. Among
those remembered were Mr.. Blackburn
(Ky9, who returns to the senate after
a 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 Texas, who, after several years of
service in the house of representatives,
comes to the north wing of the cap
itOl: Mr.. Carmack of Tennessee, who
also has served in the house and is an
experienced legislator, and Mr.. Sim
cons of North Carolina.
Promptly at noon Vice President
Roosevelt stepped briskly from the
lobby through the right door of the
chamber to his desk. He was greeted
with a wave of applause. The vener-
able blind chaplain pronounced a brief
but feeling invocation.
Applause for Roosevelt
As the vice president assembled to
his desk another great wave of APP
plause swept over the galleries. Then,
with a single sharp tap of the gavel
ne called the senate to order.
AS soon as the reading of the jour-
nal 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 in
sisted that the reading should proceed.
Mr.. Money urged that the proposition
he made was a matter of the highest
privilege.
My understanding is" said the vice
journal takes precedence over all other
matters" The journal was then read.
At the conclusion of the reading Mr..
McLaurin (Miss.) and Mr.. Nelson
(Minn.) were sworn in. Mr.. Platt
! Comm gave notice of an amendment
to the senate rules which he proposed
to offer tomorrow. The proposition is
one to limit debate upon any bill or
| resolution to reasonable limits in
order that the majority of the body
may be able to do business in the sem
| ate
Not Strong Enough for Mason.
Mr.. CockreI suggested, in a spirit of
| Righteousness, that the reasons for the
adoption of the proposed rules had
ceased to exist in the senate and, there
! fore it was not necessary now to
adopt it. This statement caused rip
pie of laughter in the senate.
''They will arise again" remarked
Mr.. Platt.
MIR. Mason OHs.), who since his adj
vent to the senate four years ago, has
/ been insistent that the rules be changed
so as to enable the majority to transact
/ the business of the senate, gave notice
of an amendment he proposed to the
! amendment of Mr.. Platt. He insisted
I that the time should be fixed in the
rules for the limiting OF debate. What
| is a reasonable time, he declared
was 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 con-
trolled by the minority.
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 helpless to pre-
vent the defeat of the measure The
amendment he would propose, he said