Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-06
THREAT Of CLOIDRE
STIRRED TIE SENATE.
Continued from First Page.

declared that, while he was. arguing
against 1t, in accordance with his
right as a senator. he was threatened
unless he ceased his opposition. that
a cloture rule would be presented and
its adoption insisted upon.
Il desire to say" said he, that /
bow to no party and to no nan 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 Mr.. Ma
| son with the comment:
1T is peculiar because this is a pc
culiar body" CLaughter.)
At times, added Mr.. Mason. he HIM
self had been guilty of utilizing the
rules of the Senate against a measure
because he had learned rapidly from
the older senators in the chamber.
Some of them, he said, upon a measure
to which they were opposed, would
"set their mouths going and go OFF and
leave them for nearly a week at a time
without the slightest intellectual effort
whatever"
The regular order was demanded,
there being nothing before the SEN
ate.
After Nh. Morgan had Offered a res
| olution declaring the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty between the United States and
/ Great Britain abrogated, the Senate,
at LOS, on motion of Mr.. Hoar, went
into executive session.
The debate on the rules was contin-
ued in the executive session which fol-
lowed. The principal participants were
Senator Mason on the Republican side,
and Senators Teller and Jones. of Ar
kansas. of the opposition. Mr.. Mason
| contended that under the rules as they
at present stand, it was in the power
of the minority to prevent, and there
fore negatively to control legislation.
| Messrs. Jones and Teller c~ontended
that there had never been a failure to
pass a bill which has the real and sim
cere support of a majority of the SEN
ate because of the absence OF a cloture
| rule. Mr.. Mason ~controverted this.
will the Senator from Illinois name
a bill that has been defeated by the
| minority?" asked Mr.. Jones.
"IVill the Senator from Arkansas tell
the Senate" responded Mr.. Mason, ig-
noring the question, how many times
he was consulted about the ship sub
sidy bill and how many concessions he
was asked to make in order to permit
the consideration of the measure TO
proceed. | think q reply to this ques-
ton added the Illinois Senator, will
illustrate the point of my contention
better than anything l can say"
Mr.. Teller said he saw in the movement
which had been set on foot a determined
| ecf1rf ro emit off dahafa in the only nation
al tribunal in which there was absolutely
freedom of debate. This he considered a
step in the subversion of liberty. He de-
clared that whatever might be accom-
plished at a later session, the rules could
not be changed during the special session.
The Democratic members of the Senate
held an informal conference after the adj
journment of the House to-day to consid-
er the wisdom of filling minority places
on the Senate committees made vacant by
the retirement of Senators on the Demo-
cratic side. but adjourned without decld-
ing whether action would be taken or not.
There also was discussion of the cloture
movement in the Senate. and While no
effort was made to secure a formal express
sion upon the subject, there was a suffi-
cient exchange of opinion to cause those
| present to conclude that the movement
would be resisted to the end of the ses-
sion.
The conference was attended by Sena-
tors Patterson, Dubois, Harris, Turner
and Heitfield. all of whom heretofore have
acted with either the Silver Republicans
or Populists.
The President to-day sent in the names
of the present members of the abine to
continue their terms, and they were con-
frmed.