The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-03
LEGISLATION GOES
At A SNAIL IS PACE
House Worked Until Late Last
Night
READING CLERKS WORN OUT
In the Galleries Were Many weary
Spectators Interested In Bits
Doomed to Failure-Session
Was Lively at Times.

Washington, March 2.-From IL O'CLOCK
this morning until late tonight the mouse
struggled Iaboriously against the demo-
cratic flibuster working steadily to wlno
up the necessary business of the session.
Despite another special rule ADOPTED
early in the day, legislation proceeded at
snails pace. Roll call followed roll
call on every proposition. The voices OF
the reading clerks were worn out by the
ceaseless calling of the roll, and several
clerks from committees have been draft
ed to help out.
Since Thursday last, when the filibuster
was inaugurated, there have been over
sixty roll calls, as against 81 for the en-
tire long session lasting from December
1, 1901, to July 3, 1902 The members also
show the effect of the heavy strain, but
they are sticking to their posts. Tonight
the great hall presented disheveled ap-
pearance. The floor was strewn with bits
of paper, looking as If a snow storm had
swept through the hall.
In the galleries among the spectators
were many weary watchers interested in
bills doomed to failure, but still hoping
on to the end. The proceedings were en-
livened several times as the leaders of
the respective sids crossed swords. Their
tempers had not been sweetened by their
long vigil and frequently the sparks flew.
Alaskan Homestead Bill.
The conference report on the Alaskan
homestead bill and the immigration bill
were adopted the omnibus public build
ing bill and the general deficiency APP
preparation bills were sent to conference
The Often bill to prohibit tobacco dealers
from giving prizes, the bill to provide
for delegate from Porto Rico, a bill
to advance Major w. c. Gorgas to the
rank of assistant surgeop-general, anc
a bill for the relief of Lieutenant b. f
Handforth were passed. That was the
net result of the session up to O'Clock
tonight.
When the house reconvened today at l.
o'clock the pending question was the adop
ton of the conference report of the Alas
kan homestead bill. Mr. Richardson, the
minority leader, in pursuance of the fill.
| clustering programme, attempted to max,
the point that a quorum must be ascer
| tanned to be present before bushes.
| could be transacted, but the speaker de-
| clined the entertain the point. and upor
the demand of Mr.. Payne the majority
leader. a roll call was ordered on tn,
pending question.
The report was agreed to-2O7 to g. Mr.
Grosvenor from the committee on rule.
then presented the special rule to put tn,
immigration bill into conference by di
rect vote and to cut off the previous ques
| ton on conference reports
Grosvenor Yields to Richardson.
| Mr.. Grosvenor briefly explained tn,
scope Of the rule and then yielded twenty
minutes to Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee
who in turn yielded five minutes to Mr.
Underwood of Alabama The latter de
clared that the rule proposed to force
vote upon conference reports on appro.
priation bills carrying millions after fly,
minutes debate on a side. He haunted
the other side for their inability to dc
business with elaboration He also sait
1t was unfair that the immigration bill
which had been emasculated by the sen.
ate, had been thrown. into conference
without giving the house an opportunity
to act.
Mr.. Williams, Mississippi. protested
against the course of the republican parti.
san press, In attributing the action of the
minority In the house to revenge against
the recent unseating OF Mr.. Butler. He
| said the country should know that the
situation was broader than that The
democratic minority, he sail, was not
acting in retaliation, 1t was teaching the
majority that its rights must be re-
spected.
If reasonable time had been given tc
discuss as presented the contested election
case, he said, the minority would not
have been under the necessity of pur-
suing its present course. Every constl.
tutional and parliamentary privilege. he
said, would be employed to drive home
the democratic protest and If in the Fifty
eighth congress an attempt was made
to deprive a democratic elected by 600(
majority of his seat. the same tactics
would be pursued. Mr.. Williams Their
turned to the rule and ridiculed the en-
ployment of the French phrase, Ell
bloc much to the amusement of the
house.
Mr. DeArmond attributed the phrase
to Mr.. Grosvenor, who he said sarcasti-
cally had recently had much experience
in authorship. He denounced the repub-
licans for doing business on the Sab
bath.
Mr. Groevepor Ciosee Hehate