Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-23
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A SPIRITED DEBATE
Lively Discussion in the
Senate.
POWER OF MINORITY
THE TABLES TURNED ON SENA-
TOR QUAY.
Caused Laugh as History Of the VIII
son Bill Was Recalled-House
Passes $50 Pension Bills.
POWER OF MINORITY

Upon the conclusion Of the morning ses-
sion in the Senate today Mr.. Fairbanks re-
ferred to his notice of yesterday that he
would call up the immigration bill today.
and said that he understood it would be
agreeable to Mr.. Quay.
Mr.. Quay explained his position in the
matter by saying that he consented to the
arrangement, believing there would be no
debate upon the bill, but he had been in
formed that senators desired to discuss the
bill and he felt bound to object.
Mr.. Fairbanks temporarily withdrew his
request for consideration of the bill on a
suggestion from Mr.. Quay that later in the
day some arrangement might be made with
the view to taking it up.
The statehood bill then was taken up.
Mr. Hoar sent to the desk and had read
a letter addressed to him by Chairman
Fowler of the House committee on banking
and currency, referring to the currency DIN
reported by that committee and stating
that sit has the approval and support OF
the President, the Secretary of the Treas
ury, the controller of the currency and the
director of the mint
At Mr.. Hoar's request the letter was Or
dered to lie on the table.
Basis Of Mr.. Hoar's Criticism.
Although no comment was made, 1t Is
supposed that the letter had reference to
remarks of Mr. Hoar few days since upon
influence of executive departments upon
legislation.
Mr. Quay yielded to permit the passage
OF House bill authorizing the PRESIDENT
to place on the retired list OF the navy the
name Of Julius A. Kaiser, as passed as
sistant engineer.
When Mr.. Gallnger called up pension
bill Mr. QUAY said he would object II any
n committee
Those calls have become fashionable THIS
morning." said he.
Has it come to this" interjected Mr..
Spooner, that no business is to be trans
acted except the statehood bill?'
A bill was passed authorizing the con-
struction of a revenue cutter to be en-
pioyed in Hawaiian waters
There was a temporary lull In the pro-
ceedings, and Mr.. Qauy said he would be
pleased to have vote on the statehood
bill unless some senator was ready to pro-
coed.
'HThe senator need not be impatient" in
terrupted Mr. Beveridge. There is some
body prepared to argue this question
II will be glad If he will take the floor:
that's ALL replied Mr.. Quay.
Immediately following this came a de-
mand for vote by Mr.. Cockrell (Mo.).
Mr.. Beveridge then spoke against the
omnibus bill.
Lively Time in the Senate.
The Senate was entertained this after
noon with some oratorical fencing and
forensic parrying between the opponents
and advocates of the statehood bill. Senator
Pettus Of Alabama was in the chair during
the temporary absence Of the president pro
tempore, and acted as referee for the COM
batants, calling them to time frequently
and keeping them well within the pre-
scribed parliamentary arena of battle. .
Senator Beverfdge and Senator Dubois
started the fun. Senator Beverage, whose
main object is to secure full and free con-
sideration of the statehood bill, and who
deeply deplores anything which looks like
Fastening the vote on that measure, re-
GREETED that the other side manifested what
he termed a spirit Of combustible instan-
taneousness. He wondered why there was
. such a hurry. -"-
Senator Dubois, one of the democrat tic
leaders. resented the suggestion that ad-
vocates of the statehood bill were delaying
the Senate or using obstructive measures:
They were not in a hurry to secure a vote
but insisted that a day should be set for
a VOTE ten, twenty, or thirty days hence, as
the Senate might decide. &c. =
But" cried Mr.. Dubois facing Senator
Beverage and speaking with great earnest
ness, there will be vote on this bill
There will be a vote, because a majority Of
this Senate desires vote, and the minority
has never been able to prevent the major-
ity securing what it demanded.
you may bring in your trust BILL con-
tinued Senator Dubois, ''Or contrive in any
other way to divide us, but the majority
will have a vote
Senator Foraker asked Senator Beveridge
why the majority should not have a vote
II there is a majority for the bill.
Senator Beyeridge wanted to know who
said there was a majority.
Senator Foraker replied that assuming
that majority existed, why should it not
have a vote.
Senator Beveridge started In to answer
the query of the Ohio senator. but he i'm
it, god tn, Nrtr
with Senator Dubois upon the purport Of
the latter's language in the previous coll
loquy. Senator Beveridge asserted that
Senator Dubois had claimed that the ma
jority could not be divided Senator Dubois
disavowed such language, and the notes of
the official reporter were read to show
that Senator Dubois had said. you may
contrive methods to divide u.s." but had not
used the exact language quoted by Senator
Beverage.
A Spirited Colloquy.
Then there was a spirited colloquy be-
tween Senator Beverage and Senator Du-
bois as to the interpre tation of the Ian
guager> each one insisting that his own
contention was correct. In the meantime,
Senator Foraker's question was not an
swered.
During this rapid exchange of thrusts
and parties Senator Pettus was kept busy
insisting upon proceeding in an orderly
way. Senator PettuS is the soul of pune
tiliousness in parliamentary procedure and
he ruled the debate with an iron hand in
sisting that every senator must observe all
of the forms to the minutest degree, finally
receiving smiling and willing acquies-
cence from the debaters.
Then Senator Depew of New York who
had been following the discussion arose
and a smile which played about the corners
of his mouth indicated that he had some
thing to say.
The Senate was all attention In a moment
Referring to Senator Dubois statement
that the majority had always been able to
have its way In the Senate Senator Deuew
recalled the fact that one time the Presi-
dent of the United States and majority in
the Senate desired the passage of a tariff
bill. framed along certain lines accenfahIe
to the President and the majority.