The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-03
Rights of the Minority Must
be Respected.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS
Williams Of Mississippi Declares That the Dem
ocratic Eilibus.er Has Far Broader Sig
nifcance Than Desire for Re-
taliation.
(Bv the Associated Pressl


Washington, March 2.-From IL o'clock
this morning until late tonight the House
struggled laboriously against the Demo
cratic filibuster, working steadily to
wind up the necessary business of the
session. Despite another special rule,
adopted early in the day, legislation pro-
ceeded at a snail's pace. Roll call fol-
lowed 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 drafted to help out. Since
inaugurated there have been over sixty
roll calls as against fifty-seven for the
entire long session lasting from Decem-
ber l. 1901. to July 8, 1903. The men,
bers also show the effects of the heavy
strain, but they are sticking to their
posts. Tonight the great hall presented
a dishevelled appearance The floor was
strewn with bits of paper, looking as if
a snow-storm had swept through the
tators were many weary watchers inter-
ested in bills doomed to failure, but
still hoping on to the end The pro-
eeedings were enlivened several times
as the leaders of the respective sides
crossed swords. Their temprs had not
been sweetened by their long vigil and
frequently the sparks flew.
The presentation of the rule to cut off
the filibustering which adopts the same
methods of sending to conference genRal
bills with Senate amendments which has
been pursued with reference to appro-
priation bills thus cutting off several
roll calls, and cuts out the demand for
the previous question on conference re-
ports was the occasion of a lively debate.
Mr.. Williams, of Mississippi, pro-
tested against the course of the Repub-
lican partisan press in attributing the
action of the minority In the House to
revenge against the unseating of Mr.
Butler He said the country should
know that the situation was broader
than that. The Democratic minority, he
said, was not acting in retaliation; it
was teaching the majority that it's rights
must be respected. If reasonable time
that contested case, he said, the minority
would not have been under the necessity
of pursuing it's present course. Every
constitutional and parliamentary privi-
lege, he said would be employed 10
drive home the Democratic protest. and
if in the Fifty-eighth Congress an at
tempt was made to deprive a Democrat
elected by the 5000 majority of his seat
the same tactics would be pursued
Mr.. Grosvenor compared the present
situation with that when the Democrats
in the Fifty-thr Congress brought in
a rule to concur in the six hundred Sen
ate amendments to the Wilson Tariff
Bill Gin gross The pretext of the
Democrats or their present course, he
said, was a f1imsy excuse. The minority
he said. was trying to paralyze the gov
ernment, but the majority would not
allow it to do so.
1--WE arc not paralyzing the govern
ment." interposed Mr.. Williams, OF
Mississippi, IAN extra session could be
called and such a session would give
Congress an opportunity to pas the
LittIefield BILL The rule wa adopted
162 to 103
The conference report on the Alaskan
Homestead Bill and the immigration Bill
were adopted, the Omnibus Public
Building Bill and the General Deficiency
Appropriation Bill We're sent to confer
ence. The Often Bill to prohibit to-
bacco dealers from giving prizes, the
bill to provide for delegate from Porto
Rico, a bill to advance Major w. c.
Gorgas the rank of Assistant Surgeon
General and a bill for the relief of c.
b. Handforth were discussed. This is
the net result of the session up to 8
o'clock tonight.