Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
IS AGAINST CLOTURE
-. 50 - ss --- 80.
Debate IN g. Senate Shows
Temper, = Of That Body.
es.z
THE QUAY RESOLUTION
REPUBLICAN, AND DEMOCRATIC
s...,.a. LEADERS UNITE.
T. soft =ts
Condemn the Attempt to Cut OF Dis
.cussion-subject Ended by Going J..
Into ExecntiYe Session., 49,

dorsed by leading senators on: the demo-
cratic side. The question came up by the
presentation by Senator Quay OF his reso-
luton of former day, expressing the sense
of tina Senate in favor of reaching vote
on the statehood bill before March 2. Sem
ator Quay had expressly stated before and
reiterated today that this was not IN the
nature OF a cfOture resolution, but would
be merely an expression of the sense OF the
majority Of the Senate.
, Senator Spooner contended that the effect
of the adoption of Senator Quay's resolu-
ton would be to pat vote OF censure on
the minority of the Senate who were engag-
ed in conscienttously expressing their views
upon pending measure; 1t would be vote
of censure upon senators for exercising the
right conferred upon them by the rules to
object to a vote On a bill He declared 1t
would be impeachment by the majority OF
the Senate Of the motives of the minority.
1- Rights Of the Minority.
, Senator Spooner then declared in impas-
stoned tones that the rights Of the minority
party in the Senate were bound UP In such
a measure. He reviewed the history OF the
legislation attending the attempted passing
Gratis how the absence Of clotures had en-
was objected to and eventually to change
the vote on that biH,h,
Senator Hoar interrupted to emphasize
Senator Spooner's point by claiming that II
there had been a. vote on the force bill
early during Its consideration 1t would have
passed, but that the absence of cloture and
the continuation. of, debate produced a
change Of sentiment at the end Of that dis
cussion which would, have defeated the bill
If it had come to vote. ~,
t The debate by this. time had attracted the
most earnest attention. Of the Senate. SEN
ators were listening carefully to all that was
being said, and on both sides Of the cham
Der were evidenctng a. desire to participate
In the debate. Senator Teller supplemented
Senator Spooner'S contention, and said he
was glad to hear AM expression Of opinion
from the chairman of the committee on
rules opposing cloture.
Senator Clay Of Georgia declared that the
utterances wouldfput at rest the discussion
whether the Senate will ever adopt clo-
ture rule. He hsait THAT the glory and
power Of the Senate rested upon three ele-
ments; first, that the Senate was a part OF
the executive second, that 1t gave the
states equal representation and such equal
ity could never be diminished: third that
the rules ofsthe Senate afforded unlimited
debate, and without the third feature the
other two elements would be nullif1ed.
Senator Aldrfch said he would not vote
for any resolution contempla ting cloture,
because he had come to believe that in the
long run the Senate will arrive at a wise
conclusion upon every measure Of impor-
lance. He commended that the Senate never
defeats by delay any bill that ought to pass.
Mr.. Lodge Changes His Mind.
Senator Lodge of Massa chusetts recalled
the fact that he came into the Senate from
the House at a time when the proceedings
in the House over the adoption of Reed
rules had mbued him with strong ideas in
favor Of closing debate. Within a. short
time, a year or two. he had reached the
conclusion that the practice Of the Senate
was, on the whole. a wise one, and was the
wisest for the country and for the general
interest of the government.
He declared that no measure desired by
an actual majority Of the Senate ever fails
of vote, J. always gets a vote when
real majority demands, but he insisted that
those who invoked the majority rule must
not begin by overthrowing the majority.
He contended that the republican party
will be responsible for the passage of the
statehood bill, II 1t passes. and he inveighed
against combinations of the minority with
a faction of the majority to enact legdsla-
ton for which the majority Is responsible.
He Illustrated his point by recalling that
the solid democratic minority Of the House
Joining with a handful of the majority re-
Gently passed a financial bill for the Phil
1ppines which was at variance with the
wishes Of the party In power.
Mr.. Dubois took Mr.. Lodge sharply to
task for putting forward what Mr.. Dubois
termed the untenable proposition that a
majority of the majority should rule In
other words. that the majority party could
by It's caucus action defend proposition
which was opposed by a majority Of the
Senate. --i-4i $50 - ~ -, - -
Senator Plat (Conn) briefly favored the
when debate could be brought to an end
and d vote obtained upon bin which
majority of the Senate desired passed.
Senator McComas offered as substitute
Por
resolution, which provides, for cloture
Senator Mason also defended cioture, but
the overwhelming sentiment upon both
sides OF the chamber as expressed in earn
parent sincerity was adverse to changing
the. practice which has prevailed In the
Senate for one hundred years.
Stopped by Executive Session =.
After the debate had proceeded until
nearly o'ciocks further proceedings upon
the Quay resolution were stopped by Sen
ator Cullom calling for an executive SEES
sion. re- uf .. f
The object of goins into executive session
was to put into eject the agreement which
the republicans 6Teabhed In their caucus
last evening tosbrine the Panama canai
treaty before the Senate and to hold 1t
there for consideration until 1t shall be
ratified. That agreement was concurred In
by the friends Of the statehood bill, Sena-
tor Quay yielding. as he said, to the over
,whelming public demand for action on thu
No condition fof future consideration of
the statehood bill was attached to the
agreement. It was the tacit understanding
that the statehood fight would have TO be
adjusted as best 1T may be after the PAN
anna canal treaty Is out of the way, but
that the first duty Is to- ratify that treaty.
Neither did the agreement contain any
provision for taking up the Cuban reciproc-
ity treaty. That also will have to fight its
own battle after the Panama treaty is dis
posed of and after~sthe statehood bill is
taken care Of subsequent to the Panama
treaty. Opinion is divided over the pros
poets Of the Cuban reciprocity treaty. Some
senators are inclined to doubt whether the
President would call special session of
the. Senate for ratification of the Cuban
reciprocity treaty alone.
Secretary Root Has Lumbago.
Secretary Root Is confined to his house to-