Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-02-19
THE SENATE TEN-DAY RULE.
The Ten-Dsy Rule in the Senate Of Mis-
souri, an Innovation Never In Force In
b Senate Previous to This Session.

the Senate Previous TO inns Sc8biohs
Jefferson City, No., Feb. 1o.-Nevei
before in the history of the states legis.
lation has the ten-day rule been In euec'
In the state senate OF Missouri until this
the forty-second, session of the general
assembly.
It's introduction and adoption is destruc-
tive of one OF the most powerful citadelz
of corrupt lobby influence. Such innu-
ences have been potent enough 10 nave
prevented the adoption OF the rule by
the a heretofore, but its adoption mas
been a hobby of the present h~eutenant-
governor QLee), who has put 1t into Ell
feet by q determined and desperate strug-
gle. n
The ten-day rule, as it is called, 70
really Rule "a, and as adopted for the
sion reads as follows:
Rule 2i-No bill shall be considered for
final passage unless ths same mas peen
reported on by a committee and printeo
for the use of the senator's; provided that
all bills referred to standing committees
shall be reported on within ten days AFTER
the same have been referred, unless, LOT
good cause shown, further time be grant
ed. And If at the expiration OF ten days
from the time of the reference OF any
bill, nj further time having been grant
ed, the same be not reported to the SEN
ate, any senator may, In open senate, re-
quest the return of said bill to the sem
ate, and u request shall be noted In
the journal; and after the making there
OIL TIE CndlTIudu VI tu0
which said bill is pending shall tmmedi-
ately return the same to the secretary OF
the senate, and said bill shall from the
time of such request be considered as IN
the possession of the senate and be re-
ferred to the committee of the whole, and
be so Endorsed by the secretary OF the
senate; and no bill or resolution shall be
reported adversely by. any. committee UNI
til the author Of such bill or resolution
shall be given an opportunity to appear
and be heard before the COMMITTEES to
which the same is referred
1t is much stronger n more drastic
in it's provisions than the ten-day rule Of
the lower house or house OF representa-
tives, which reads as follows:
Rule 27-The several committees OF the
house, when appointed, shall give the au-
thor Of each bill referred to said commit
tee an opportunity to appear before said
committee to be heard in its defense, and
no committee shall report adversely on
any bill without first giving, the author
thereof an opportunity to be heard in de-
tense or explanation of said bill. And all
bills referred to said committees shal be
reported out in ten days, unless the time
is extended by the consent of the house.
1t will be observed that the adoption OF
the rule by the senate renders 1t simply
impossible for a COMMITTEES to pigeon
hole, smother, pocket or "hold-out' any
any senator has sufficient interest In it
to call it out Of the committee. -.
This defeats the last final resource OF
Lle COTTuDllOIllSlS WlllCu WIS ~ AlluuSO
the holding out of bills until the session
adjourned.
The first session of the state senate
was held in 1923. No such rule was ever
in force up to the time of the adoption OF
our present state constitution in 1875.
No record Of an attempt even of the
adoption of such a rule exists until the
session Of 1881, when Rule "a, was made
"Rule 24-No bill shall be considered for
final passage until the same has been re-
ported upon by a committee n printed
for the use of the members"
This was a mere excerpt from the state
constitution, Art. A, section n, n con-
tains no stipulation as to when bills shall
be reported upon.
Rule "a remained unchanged absolutely
In the sessions of 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889. 1891,
1898, 1895, 1897 and 1899.
In 1901, the first session Of the senate
presided oyer by, the present lieutenant
governor Lee), he appointed a commit
Senators, Walker, N. M. Bradley,
Heather, Farris and Matthews.
The three first named filed q majority
report recommending the adoption Of
rules among which was rule "a, as fol-
mo bill shall be considered for final
passage, unless the same has been re-
the use of the senate; provided that all
bills referred to standing committees
shall be reported on within ten, days
dIleT the SdI1e HAVE U6eH TelCTTGu, uH-
less, for good cause shown. further time
be ~ranted."
This report was signed by Senators
Walker, Heather and N. M. Bradley, Sem
ators Farris and Matthews not concur
ring:
Frank Farris moved, n Senator Mat
thews seconded the motion, that All Of
stricken out. The vote on the motion was
as follows:
Ayes: Senators Clarke, Collins, David
Matitb RaTgisj Mo mtayneos; rc5 5swelli Ra Marsf Rol.
Inns, Schoenlaub, Smith, Sullivan, Tandy.
Thomas, Whaley. Total, 1S-ten demo-
Gratis and eight republicans.
Costello, Dowell, Drabelie, Fields Heath
er, Lee, Martin (Saline), Rubey, Stubs,
Walker. Total, 13-all democrats.
Thus. was, the ten day. rule in the sem
ate defeated at the session Of 1901.
was, at the session of 1901, defeated but
not disheartened, and that he still ad-
hered to his determination to put the rule
the opening of the present session Sena-
tor Frank Farris promptly moved that a
president to formulate rules for the gov
securing for himself the right to be
named as chairman of the committee, he
was sent for Ind asked, if appointed
ne would agree WIN OLner
members of the committee to recom-
mend the adoption of the ten-day rule.
He so agreed, and the following commit
tee was appointed: Senators Farris, Walk.
Or, Martin, Bradley (St. Francois), Young.
That committee made a unanimous re-
port recommending the adoption of the
ten-day rule "A by the senate of the
forty-second general assembly, and when
the report was put to a vote not a sim
gle vote, either democratic or republican
was recorded against it, it being unani-
mously adopted by the senate.
Thu was a new era in the legislation
of Missouri adopted by the determined
will power and persistent effort of one
man, and no session of the state senate
will ever probably be again held in which
the ten-day rule will not prevail.
Legislation, desirable or undesirable.
must now be fought out on the floor of
the senate. and every senator must take
his stand for. or against 1t. No bill can
be "held OUT or 'pocketed."
1t may be that good bills will be de-
feated and bad bills become laws, but the
people will know by whose votes the deed
was done, and senators will be held ac-
countable by their constituents.
1t is said that the committees of the
senate at this session are the strongest
and best organized in the history Of that
body. The 'ten-day rule works, as the
business of the senate is right up with
the calendar and far ahead OF that of
previous sessions.
Precipitnted . Rum.