The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-19
MAY RESULT IN
CL0TURE RULE
Possibilities of the Fight on the
Statehood Bill.
SENATE is CONSERVATIVE
BUT THE QUESTION HAS BEEN
UP TWICE RECENTLY.

IIJAsHINGToN. Feb. 1S.-There was
w a lively debate in the senate to
day over Senator Quay's resolu-
ton declaring it TO be the sense Of
the senate that there should be a vote
on the statehood bill before the ad-
journment of congress. Senator Nc
Comas offered Senator PIatt's cloture
resolution. introduced two days ago.
and a motion was made to refer the
whole matter 10 the committee on
rules. This molten was pending when
the senate went into executive session.
The discussion of the subject brought
out the fact that the senate was op-
pose to cloture in any form
The resolution of Senator Quay &C.
claring il is the sense of the senate
that there should be a vote on She
statehood bill, occupied q portion of the
morning hour in the senate. Mr.. Spoon
er opposed it, saying it was in a sense
eloture to which he was opposed or a
censure upon the minority which he
did not think was right
The Senate's Conscience.
Under the present rules" he main
tanned, the interests of the country are
OChANA NCNA NtAcAlA II NAACEE " 81 Il NAO-
ture- The resolution. he insisted, calls
on the senate practically TO put a vote
of censuTe upon those who happen to
be cOnscientiously opposed to the ON
nibus statehood bill.
Mr. Teller of Colorado agreed with
Mr. SpOOner, and believed in maintain
ing free discussion. Mr.. Cockrell OF
Missouri conceded with that view. Mr..
Plat of Connecticut said that he did
not believe in absolute untrammelled
debate when it reached the point of OBJ
struction.
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts said q
majority in the senate always gets a
vote when it is real majority, which
must be something more than numeri-
cal. He said that majorities of the
majority party was entitled to control
the legislation CT a parliamentary
party.
Substitute Offered.
Mr. McComas of Maryland offered a
substitute for the resolution, which was
copy of an amendment to the rules of
the senate offered by Mr.. Platt of Con-
necticut some time ago, and provided
for limited clOture
Mr.. Dubois of Idaho, answering par
ucuiarly Mr.. Lodge, declared that if a
majority of the senate think it for the
best interests of the country to pass a
and not be compelled to belong to the
majority party. Otherwise" said he,
the minority might just as well go
home -
Mr.. Mason of Illinois said the minor
lty is the great part of the senate,
which is the only body where the mi
nority stops legislation.
Will Result in Cloture.
Mr.. Carmack of Tennessee said that
where debates are carried on purely for
the purpose of obstruction they are
likely to lead to a clOture rule which
VIII defeat legitimate debate
No action was taken on the resolution
of the substitute, although a motion
had meen made to refer the matter to
the committee on rules.
Messrs. Stewart OF Nevada, Platt of
Connecticut and Jones of Arkansas
were appointed conferees on the Indian
appropriation bill. Mr. Mason of Hi
nois reported the postofice apprOpria-
ton bill.
At 1:45 the senate went into execu-
tive session, and at 500 D. m ad-
journed.