Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-02
TOEXPED|TE THE WORK
Another Rule Adopted by the
House.
THE DEMOCRATS ANGRY
ACTION DENOUNCED IN CAUSTIC
LANGUAGE.
Republicans Ready to Continue Exist.
ing Appropriations on
General Deficiency Bill.

Another check was given to the demos
cratic filbuster in the House of Representa-
tives this morning by the adoption of a rule
, which will permit the adoption OF confer
ence reports with but one roll-call and five
minutes debate on a side.
The rule was denounced by the democrats
In severe terms The occasion was i'm
proved by the three most caustic demo-
cratic speakers-John Sharp Williams of
Mississippi. DeArmond of Missouri and In
derwood Of Alabama-to explain why the
democrats were flibustering.
The speech of Mr.. Williams was regarded
by some as perhaps the most caustic ard
witty short speech delivered during the ses-
sion. Mr.. Grosvenor defended the major
tty in deciding the new rule saying that
whatever might be said by the democrats
OF high-handed proceedings II was far more
necessary to supply the necessities of the
government In the way of appropria tions
than 1t was to get political buncombe into
the Record.
Mr. Dalzeifs resolution providing for car
rylng on the work of any department
should the appropriation bill for that de-
partment fail Of final passage will be put
| through the House If necessary. No such
conference committees are tied up over
| questions of difference between the two
houses. The naval committee is thus tiei
up over the tonnage of the new war ships
| authorized.
When the House reconvened today at IL
o'clock the pending question was the adop-
tion Of the conference report on the Alas
kan homestead bill. Mr. Richardson. the
minority leader, in pursuance of the fIibus-
tering program, attempted to make the
point that a quorum must be ascertained to
be present before business could be trans
acted but the Speaker declined to enter
tain the point and upon the demand of Mr.
Payne, the minority leader roll call was
ordered on the pending question
The report was agreed to 207-3.
Special Rule reported.
Mr.. Grosvenor from the committee on
rules then presented a special rule to put
the immigration bill into conference by a
direct vote and to cut off the previous ques-
ton on conference reports.
The republican managers had devised the
rule to still further reduce the minority's
power to filibuster and this morning 1t was
ordered favorably reported by the commit
tee on rules. 1t adopted the same methods
of sending to conference general bills with
Senate amendments which has been pur-
sued with reference to appropriation bills,
thus cutting off several roll calls and by a
further provision cut out the demand for
the previous question on conference re-
ports, thus eliminating roll call on each
report. The rule follows: Resolved
That Immediately upon the adoption of this
order, or at any time thereafter, the Speak
may lay before the House the bill III. r.
12199) to regulate the immigration of aliens
into the United States now on the Speakers
table, and the Senate amendments thereto
having been read, the question shall be at
nr,nn tolY until hot tafz y.
motion on the following question: viii the
House disagree to said amendments en- bloc
and ask conference with the Senate? And
If this motion shall be decided in the afflr-
native the Speaker shall at once appoint
conferees without the Intervention of any
motion If the House shall decide the
ton in the negative. the effect of said vote
shall be to agree to said amendments, and
further that for the remainder of this ses-
sion whenever a conference report shall
have been presented and read there shall
be ten minutes of debate and at the end
of that time the previous question shall be
considered as ordered agreeing to said
report
Democratic Opposition
Mr.. Grosvenor briefly explained the scope
Of the rule. and then yielded twenty min
utes to Mr.. Richardson (Tenn-), who in turn
yielded five minutes to Mr.. Underwood
(Ala.). The latter declared that the rule
proposed to force vote upon conference
reports on appropriation bills carrying mil
lions after five minutes debate on a side.
He taunted the other side for their inability
to do business with deliberation. He also
said 1t was unfair that the immigration
bill, which had been emasculated by the
Senate, should be thrown into conference
without giving the House an opportunity
to act.
Mr.. Williams CMiss.) protested against the
course Of the republican partisan press in
attributing the action of the minority in the
n
Mr.. Butler. He said the country should
know that the situation was broader than
that. The democratic minority, he said.
was not acting in etaliatfon: 1t was teach
ing the majority that its rights must be
respected. If reasonable time had been
given to discuss and present that contested
election case, he said, the minority would
not have been under the necessity of pur-
suing it's present course. Every constitu-
tional and parliamentary privilege, he said,
would be employed to drive home the DEM
ocratic protest, and IL in the Fifty-eighth
Congress attempt was made to deprive
democrat, elected by 5000 majority, Of his
seat the same tactics would be pursued
Mr.. Williams then turned to the rule and
ridiculed the employment of the French
phrase zen bloc much to the amusement
of the House.
Mr.. DeArmond attributed the phrase to
Mr. Grosvenor who, he said sarcast cally,
had recently had much experience in au-
thorship He denounced the republicans
for doing business on the Sabbath.
Mr.. GroSvenor Closes.
Mr.. Grosvenor in closing the yAebate on
the rule remarked, facetionsly, that when
the Lord said six days shalt thou labor
and, do all thy work." perhaps He did not
foresee the presence on earth of the demo-
cratic party. Republican applause.) Stnl,
he added, He might have done SO. The in
junction about rescuing the OK or ass on
Sunday If 1t fell into the pit he said. GER
tainly foreshadowed the coming of the
democratic party.
Mr.. Grosvenor then compared the pres-
ent situation with that when the demo-
Gratis in the Fifty-third Congress brought
in rule to concur in the six hundred Sen
ate amendments to the Wilson tariff bill.
"in gross" The pretext OF the democrats
for their present course, he said. was
nimsy excuse. The minority. he said. was
trying 10 paralyze the government. but
the majority would not allow it to do 80
I'VE are going to meet every necessary
contingency" said he. '1t Is our duty ~
do SO. and the country expects us to do 90.
The flfbuster wiz come out where reyelua