The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-04-07

ity Wider Than Eyer-CrlnllnatIon
and determination Order Of DAY
Democrats Notified That During
Remainder of Session iney would
fard Themselves 0ut in ihg cold.
Washington, April 3.-When the
house adjourned late today the breach
between the majority and minority
parties was, IL anything, wider than
ever. The leaders on both sides ar
rived on the scene early, apparently
none the worse for the parliament
tary struggle of the night before. The
democrats at once resumed dilatory
tactics and kept it up throughout the
day, notwithstanding the COMMITTEES
On rules brought in a rule applying
the gag-Iaw to general debate on the
District of Columbia appropriation
bill which was in order for consid-
Grafton The rule was adopted amid
wasted three months doing nothing,
shouted Mr.. Gaines, of Tennessee.
Speaker Cannon put the question,
which was carried. $50 to S5.
By a vote of yeas 137, nays luz, the
rule was adopted and the District ap-
propriation bill was taken up for con-
sideration. In closing the debate,
which was limited to two hours, Mr..
Williams restated his policy as min
ority leader for the remainder OF the
session. He charged Messrs. Payne and
Dalzell with having used some rath-
er strong language" The democrats,
he said, had been held up as fill
busters before the country. but ne
denied that this was 80. Mr.. Williams
declared that the democrats had
broken no quorum either in the
house or the committee on rules and
nobody is better aware OF that TACT
that those gentlemen who have used
that language He described the fill
buster as a man engaged in prevent
ing legislation. "We," he said, have
great disorder and only after the
democrats had exhausted every par
liamentary move which they could
make to obstruct final disposition. In
presenting the rule Mr.. Dalzell, Of
Pennsylvania, repeated the threat of
Leader Payne that henceforth for the
remainder of the session the demo-
Gratis would find themselves out in
the cold Minority Leader Williams,
full of defiance, announced that he
was not to be intimidated. He told
the republicans again what they
could expect from his side Of the
house and exhorted his democratic
colleagues to stand together and ap-
ply all the power of which the min
ority was possessed in order to force
the republicans to action.
Previous to the reporting Of the
gag rule on the District Of Colum-
bia appropriation bill, the house, af-
ter several dilatory roll calls and
much confusion, adopted the senate
amendments to the supplementary ur-
gent deficiency appropriation bill.
Then came Mr.. Dalzell's report from
the committee on rules explaining
that with the view of expediting the
public business, the committee had
adopted a rule to dispense with the
first reading Of the District Of Col
umbia appropriation bill, to limit gen
era1 debate to two hours, and there
after to consider the bill for amend
ment.
Mr.. DeArmond, of Missouri, vainly
contended for eight hours general de-
bate, whereupon Mr. Dalzel said:
81 do not believe / need say any,
thing in justification Of this rule. The
antics of the gentleman from the
other side yesterday and today demon
strated that, absolutely powerless to
enact any legislation themselves,
! they are intending to obstruct and
prevent legislation upon the part OF
| the majority. I do not deny the con-
| stitutional right Of the minority to
perform in this manner They have
the right to spend the public time IN
rail- calls, but equally on this side
| exists the right Of the majority,
charged with legislation to put into
force all it's power, all the power that
| it has to CARRY into execution Its
will"
Mr. Dalzell, continuing said: We
will be able to demonstrate from this
time on not only that the minority
shall not indulge in any legislation
but that the legislation Of the ma
iority will be such as the majority
desires to pass in it's own way and
at its own time by the exercise Of the
| rules of the. house"
He then moved the previous ques-
| ton on the resolution which motion
was met with vociferous protest from
the democrats who contended for
eight hours general debate.
Mr. Dalzell calmly informed them
that the time which the democrats
wanted had been exhausted in USE
less roll calls.
And that side Of the house mas
been engaged in the business of try
ing to force legislation"
Commenting upon Speaker Can
mons action yesterday regarding the
resolution relating to the paper trust
Mr.. Williams said that he was glad
the speaker had seen the light"
and did not propose ito let the execu-
tive have a monopoly Of criticising
the legislative part of this government
but that he proposes, as spokesman
and head Of the legislative branch
of the republican party to do a lit
tie criticising himself"
He set the house in an uproar when
he said the republicans reminded him