Year: 1873

MEANING OF THE SENATE RESOLUTION SHUT


TING OUT ALL But CERTAIN KINDS OF


IEGISLATION-HOW 1T HAS BEEN PREVENTED


IN PREVIOUS YEARS.


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEE.l


WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Ihe caucus resolution
TO expedite business in the Senate was passed yesterday
lust Mr. Anthony reported it, after nearly the whole
DAY had spent IN debating 1t. The ostensble pur
pose OF this resolution is threefod 1t is designed to
prevent leg Station of general character the friends Of
which become desperate the close OF Congress ap-
proaches and their the Senate calendar
or the Speakers table, with little chance Of being
reached from being attached to appropriation bills
which are thus made kind Of Trojan horse for jobs of
every nature. Having thus excluded all amend
ments not germaDe to the bin, the second
object Of the resolution is to limit debate on
all amendments TO a single speech Of five min
utes by any Senator, and the third to prevent the
making Of any special orders this session. II the
majority were willing TO out the spirit well
the letter OF this caucus resolution at all times, its Oper
alton could not be otherwise than beneficial but the
perence of the past two years. when similar resolutions
were passed. except regards the making of special
orders that the rule drawn is intended TO
exclude only such amendments as the majority object to-
while any that supported by the majority always
be framed 10 be brought within the rule In short
the caucus determines that they VIII allow Liberals
or Democrats 10 offer amendments that do not directly
relate the Appropriation bill under consideration,
draw their resolution so loosely that any the
majority determine 10 pass can be admitted, and, no
matter how important it is be debated only five
minute speeches.


In the debate yesterday, Messrs. Trumbull Thurman
Cassery, Bayard and others, called attention 10 the
operation Of this rule, last year, when, after great
struggle, q resolution I'm the words as that
adopted yesterday. passed The main object OF the
resolution then TO prevent political speeches
Appropriation bills. After the rule had been estab-
shed, the Administration Senators, who had voted in
70 pass the Supplementary Election law found
that while they could put ii through the Senate at any
time an independent proposition 1t could not be
taken up in the House unless IL went there
amendment TO bill that 10 be acted on.
Such bill the sundry Civn Appropriations BILL OF
course the point of order made, but Mr. Anthony
who was in the chair overruled it, The Senate sustained
him, and the amendment, comprising many sections,
was agreed to-


Mr Tr1lmbu in one Of his speeches yesterday, said
that this law had used the Government
Of at least State Every representative Of the
ity who spoke, yesterday, professed a willingness TO
agree 10 such a resolution that reported by Mr..
Anthony, provided 10 could be made explicit to
work with equal fairness toward Both sides OF the
House. The best drawn OF the several amendments
offered for this purpose by MI Trumbuil and
follows: And no amendment TO any such bill making
legislative provisions other than such directly relate 10
the appropriations contained in the bill In the disposition,
limitation aud protection OF the same, shall be received
II the Republicans had honestly desired 20 prevent the
Introduction Of all miscellaneous legislation Appro
priaon bills, they would have accepted this amend
meDt out they did not and the only Administration
man who voted for the amendment Mr. Ferry OF
Connecticut The debate OF yesterday disclosed the fact
that there are several influential Senators who are In