THE LEGITIMATE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.
The PRESIDENT. Unless the resolution adopted by the Senate on the second clay of this session [printed on page 8 of the BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS] is suspended or rescinded the Chair could not, unless the Senate gives unanimous consent, entertain propositions of a general character.
Mr. SLACK. Then I move the operation of that rule be suspended.
Mr. CONNER. Is this understood to be rescinding the rule entirely?
The PRESIDENT. That is what the Chair understood it to be, in effect.
Mr. CONNER. So far as I am concerned, I should not oppose suspending the rule for a particular and pressing emergency, but to enter upon general legislation, for one I shall go against it. I think it unwise at this time. If it be proper to allow a particular bill to be introduced by general consent without effecting the operation of the resolution I, of course, could not object.
Mr. SLACK. I am not particular about rescinding that rule, but I think by general consent the provisions of that rule might be suspended. I do not think I should be in favor of going into a general system of legislation, but the rule might be rescinded, notwithstanding that.
Mr. STUDABAKER. It appears to be a strange process by which if Senators desire any particular legislation they have to take their bill's into the other end of the Capitol and get them passed there in order to get them brought properly before this body. Some time ago the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. March] introduced a bill fixing the times of holding the Common Pleas Courts in his county, which was ruled out here, but was introduced in the other end of the Capitol, came back to the Senate and we passed it. Now it appears to me we had better rescind this resolution than leave it in force; for we have considered it discourteous to make it operate upon a bill which has been passed in the other end of the Capitol.
Mr. CARNAHAN. I move to rescind the rule altogether.
Mr. WOLFE. I am opposed to rescinding the rule, for if it is done I am satisfied matters of general legislation will be introduced to such an extent as will necessarily prevent proper legislation in regard to matters that will properly come before this body. We have not time to do that, and I think there is more reason for the continuation of the rule now than there was for adopting it at the start. As far as the dispension of it for a special purpose that will meet the approbation of the Senate generally, I have no objection.
Mr. JOHNSTON. If this rule is to be suspended every time a bill is introduced, it would save time to rescind it at once. I presume every Senator here may have some business for which he may ask that the rule be suspended; and if it is suspended for one man's benefit, it ought to be suspended for all.
Mr. BEESON. I shall demand the ayes and noes on that question.
Mr. JOHNSTON. I will join the gentleman in his call for the ayes and noes; for I would like to have an expression from this Senate as to whether they will stay the forty days out or not. If we are going to stay, we had just as well pass some bills that the people want passed.
Mr. TURNER. I am in favor of rescinding the rule for the very reason that some gentlemen are opposed to rescinding it. We are now drawing rapidly to the close of the session, and I am satisfied there is no disposition on the part of Senators to introduce a system of general legislation. I do not know of any bills that are to be introduced, and I apprehend there are but few. It looks like a kind of child's play for the Senate to resolve that we will not go into a system of general legislation, and then rescind the resolution.
Mr. MURRAY. I shall vote to rescind this rule in order to save our own credit with the people of the State. The gentlemen who are proposing to rescind this resolution are the same gentlemen who voted to bring us back here. They said we had important business to transact, and that it was necessary for this Legislature to convene again. A majority carried this through, against my vote and the vote of others on this floor. We are here now, and they propose by this resolution to get off of legislation. Every one knows everything pertaining to the war has been disposed of, The people up in our section, when they asked, In the name of Heaven what page: 135[View Page 135] are we earning back here for? I could say nothing, but that a majority of the Legislature thought we ought to If we keep this rule over us, we might as well adjourn to-day, and go home, and say to the people that we have no business. If there is any business to transact, in the name of heaven let us do it, and cast off this rule, which binds us hand and foot. If there is any legislation to do, let us save our credit by doing it. - The motion to rescind the resolution was agreed to by yeas 23, nays 12, as follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Carnahan, Claypool, Cobb, Culver, De Hart, Hamilton, Johnston, Jones, Line, March, Mellett, Murray, Odell, Ray, Shoemaker, Shoulders, Slack, Steele, Stone, Studabaker, Tarkington, Turner, White - 23.
NAYS - Messrs. Bearss, Beeson, Berry, Campbell, Conner Loraax, Miller, O'Brien, Robinson, Teegarden, Williams, Wolfe - 12.
