when the bill to repeal the "Sherman law" was before the Senate and some
of the Senators think that it is now being employed to kill Mr. Morgan's
Cuban Bill and the Arbitration Treaty.

To prevent this Mr. Mason wishes a rule of cloture (or closure, as it is
called in England) adopted. This is a French word, meaning, to bring to an
ending, or close.

Such a rule was introduced in the English House of Commons by Mr.
Gladstone in 1882, when the debates on the Irish question threatened to be
endless, and the whole business of Parliament was stopped by a few members
exercising their right to speak as long as they chose.

The rule of cloture operates in this way. When the debate has continued
for some time and any member believes that the majority have heard enough,
he introduces a motion that "The question be now put;" and if this is
passed, all debate is stopped, and the presiding officer must immediately
call for a vote on the question which has been under debate.

What has been called "Senatorial courtesy" has heretofore prevented the
passage of a rule of cloture in the Senate, but Mr. Mason thinks that the
transaction of public business is of more importance than any exaggerated
courtesy among the Senators.

* * * * *

We spoke last week about the invasion of Hawaii by the Japanese.

It seems that the immigrants, turned back from Honolulu, have made up
their minds to go to California; and it is said that they are trying to