ndiana calls up for consideration a resolution on the calendar,
which will be reported.

The chief clerk read the resolution, as follows:

_Resolved_, That a committee of nine senators be appointed
by the Senate, whose duty it shall be to receive, consider
and report upon all petitions, memorials, resolutions and
bills relating to the rights of women of the United States,
said committee to be called the Committee on the Rights of
Women.

The VICE-PRESIDENT: The question is, Will the Senate agree to the
resolution?

Mr. MCDONALD: Mr. President, it seems to me that the time has
arrived when the rights of the class of citizens named in the
resolution should have some hearing in the national legislature.
We have standing committees upon almost every other subject, but
none to which this class of citizens can resort. When their
memorials come in they are sometimes sent to the Committee on the
Judiciary, sometimes to the Committee on Privileges and
Elections, and sometimes to other committees. The consequence is
that they pass around from committee to committee and never
receive any consideration. In the organization and growth of the
Senate a number of standing committees have been from time to
time created and continued from congress to congress, until many
of them have but very little duty now to perform. It seems to me
to be very appropriate to consider this question now, and provide
some place in the capitol, some room of the Senate, some branch
of the government, where this class of applicants can have a full
and fair hearing, and have such measures as may be desired to
secure to them such rights brought fairly and properly before
the country. I hope there will be no opposition to the resolution
but that it will be adopted by unanimous consent.

Mr. CONKLING: Does the senator from Indiana wish to raise a
permanent committee on this subject to take its place and remain
on the list of permanent committees?

Mr. MCDONALD: That is precisely what I propose to do.

Mr. CONKLING: Mr. President, I was in hopes that the honorable
senator from Indiana, knowing how sincere and earnest he is in
this regard, intended that an end should be made soon of this
subject; that the prayer of these petitioners should