The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-28

| en- by the Senate committee which visited South
| Carolina.
At $50 dlatory motions from Republicans
continued. They favored an adjournment and
| If they could not carry it, favored continue
| ton of the session until IL O'Clock, when the
Kellogg case was to be reported by the Com
mlttee on Elections, and would take precedence
of the Butler case.
The reading of the testimony taken by the
committee which visited South Carolina was
continued at length, at the request of Mr. Wad-
Leigh who held the floor, by yielded occasional
ly for motions for recess or to adjourn, all of
which were rejected.
At 3.45 a. m. all the seats on the Republican
side of the chamber were vacant. Mr.. Chaffse
who occupies seat ON the Democratic side.
arose to question OF order that no quorum was
present, and call of the roll developed the
fact that but thirty-four Senators, three less
than quorum, were present.
During the roll Call Mr.. Mitchell came into
the chamber, and his name bengicalled he said
he had paired for the night with Senator Merri-
mon, and if the Senate should compel him to
answer to this roll call he gave notice that he
would break the pair on all other questions
Mr. Whyte moved that the sergeant-at-arms
be directed to request the attendance of the abb
sent Senators. 1t was ordered.
After brief discussion the Vice President
announced that there was nothing in order ex-
cept the motion to adjourn, which was then
made by Mr.. Teller. Rejected, 4 to g. Como
yer and Davis not answering to their names.
No quorum having voted Mr.. Whyte inquir-
ed ii the sergeant alarms had executed the or
der of the Senate.
The Vice President replied that the officer
had reported that he had notified the absent
Senators to attend, but that he had no means to
compel attendance.
Mr.. Whyte then called for the reading of the
third rule, which provides that no Senator shall
sbsent himself fIom the Senate without leave,
and gives the sergeant-at-arms power to compel
the attendance of absent Senators.
Mr.. Whyte-Does the sergeant-at-arms re-
port that he notified the absent Senators?
The Vice President-He does.
Mr.. Wallace-Let him make his report in
writing. We want the name of the Senators
who were notified that the country may know
who they are.
Mr. Conkling objected to such a report, and
said there was nothing in the rules which au-
thorized less than quorum of the Senate to
direct the sergeant-at-arms to prepare list of
absentees, which might be published to the
country. Many Senators might have been COM
PEELED to leave on account of physical infrm-
ity,
The Vice President directed call of the roll,
and the following answered:
Messrs. Anthony, Bailey, Bsyard, Beck,
Burnside, Cameron of Pa, Chaffee, Christian
cy, Cockrell, Coke, Davis of w. Va, Dawes,
P zen Garland, Gordon, Harris, Hereford,
Hill, Howe, Jones of Fla, Jones of New, Ker-
nan, Lamar, Mcdonald, Mcpherson, Mat
thews, Maxey, Morgan. Patterson, Randolph,
Salisbury, Thurman. Voorhees,, Wadleigh,
Wallace. Whye and Withers-37 in all.
The Vice President announced quorum
present.
Debate Of nearly an hour followed upon q1es-
tons of order.
at five o'clock Wadleigh, who held the floor
when the fact was developed of no quorum, re-
sumed reading testimony taken by committee
10 session,
Thurman oh jected and said it had been the
usage of the Senate to allow senator to read
almost anything as part of his speech, but that
usage had never been abused until tonight