The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-11-28
WASHINGTON.
Yesterdays Doings in the Ma
tional Capitol.
The Parliamentary Figh. Still in Progress
SENATE.

| to adjourn, which were rejected.
At 3:45 a. M, all the seats Oh the
Republican side of The chamber were
vacant.
Chaffee raised the point that quo
rum WIS not in the chamber, and a call
of the roll showed but "a Senator's pres
ent-less than quorum.
During the call Mitchell said he had
paired with Merrimon, and if compell-
ed to answer to. roll call, he gave notice
that he would break the pair on all 9TH
er questions.
Whyte moved that the sergeant-at-
arms be directed to request the attend
ance of absent Senators. So ordered.
After brief discussion the Vice Presi-
dent announced a motion to adjourn.
Teller submitted that motion. The
vote resulted: yeas A; nays, 2G, consist
ing of the Democratic Senators and
Patterson. Conover and Davis of Hi.
nois, did not answer to their names.
No quorum voting.
Whyte inquired if the sergeant-at-
arms had executed the order of the SEN
ate.
The Vice President reported that he
had, but had no means to compel at
tendance.
Whyte called for reading of the rule
which provides that no Senator shall be
absent without leave of the Senate and
gives the sergeant-at-arms power to
compel attendance of absent Senators.
Whyte-Does the sergeant-at-arms
report that he has notified absent Sena-
tors?
Vice President-He does.
Wallace-Let him make his report in
writing. We want the names of the
Senators, that the country may know
them.
Conkling here entered and objected
to such a report, as nothing in the rules
authorized less than quorum to direct
the sergeant-at-arms to prepare list of
absentees.
The Vice President directed a call of
the roll and 81 Senators answering.
quorum was announced present.
A debate of an hour followed upon
questions of order and what disposition
should be made of the report of the SER
geant-at-arms. Finally, upon motion
of Edmunds, all further proceedings
under call were suspended.
At o'clock Wadleigh, who held the
floor when the fact was developed that
no quorum was present, resumed it and
called for continuation of the reading
of the testimony taken by the commit
tee of the Senate in South Corolina
year ago.
Thurman objected to further reading
of this testimony, and said it had been
the usage of the Senate to allow Sena-
tor to read almost anything as part of
his speech, but that usage had never
been abused until tonight. He argued
that the testimony could not be read
without leave of the Senate, and de-
manded that the question of reading
the testimony be submitted to the SEN
ate.
Wadleigh said it was not gross
abuse to lay before the Senate evidence
absolutely necessary to enable the Sem
ate to Judge of this case. He wanted to
let the country know that in this Sen
ate party sought to seat man whose
record would not bear examining.
Bayard held that the testimony was
taken by the committee long before any
one had an idea the present case would
come before the Senate, and the Sena-
tor might as well have read Worcester's
dictionary. When he (Bayard) first
came into the Senate there were but
nine Senators belonging to the party
with which he acted. They had never
attempted dilatory, motions, but had
they acted in manner as witnessed to-
night, the majority would have put
them down.
Edmunds asked if the Senator re-
membered along about 1850, when JEFF
ferson Davis and Soule, and some 9TH
ers, occupied the Senate whole night,
having the message OF the PRESIDENT
read.
Bayard said he did not remember
that time, though it may have happen
ed.
Thurman withdrew his point of Or
der, leaving it to the Senator from New
Hampshire as to what testimony he
would have read.
Wadleigh then argued the facts in
the South Carolina case, and said he
could not help regarding this resolu-
tion as an attempt to carry by force of
numbers that which could not be car
ried by an investigation. He said he
had selected no testimony to be read
which did not bear directly upon the
validity of the election in South Caro-
ina.
AT I O'Clock Edmunds took the book
and read for Wadleigh, to relieve that
Senator, who had been on the floor
since 1890 last night.
Edmunds during the readino saxtor,I