The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-25
FRANCE.
XIV CONGRESS.
SENATE.

-
Is continuation OF the report OF the pro-
ceedlngs OF the senate from last night
At 2:45 a, N. the roll call, on motion for
adjournment, showed yeas and 2S nays,
less than a quorum. Shortly afterwards
the seargant-at-arms presented a report
that Senators Davis, Morrill,. Dawes and
Anthony had reported in person; Blaine
promised Immediate attention; Conkting
would not give his assurance OF attendance;
Mcdonald and Patterson were at their
lodgings sick; Bayard Butler, Hamlin,
Barnum and Chandler did not open their
Mr.. Edmunds (sotto voice. that's what
you call compelling absentees, is it?"
Mr.. Harris inquired if the senate had
not the power under the constitution and
its own rule to compel the attendance of
| members.
The presiding officer said, that is for
the senate to decide, the seargant- t-at-arms
has made his report
MIR. Harris-But has he executed his
order?
Mr.. CockrelI--He is in process of exc
cutting it now,
Mr.. Harris-Very well, if he needs more
time make no complaint.
| Presiding ofhcer-The seaTgant- at arms
desires to know if it is his duty to force the
entrance, if. upon applying at the residence
of senator, he be refused admittance?
Mr. Anthony (sarcastically)- suggest
this is one of the few instances in which
the use of the military has not been pre-
hibited.
Mr.. Anthony then inquired whether
Harris would have the saggent-at-arms 10.
trude into the chambers of senators and
take them by force.
Mr.. Harris replied no, a senator had the
: right to be absent from transaction of public
business. II be did so without leave the
senate had the power, under the constitu
ton aud rules, to compel attendance, anC
lif this required the invasion of his resi-
deuce, the power should be exercised.
Mr. Morgan said be desired to presen
to the attention Of the senate the case O
Senator ConkliDg who would give no as
suraDce of attendance and to inquire hoy
long the senate of the United States shoulI
have to wait for the attendance of tha
senator, be would have the seargant- at
arms instructed to bring Coukling into tn
senate. He made this motion special be
cause he had not heard of any other sens
tor who had defed the power Of the senat
and refused 10 comply with its demand
He wished to know if CDe man shOui
dominate over the senate or should th
- senate exercise its authority.
ry Mr.. Eaton thought it was uot proper t
q single out one senator i1 this way;
% would be better to make q general ordt
- to enforce attendance Of all seualors alb
TO be there.
H.,
moved to amend MorgaDs resolution a
L cordingy.
Mr.. Herman expressed his belief tn
none OF the senators vino had not yet u
rived intended to defy the constitution
m M this body. Gentlemen who are Waked up
F. 3 clock 10 the morning, after perhaps lea
ros ing the senate chamber, were not likely
. discuss the matters very precisely wi
the seargant-at arm S messenger.
Mr.. Thurman called attention to t
Or language of the constitution that the ru
y,ss shall be enforced 10 suSh manner and U
e,I der such penalties as either house sh
80 provide and after pointing out that t
senate has provided no penalty for cas-
like the present, he expressed doubts
yrn =; to the existence Of any authority for
ac- seargaut-at-arms to break through the dC
in as had been suggested. Besides such
thing as breaking down door and dr'
s. ging senator here would be in'
- pre5albly disgraceful and be shru
with horror IRON the idea. although
thus believed there was practically
power to enforce the rule in question, a
- although be did not believe the sem
would gain any time for the proper ira
and action of public business by continuing
the present proceedings he nevertheless
LIS that as an effort to obtain quorum
the been pushed thus far it should be &C
To pieted.
nn LES Senator Voorhees, ironically depreoia
Ap any further efforts to brings senators
attend to their duties and remarked
had never known d more contempt
the the farce.
and At 4 o'clock in the morning Har
ach amendment was adopted. Yeas 80. q
the 10, and the motion OF Morgan, thus anne
& H-3 ed and made of general application,
agreed to. ;.
Senator Keruan moved to dispense '
- q further proceedings under the order.
] iected-ayes Is, nays Ia.
z& Pending the execution Of the order,
presence Of quorum being disclosed
" the last two votes, the senate procee
1ne with the consideration of the bill to
aln'' ~, vent the introduction of contagious or
I'm, S fictitious diseases into the United Sta
I"nS Ds and to establish bureau OF public hea
'oI1T Senator Kernan's amendment. or
last evening, was rejected--yeas IL,
2I, and the bill without further discuss
nigse ! tbe was read q third time and passed.
. and The senate then took up the dehef
each appropriation bill, and at 4:30 a. m.
g g. the iourned to meet at one to day.