New-York tribune., 1879-03-28
AN HOUR OF MISERY FOR BECK.
A DEBATE IN TIE SENATE IN WHICH THE REPUB-
LICANs DECIDEDLY GET TIE BEST OF 1T.

LICANs DECIDEDLY GET TIE BEST OF 1T.
rBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Beck has
evidently been suppressed by his Democratic
associates, and he was made to suffer the pangs OF
martyrdom for an hour this afternoon as penalty
for his laundering admissions of Tuesday with re-
gard to the plans of the Democratic caucus
After the morning hour Senator H0ar's resolu-
ton declaring it to be revolutionary for one House
of Congress to attempt, by threat of Withholding
the appropriations, to coerce the other House OF
the Executive camo up for consideration It
will be remembered that on Tuesday, after Senator
Hoar had finished his speech on the subject, Mr.
Beck moved that the resolution be laid on the
table, giving as a reason that committee OF tne
Democratic caucus had the same question under
consideration, and 1t was improper to discuss the
matter in the Senate in advance of the caucus
committees decision. Pending this motion on
Tuesday the Senate adjourned.
When the matter came up to-day decided change
in the demeanor of the Democrats was noticeable.
At first they made some ludicrous attempts to ex-
plan ayay Senator Beck's blunders of
Tuesday; but at every movement matters
became worse. Having declared early that
they had never intended and did not ever in
tend to shut off debate upon such subject, they
could not with any consistency move to adjourn
while the matter was undispOsed Of The Republi-
cans we're invited to go ahead with their discussion
but this invitation they dld not accept.
Senator Bayard first took the floor to plead with
the Senator from Kentucky to withdraw his motion
of Tuesday This, TO use an supplementary ex-
preston, was sheer CANNON.
The President immediately told the Senator from
Delaware that the request unnecessary, as the
motion to lay on the table fell with the expiration
of the session of Tuesday.
The Senator, without alluding to the caucus
feature Of the Tuesdays affair, made some very
pretty and soothing remarks about the readiness of
the Democracy at all times TO listen to debate upon
political or other questions
Senator Anthony had the indelicacy at this point
TO refer to the subcommittee of the Democratic
caucus He ventured with air of hesitancy to
inquire if it would be proper to refer the Hoar reso
luton to this subcommittee.
The Democracy turned red in the face and bit its
lips, but did not answer the question.
Senator Blaine then inquiringly called attention
to the fact that the Senator from Delaware had
voted in favor Of an adjournment on Tuesday when
the Republicans had distinctly asked an opportu-
nty to debate the matter further. He asked if it
took fortyeight hours for the honorable Senator to
recall to his memory the fact of the great readiness
of his party to debate questions of public i'm
portancc.
The Senator from Delaware replied that he would
not allow any Senator to impugn his motives. lie
furthermore declared that his party was not ruled
by King Caucus but by King Constitution.
Mr. Blaine said this was the first time in the his
tory of Congress when a notification made that
a proposition pending in the Senate must wait un-
til a caucus committee OF the Democratic party had
come to some conclusion with regard TO II,
and the Senator from Kentucky had not limited
his statement TO the pending question: but had told
the Senate that the caucus was actually maturing
general legislation to be laid before the House OF
n Il In rafa
not act until the caucus and the other House
had first passed upon pending questions.
lie said he had been in the Senate for four sessions
and in Congress for many years before, and he had
never known an instance during Republican con-
troll where caucus of that party had attempted to
perfect measures of legislation. The caucuses had
frequently discussed and sometimes decided upon
the order in which it was best to transact business
Senators Bayard and Beck attempted then to
have il understood that the resolution had been
postponed on Tuesday because of the absence of
Senator Thurman, who they thought might wish TO
discuss il.
Senator Hoar cut in with an inquiry as to what
Senator Thurman had 10 do with the resolution
any more than any other Senator; and he polntedly
asked the Senator from Delaware II 1t was not be-
cause he was Chairman of the subcommittee OF
the Democratic caucus and that the Democratic
Senators could not judge whether certain course
was revolutionary or not until they had received
their orders from the caucus.
Senator Bayard had had enough, and although he
was especially inquired of he only replied by sicily
smile
Mr. Beck said that he made it a plan, when he
knew what his enemies wanted, to do just the re-
verse. lie showed signs OF wandering mind, and
said the Republicans were seeking to nfuse back
bone into the President and that Senator Hoar was
a cat's-paw to pull chestnuts out of the fire.
Senator Hoar was mercilesS, and repeated the
words of the Senator from Kentucky, III which he
said II was improper to discuss matters which were
being considered by the Democratic caucus com
mittee. -
AT last it came. Senator Beck said, If said
that didn't mean 1t. / knew what measures were
to be brought before the caucus, but didn't wish TO
assume what would be the form in which they
wOuld be fought out" -
This was glory enough for one day, and the Re
puLIicans would have ceased their Inquiries but
Mr.. Voorhees, felt called upon TO add a
few words which he felt confident would
put new face upon the matter, ana lie
succeeded in three minutes in giving the whole
business away lie was willing, nay proud, to have
il known, and he thought the people would ap-
prove that the Democrats were proceeding care
fully, and perfectng, and maturing. and con
sidering important measures before they
acted upon. lie wasn't AFRAID to
admit that they bad a committee of safety,
as the gentleman from Maine had termed IT, and
perhaps if the Republicans had such a committee
during their time they might not now be Ill the
minority.
the country by the deliberate admission of
Democratic Senator'S that measures winch would
naturally 70 10 the Judiciary Committee OF the
Senate such as the repeal of the election laws aud
measures which would naturally 90 10 the Military
Committees such as the Army reorganization, were
undcr the present state of things being consid-
cred and matured IN a subcommittee of
Democratic caucus. after which they would doubt
less as matter of form, be referred TO the commit
tees of the Senate, and there ratified.
Senator Herman moved that the senate go INTO
executive session, and II dld