The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-07
RIDDLEBERGER'SR SRUMPUS
a VAIN EFFORT TO MAKE SHER-
MAN SHOW HIS HAND.

presiding officer Ingalls, Unusually
Stern in Calling the Virginian to Or
der-An Extradition Treaty Between
Russia and Prussia Said to be Like
the One Now on the Tapis.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-While the Senate
was discussing the centennial celebration
resolution to-day, Mr. Riddleberger said
that the pending resolution involved an in
ternational matter, and in view of the fact
that it seemed impossible for him to get the
Senate to consider his resolution for an open
session in considering the British extra
dition treaty, he might be allowed to
discuss the subject in connection with
the pending matter. He bad an additional
motive in offering his resolution, and that
was to draw from the Committee on For
eign Relations an amendment which it had
rroposed to the treaty He did not believe
that member of the Committee on For
eign Relations would rise in open session
and advocate that amendment. Why, he
asked. could he not have that amendment
read to the Senate and to the people of the
United States.
CALLS ON SHERMAN.
He asked the chairman of that commit
tee Mr. Sherman), who had on every occa-
sion endeavored to bring up the extraditiOn
treaty in executive session, whether be
would not now rise and tell the people what
was in that amendment.
Mr.. Sherman said that, being thus per-
sonally appealed to, he felt it his duty to
make point of order on the Senator from
Virginia. He did so with great reluctance.
The Senator asked him whether he would
violate the rules of the Senate, and do
what he Mr. Sherman regarded as being
improper and ungentlemanly-in other
words, disclose secrets of the Senate. 1t
was as much as if the Senator asked him
whether he would steal or rob, or do any
thing wrong or against the law. Of course
he Mr. Sherman could not answer the
question; but he made the point of order
that the Senator from Virginia was him
self violating the rules of the Senate.
ARUIING BY THE CHAIR.
Mr. Riddleberger was about to reply, and
II had begun by saying, "It would come with
better grace when he was cut short by
he presiding officer, Mr.. Ingalls,, who said:
THE Senator from Ohio raises a point of
order, which the chair feels called upon to
decide. The Senate in its legislative capac
I'll ty and the Senate in its executive capacity
are the same body, but their functions are
ESSENTIALLY separate and distinct. The pro
II Ceedings in each capacity are separately
II 4j0urnalized; the records are separately kept.
The transactions and proceedings in legis-
ative session cannot be reached by the
II Senate in executive session. The proceedings
N and transactions III executive session being
separately recorded and journallzed are not
& subject of discussion in legislative session.
Il It is a violation of therules of the Senate TO
a refer in a legislative session to any matter
on the executive calendar until the injunc
ton Of secrecy is removed. The chair there
fore holds that the Senator from Virginia
II in referring to any matters in executive
session when the Senate is sitting with open
E doors, is clearly in violation of the rules OF
the Senatn; and the Senate can only be
permitted to proceed i'll order"
Mr. Riddleberger rose to reply.
ANOTHER WARNING.
The Presiding Officer-rhe Senate will
suspend one moment. Enforcement of the
rules is intrusted to the chair, aud the chair
will endeavor, if supported by the Senate,
to see that order is not violated, and that
the rules are strictly obeyed. The Senator
from Virginia will proceed in order.
Mr.. RiddlebeTger said that he would do
s. if he could, but he did not think any
thing he had done in the Senate had justi-
fed the observations of the chair Still, in
order to be in order he would accept the
ruling. He had not asked the Senator from
Ohio to answer the question propounded to
him with any hope that he would do so.
He Riddleberger) had been discussing the
ONT resolution reported by the Sent tor
from Massachusetts,, and had been trying
TO keep himself in order in considering 1t,
las he understood it to be an international
Iquestion. When the Senator from Ohio
Ispoke of violating secrets of the Senate, he
Iought to remember his Detroit club letter,
IN which he said how he should vote
IN executive session on certain important
domination.
IMPORTANCE OF THE TREATY.
The extradition treaty was a mat
ter which concerned the people of this
country much beyond anything that was
involved in that letter, in which the Senator
Etated how he was going to vote on eXeeu-
tive matter. He would not deal further
with that Senator. Every man knew
for himself whether he was act
ing gentlemanly or not. Ii 1t
was the ruling of the chair and the
sense Of the Senate that neither he nor any
ther Senator could discuss the pending
resolution in the broad sense of its 1nvolv-
ing The British treaty then he would have
take his seat, but he would reserve his
Fight to appeal from the ruling OF the
halr. He could re-enforce his position on
ne question of amending the rule
Iy taking out of his desk and
Eeading to the Senate a note written
him during the last Congress by the pre-
AA~
Inght accomplish his purpose Of consider
Iqg an extradition treaty III open session.
lie thought that before the Senate went
nto executive session it might be informed
t. TO the amendment proposed to the extra
Elqon treaty by the Committee on Foreign
Relations
AGAIN CALLED TO ORDER.
The Presiding Oflicer-The Senator from
Virginia will not be permitted to proceed
run any reference to matters pending IN
1ecutive session. The Senate will proceed
p order
Mr.. Riddleberger said that about the only
Ight he had in this was a matter on which
Pe presiding officer undertook to rule him
W as being i'll executive session. IL was
IN executive session, and it would not 60
Ito executive session so long as there was a
pan on the floor to object to it. 1t
as before the Committee on Foreign
Ee.atons, and was in the Office
the Executive Clerk of the Senate.
has not got before the Senate in
iecutve session except so far as the
lhator from Ohio has been pleased
discuss it himself He appealed
the Senate whether he was not
rrect on that point. He had not been
at to legslate in executive session, but in
en- session, and he was now asking to be
1 - L.