The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-30
SENATORIAL DESP0TISM.
THE REPUBLICANS INCLINED TO
TRY REEDS TACTICS.

TRY REEDS TACTlCS.
senator Sherman Set the Ball Rolling
Durinr Yesterdays Session-Deter-
mined Opposition by the Democrats.
Possibility that the Majority May
Work in the Change by Degrees.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The democratic
senator's have held a conference and de-
termined to resist to the bitter end the pro-
posed attempt to introduce Speaker Reeds
methods in the Senate. They think the
committee on rules will report substitute
for the Chandler resolution which will pro-
vide simply for ordering the previous ques-
ton by a majority vote. This. OF course.
is not so radical as the count
quorum provision, but it is
the entering wedge, aud as
such it will meet the solid and determined
opposition of the democrats. Rule II of the
Senate permits senator's to refrain from vot-
ing and then move to be excused from vot-
ing ON any proposition. Under this rule the
democrats could have thirty-seven roll calls
on every proposition before the Senate.
Senator Ingalls,, however, who would be put
in the chair, is capable of beginning q Reed
resolution without rules.
SESSION OF THE SENATE.
In the Senate today, after the transaction
of some routine morning business of little
public Importance, consideration of the land
forfeiture bill was resumed.
The debate on Mr.. Calls amendment was
continued by Messrs. Plumb, Berry
Mitchell and Call. During the debate Mr.
Platt interrupted aud offered q concurrent
resolution (which was agreed toy requesting
the President to return the Oklahoma bill
He explained that owing to an error of his
own, the word "west" had been used in the
place of the word east in the description
of the boundaries.
REEDS TACTICS IN THE SENATE.
Finally Mr.. Dolph moved to lay the
amendment on the table. There was not q
quorum voting yeas 81, nays 14), but as a
call of the Senate showed the presence of
fifty-two members, the vote was about to be
taken again, when Mr. Sherman rose and
gave notice that whenever there was quo
rum present and the vote did disclose that
fact, he should insist upon the sensible rule
that the senators present and not voting
should be counted.
Several senators complained that they
had not been able to hear Mr.. Sherman's
remarks.
Mr.. Sherman-I will repeat it. say that
hereafter when there is a quorum present
land more than a quorum present but,
when, on account of pairs and the absence
of some senator's, quorum does not appear
as voting, l will insist on the chair deciding
the question and naming the senators pres
ent who are entitled to vote and have not
voted.
Mr.. Cockrell-Disregardin pairs?
Mr.. Sherman-No, not disregarding
pairs.
Mr.. Cockrell-Then how can they make
squorum, they cannot votes
THE OBJECT EXPOSED.
Mr.. Blackburn-Is it the purpose of the
senator from Ohio either to disregard the
pairs of the senators or TO disregard the
rules of the Senate, and authorize its pre-
siding officer to do that which the speaker
Of the House has been recently engaged in
doing?
Mr.. Sherman-I would not break pair.
But there are one or two senators present,
whom will not name, for whom pairs were
not announced, and who did not vote on the
last vote. l think it is the duty of every
person who is not paired to vote; and that
is the position I have always occupied. ]
never have been present (unpaired) without
feeling it my duty to vote.
MIR, Blackburn agree to that.
sHERMAN's ATTITUDE.
Mr.. Sherman-To-day there was one or
two sen ators present who prob
ably did not care to vote, and did
not vote. In such case as that think
the fact of their being present, constituting
quorum, may be properly announced by
the chair; and believe that even the rule
adopted by the House of Representatives is
in exact accordance with our own rule and
with the constitution.
Mr.. Backburn-Will the senator answer
me one other question:
Mr.. Sherman-Yes
Mr.. Blackburn-Does he, in the face of
the rules under which this body has acted,
hold that it is within the power of the pre-
siding officer to recognize as present any
senator who, under his obligation as he
constructs it, thinks that he has no right to
vote!
Mr.. Plumb-I rise to question of order
The pending motion is to lay the amend
ment on the table and debate is not in order.
| Mr.. Blackburn am not debating, | am
only asking question.
Mr.. Cullom-There was but one vote
lacking of quorum. and that vote is pres
ent now.
ROLL CALL ORDERED.
Vice President Morton directed the clerk
to call the roll
Mr.. Blackburn ask unanimous consent
to have time given the senator from OHIO
to answer the question which | have pro-
pounded to him.
Mr.. Sherman-I would rather not answer
hnow. There is non-debatable question
pending-a motion to lay on the table.
The question was again taken, and Mr..
Calls amendment was laid on the table
oy a strict party vote-yeas 30, nays lS
Mr.. Pasco offered an amendment giving
70 actual settlers on railroad lands where a
road was not built within the time limited
IN the grants) a right to perfect their en-
tries under the homestead and presumption
acts This vote was laid on the table by a
Ike vote go to 1S).
=, Another amendment was offered by Mr..
Uail' and was similarly disposed OF.
Mr. Moody offered an amendment which
was agreed to, declraing that the act shall
not be construed to confer any right on any
S1ate corporation or person to lands thai
we're ere excepted in the grants.
4ne IN bill was then passed without division
hi ne Mckinley customs administration
ot on was then taken up, read and th'
.iehdments recommended by the commit
r oe were agreed to. Other amsndment
s1I "eIe submitted by Messrs. Evarts, Dave
'IT ~, Vest and went over without action.
Inc Senate then adjourned.