Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-25
FRIDAY. APRIL 70, 1S9o
Reeds Rules in the Senate.

tivcs would not accomplish lne purpose
for which they were adopted if their opera
ton were confined TO that body, seeing
that the dilatory motions which it is the
object of those rules TO strangle or fore
stall would reappear in the Senate. IL re-
CURED no ghost 10 come from the grave to
teach this lesson. In fact, we stated last
week that the Republicans of the Senate
would probably resort TO the previous
question in order to enable them TO pass
and send 10 the President the partisan bills
which the more malignant among them
have from the first been bent upon enact
ing into laws for the perpetuation OF the
rule OF the worst party and the most dan
gerous party 10 the liberties of the people
which has ever had an existence IN this
country.
We do not suppose that anybody was
surprised yesterday to learn that the mise
rable sectionalist WILLIAM f. CHANDLER
had on the day before introduced into the
Senate resolution which. if it shall be-
come a rule. will enable the president of
that body not only to count aquOrum of
his own at will, but to enforce the previous
question.
This resolution may be accepted, we fear,
though CHANDLER said 1t was not a caucus
measure, as indicating the determination
Of the Republicans in Congress so to fortify
themselves this year in the Government
Offices as to render it impossible for the
Democrats to dislodge them next fall IN
the House OF Representatives, or at any
time in the near future in the Senate. We
quote from CHANDLER's resolution:
Whenever bill or resolution reported
from committee is under consideration,
the Senate may, on motion (to be acted on
without debate or dilatOry motiOns), order
that on day not less than six days after
the passage OF the order debate shall cease
and the Senate proceed to dispose OF the
bill or resolution, and when said day shall
arrive at o'clock the vote shall be forth
with taken without debate or dilatOry mo-
tions upon any amendments TO the bill or
resolution and upon the passage thereof
Whenever quorum of senators shall
not vote upon any roll-call, the presiding
officer, at the request of any senator, shall
cause to be entered upon the journal the
names of all senators present and not
voting. and such senators shall be deemed
and taken as in attendance and present IA
a part of quorum TO do business, and
declaration Of the result of the voting
shall be made accordingly"
CHASpLrR added to the resolution as we
have quoted it the statement that the
purpose of the rule was TO expedite the
taking Of votes in the Senate and to ia
cilitato the public business. The inser-
ton Of these words was a confession of
guilt. CHANDLER knew that the real object
of the proposed resolution was the
perpetuation of the rule Of such small-fry
sectionalists as himself; aud he was I'M
wise enough to deny that he was actuated
by motive which nobody had charged
him with being governed by. The Wash
ington correspondent of the Alexandra
Gazete saws that MIR. HoAR has nearly COM
pleted his election bill, which will provide
that at all congressional elections the
United States circuit courts shall appoint
commissioners who shall supervise the
voting, counting, returns, aud certltca-
tion thereof. These words almost exactly
describe the national election-law now
ON the United States statute-book,
but of course a much more objection.
able law than the present one might
be described in the same words
III Will Dt IttDltiNth NINN III MS oAA'
nual message 10 Congress President HAIR.
nIsoS recommended the plan of receiving
Republican congressman, III favor OF which
Mr. HoAR will report. Mr. ROwELL, OF The
Presidents own State, and chairman of the
Elections Committee, is alsO said TO b'
friendly to the same partisan scheme. This
bill OF a similar BILL as well as one to nul.
lily the action of the Legislatures Of Mary
land aud Ohio in redistricting those State!
for the election Of congressman, will b'
forced through the Senate under thu
operation of the CHANDLEa rule. Mex
Tuesday the Republican caucus will con
slider these partisan schemes, and sooI
afterwards we shall know the evils will
which we are to be threatened.
These wicked devices of the enemy
amount to q confession that the Republi
can party will stake its existence upon IL,
results Of the congressional elections o
next fall. and notify the Democrats that
victory in November next viii be perma
nent victory. The Republican party can
not survive another national defeat. L
will make one more desperate struggle
but struggle that will be dying one j
the Democrats do their duty.