New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-11
SEy1TORML 1BSENTEEISA.


Now that the Senate is working earnestly on
tbo Tariff bill members who have been absent
. large mart of the time should not forget the
inst claims which their poltica! associates have
unon their assistance. Absent members are
usually paired But that counts for nothing
when the transaction of all business Is stepped
For want of a quorum, as 1t has Deeh foPcd'euS
during the last two weeks. Day AFTER Gay
few Democratic members have been able 10 stop
all business by walking out, and one day s1iio5
the tariff debate began a quorum was louhu
wanting several times This has become "a
serious obstacle to success in matters upon
which the future of the Republican party de-
ponds.
Constituents will desire to be informed which
of their Senators are attending to puUllc DuSi-
ness. If the naked record does injustice to any
who are absolutely prevented from attel1"aho
by sickness. constituents will know the ia@' anu
tbey have right TO be informed what other
reasons Justify continued absence The Official
record for eight days since the Tariff bill was
taken I'D shows that the yeas and nays were
,,l,en tbirry-nine times. The following Repub-
I;cgn senators were recorded absent at every
vote for eight successive days Messrs. Chand-
Ter. of New Hampshire Farwell Oh liliilois /;
petticrew. of South Dakota stanford, OF Call
rornia; Stockbndgc of Michigan WaShOurn'
Of Minnesota, and Wolcott, OF Colorado Nlr.
Morrill,. of Vermont, though III very 1eeoIc
health, opened the discussion with a strong
speech and was present part OF the tiine threc
DAYS. but missed thirty-threc roll calls. sen
ator Suooner. OF Wisconsin. missed thirty-two'
including all for five entire days senator hoar'
of Massachusetts,, missed twenty-nlne, inciud-
inc all for four days; Senator Quay, OF Penn
Sylvania. missed twenty -tonr, including all Tor
three DAYS: senator squire, of Washington, ana
senator ingalls,, Of Kansas each missed twenty
TWO roll calls: senator Stewart, OF Nevada, was
absent from twenty, including five whole days 4;
senator Pierce, Of North Dakota, missed nine
teen. including three whole days, and Senator
Evars, OF Newly ork, missed eighteen roll calls
OTHER Senators were absent considerably 1855
than half the time.
Here are sixteen senators who have been
absent either the whole time or so much or 1t
that the ability of their political associates u
get public business transacted may have been
impaired many times. i is not the duty oil HI
TRIBUNE, but of Republican constituents, 10
Judge whether these absences were JUStiIablc.
But a Republican newspaper may Win entire
propgicty urge these senator's and ali others
who are not constant in their attendance -
consider their Obligation u their party trends
in the senate and to the great cause thy rep
resent For it is the plain truth that ms
ah,enteesm has become 4 most serious matter
and if it continues Republican newspapers III
all parts Of the country will be obliged to CAL
the attention of constituents 70 the fact
some Senators will answer that they have
been present. in fact, bat have consented IA
courtesy 10 pair with Democrats who could not
be present. The conduct OF Democratic mem
hers makes it necessary to nave, no; majority
but a quorum of Republicans Ia finish the bust
ness which the party has promised and which the
country has right 10 expect. II Senator'S care
more for courtesy to political opponents than
for the welfare of the country, are they any more
cycusablc than those who are seeking pleasure
al summer resorts, or attending - private
business. or laying pipe t. control party nohi-
nations! \ senator has 10 real right Il enter
INTO a pair by which he is rcStrct'd from Vo'-
INK. when BIZ. vote may bee necessary t. make q
quorum and To- prevent ,toppag" %; public bust
ness. All such pair, should bee closed a. quickly
q, possible A. for the absent members, 1t Is
no unkndnc,S u them, bur simply justice to
their associates in the senate and TO the coun-
try. t. urge that they ought not - be absent
from the Senate Al such time ~ this, unless
absence involve, something more than saor-
fee OF pleasure private business or persona!
ambition.