Evening journal., 1890-12-29

WASHINGTON. Dec. co-The holiday sea
son has brought congressional proceedings
to a standstill. and this week is likely to
be even duller than last week. In the SEN
ate, IL a quorum is present, the elections
bill will be further discussed. It is not at
all probable, however, that a quorum will
be secured any day in the week, and in
this event no business will be transacted
and adjournments will be taken from day
to day. II a quorum should possibly be
secured at any time the elections bill will
be discussed.
The CrisIs Expected Next Week.
The crisis in the senate over the cloture
rule is expected next week On the 5th Of
January the Republicans hope TO have
full attendance, with their majority in.
creased by tho arrival OF the two senators
from Idaho.
Then will come the tug Of war, The
first fght will be over the adoption OF SEN
ator Aldrich's amendment to the rules,
giving the majority power to close debate.
II the Republicans have quorum present
and they have five more than a quorum
on their side OF the senate--it will be com
paratiyely plain sailing. II they have not
the struggle may be prolonged until the
endurance of the Democrats iR exhausted
or arbitrary measures are adopted by the
/ Republicans.
Senator Edmunds' Opinion.
Senator Edmunds, in an interview on
this subject published in the Post, says;
''The constitution provides, and every con
stitution Of a government that Is 10 be
t.ro~ 4fs.A uA hat
| jority OF any legislative body has to do its
business.
"It necessarily implies that no minority,
whether OF one or any other number, should
or could unduly obstruct the expression Of
the will Of the majority. 1t Is not a ques-
tion of whether particular measure should
be passed or defeated, but it is a question
whether the majority Of legislative body
can have the power to come 10 the disposi-
tion Of any subject that Is before IL other
wise than at the will OF minority com
posed of one or more.
"In times Of extreme public danger every
lover Of his country would agree that a
traitorous minority should not have the
power, and could not If there be anything
in the power Of majorities, TO indefinitely
delay action which the emergency might
require TO be made, as has sometimes hap
pened.
Don't Understand Why They Find Fault
THE just liberty OF debate, in which every
representative Of a constituency, whether
the whole people of a state or people Of
a congressional district, ought TO be con.
tinuously maintained; but liberty of de.
bate is one thing, and liberty Of obstruction
and preventing legislative body coming
TO any resolution whatever upon the sub
lect before 1t, is quite another. The rule
proposed Is not rule to compel particu-
lar determination Of any question. It is =
rule to provide that after what the MAORI.
ty consider TO be reasonable universal de
bate, that majority, whatever may be It's
opinion in respect Of the disposition to be
made of the measure, shall be enabled to
dispose OF IL. one way or the other. saving
TO every member of the body the right 10
express his own opinion upon II within a
given time. How any man OF any party
can find fault with such a provision l am
unable to understand.
"The common parliamentary Law has al
ways been that mo man is 10 speak imperti-
nently or beside the question, superduous
or hideously.' This common rule OF par
liamentAry law Is based upon the consid-
erations first mentioned, that a parlia.
mentary body must be able to act--not 10
act in particular way, but to act in one
way or the other in spite of the determine.
tion OF any minority of ita members that
It shall not act At all.
Opposed 30 = Previous Question.
81 have always been aud am still op-
posed 70 any such thing as a previous
question as il has been within recent years
interpreted; that is, previous question
which instantly terminates discussion; OF
II any time be given, puts the power oi
giving members OF the legislative body a
right to speak at all into the hands OF the
managing member OF a committee or q
presiding oiiicer. The proposed rule pre-.
eludes such possibility. l think with a
senate with more than eighty members
that IL such q rule had been proposed
when no serious questions were pending
or foreseen as immediate, IL would have
received almost unanimous approval"
In answer 70 the question whether he
believed the country would sustain the
Republicans in passing such rule, "over.
turning the precedents OF the senate foI
the sake OF passing an elections bill, p
Senator Edmunds replied: II have to say,
in the first place, that what the country
with the information that it gets from
partisan newspapers of all kinds, may
think in respect TO the propriety Of such d
rule is entirely immsterial 10 me in the
sense Of affecting my conduct IN doing
what think is my duty in the promotion
of the general public interest. am surt
that the country, when it understands the
precise scope and force OF such a rule-thai
1t means that the representatives OF the
, country have the power to do what the
country thinks ought to be done one way
} or the other, after every member OF tbs
: minority shall have had the opportunity
to state his views-will be more than salts
fed that its representatives Of people and
states in the senate have done wise anC
right thing"
In the House.
In the house three days adjournment
will be taken from Tuesday until aftet
New Years and then another adjournment
will be taken until next week.
All Ready for the Worlds Fair.