Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-31
It is Still to the Fore in the Sen
ate.
And SPEECH MAKING GOES ON.
Senators Sherman and Morgan
Have a Little Bout.
MR.. GEORGEAGAINST THE BILL
SENATE.

The Senate met at 10 am, and although the
attendance was very far short of quorum
no notice was taken of the fact. and business
was proceeded with.
Mr.. Manderson offered a resolution (which
was agreed toy directing the superintendent of
the census to report at the earliest possible
moment the population of the United States
according to the census of 1880 by congress
sional districts and counties.
The House amendment to Senate bill to
amend sections 529, 1880 and 1881 of the Re-
vised Statutes (relating to the navy were nom
concurred in and a conference asked.
FLAGS FOR THE CAPITOL.
The joint resolution heretofore introduced by
Mr.. Hale, directing the architect of the Capitol
to cause to bo placed on the east and west
fronts Of the main portion of the Capitol build
ing suitable fiagstaffs, and to have the Ameri-
can flag float therefrom from sunrise to sunset
each day OF the year. and appropriating $500
therefor, was taken up and passed.
MEANING OF THE ELECTION BILL.
Mr.. Morgan asked the Vice President to Law
before the Senate the resolution heretofore
offered by him instructing the committee on
privileges and elections to report as to the con-
tents and meaning of the election bill.
MIR. sHERMAN's POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Sherman made the point Of order that
a resolution which had been offered in the
morning hour and has gone over without ac-
ton at the close of the morning hour does not
come up as unfinished business" in the morn
ing hour, but must go to the calendar and can
only be taken up on mOtian.
Mr.. Morgan insisted that his resolution was
properly before the Senate and that Mr.. Sher-
man himself was out of order. He informed
that Senator that he (Mr. Morgan) was on the
floor not by his permission. but as represent
ative OF the state of Alabama, and that the Sem
ator from Ohio could not put him of the floor.
THE POINT OF ORDER SUSTAINED.
After further colloquy between the two Sem
ators in a somewhat irascible tone the Vice
President sustained Mr.. Sherman's. point of
order. He said The chair finds that, although
there has been a variance of practice on this
question, the weight of the precedents has been
against the position taken by the Senator from
Alabama. The chair Is of opinion that a reso-
luton which has gone over one day and has
been considered the following day and not dis
posed OF Gas in the case with this resolution)
should then 60 to the calendar, and can
only be taken up on motion or by unanimous
consent.
Mr.. Morgan appealed from the ruling Of the
chair and expressed his desire to make some
remarks.
Mr.. sherman-The appeal is not debatable.
THE CLOSURE TYRANNY.
Mr.. Morgan-Yes, it is, and the attempt to
suppress debate is part of the closure tyranny.
1t is something which 1 did not expect but it
shows that spirit pervades the minds of Sena-
tors on the other side to choke down all in
quiry into this bill, and even into what it con-
tains.
The Vice President overruled Mr. Sherman's s
point OF order and decided that an appeal from
the decision OF the chair was debatable.
LIKE HUNTING FOX.
Mr.. Morgan went on to say that no Senator
could rise and state what the bill actually con-
tained, and that the attempt to keep track of
it in its present shape was like hunting a red
fox in the hills Of Virginia The bill was in
such an uncertain. indefinite, intangible form
one could tell whether an amendment would
improve it or harmit
The morning hour expired while Mr. Morgan
was still occupying the floor and the matter
went over without action.
BILL PASSED.
On motion of Mr.. Evarts Senate bill to pro-
vide American registers for the steamers
Montauk and Mineola was taken from the cal
endar. briefly discussed by Messrs. Vest and
Frye and passed.
KING THEOLOGICAL HALL.
The conference report on the bin to incor-
porate the King Theological Hall was presented
and agreed to.
MR.. GEORGE AGAINST THE ELECTIONS BILL
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the elections bill and was addressed by Mr..
George. He alluded to the statement made
yesterday by Mr.. Hoar that there was not a line
or sentence in the bill that would correct the
alleged evils and wrongs growing out of the
new constitution of Mississippi; and said that
nevertheless. the time of the Senate had been
largely occupied by republican Senators in the
discussion OF that concededly irrelevant ques-
ton.
Mr.. Spooner said that he did not wish any
man to concede for him that a reference to the
Mississippi constitution was irrelevant He
had had occasion to refer to il, and he had
done so in support of his contention that there
was continued purpose.
SUPPRESS THE NEGRO VOTE IN THE SOUTH.
Mr.. George-And yet the Senator from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Hoar) made the clear confess
sion yesterday that this bill in no section. in 10
sentence and in no line contained any remedy
for the alleged wrong in the constitution of
Mississippi. And SO find myself on this last
day OF the expiring year twenty-five years
after the firing OF the last gun in the unfortu-
nate civil strife) and when the time of the Sem
ate is pressed for u consideration of the public
business. compelled in defense of the motives
time of the Senate in this concededly irrelevant
discussion.
DEFENDING HIS STATE.
M George proceeded to review and to de-
fond the course Of the people of Mississippi in
the adoption Of their new constitution and to
discuss in that connection the constitutions
and statutes of other states ON the subject of
suffrage and Of negroes.
n THE NEGRO INCAPABLE OF sELF-aovERNMENr?
In winding up this part Of his argument Mr..
George said that he had thus gone through the
history Of the legislation and the constitutional
provisions of northern and western states, not
with q view Of charging their people with in
consistency, but with the view Of
showing the judgment of the Ameri-
can people that the negro race
was incapable Of self-government. This was
before the adoption Of the fifteenth constitu-
tional amendment had prohibited distinctions
on account OF race. Mississippi, having larger
proportion Of negro population than any other
state, having 100000 voters who are unable to
read and who are uniformed as to civil and
free institutions, had seen proper to call a con-
vention to correct the evil, not of negro suf-
frage per se, but of ignorant and debased suf-
frage.