New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-13
sENAr0R EnMrNDS ACTS.

Senator Edmunds has amazed the Democrats
of the senate and gratiiied all genuine re
pubcanS by proposing an order restricting
debate on the Tariff bill. He no longer ques-
,ions fine deliberate intention OF the minority
IN waste time by dilatoIy motions, by offering
amendments which no one expects to have
adoptod and by long speeches which are not
oven intended to influence anybodyS opinion
~, vote. His proposed order served notice
unon the minority that their own conduct had
stripped off the last fg-leaf of false pretence'
and II left them u bear al by themselves tnc
responsibility of delay which takes the bread
from the mouths OF american workers.
Whether the measure of restriction when
tbc Senator from Vermont has proposed VIII
nroye sufficient. the RerUbliHns of the senate
must nudge in the light of circumstances Whlch
arc better known to members OF that bodE
t5an to the pubic 1t may be confidently a.
sumcJ that senator EdmundS, having been
convinced by the progress of events thar some
restriction has become necessary in order 70
GET the public business transacted will concur
with his Republican associates III that form OF
restriction which they may deem II best -
adopt. But why shoold not The order be
made directly applicable 70 two measures
i, the Tariff bill and to the Election
hill at once? For The defeat of the L!oc-
ton bill is the avovcd object OF Dem
ocrat~ in delaying the Tariff bill struggle
will he necessary before an order can be adopt
cd in either form. Why should second
STRUGGLE he made necessary when the tlec'' IN
bill comes up COR action? senators Will also
consider whether n somewhat closer restriction
/ -. cod t,-ill
r.atolv be necessary. aud whether such closer
restriction should net therefore be embraced III
any oracr With only three speeches OF hVo
minutes and q roll call on each amendment oc-
clmvinc in a.! a half hour, sixteen amendments
af the utmost woulG suffice - use up n legs
latiVo day and less than two amendm MS 70
each item remaining in the hlll WoUd con
sumo the whole time until the next session
begin, in December. But the Republican sen
ator, know the situation, and in the choice oil
methods will doubtless exercise their best Judg-
ment.
Wharc~cr line Of action may be chosen, one
thing is ccrtain-thc resolutions introduced
Yesterday by Mr.. Quay are 50 plainly IN
the interest of the Democrats that they
should be promptly defeated. The bare
possibility. however, of their paSsaG" IN
small house shows once more how necc'-
sarv is tho immediate presence al the. Cap
itol of all absent Republican Senators. Hom"
have already returned who were absent dur
ing two entire weeks Of tariff discussion
Some have already returned who were absent
during two entire weeks Of tariff discussion
but every Republican who is physically able
70 be at Washington without the risk Of HE
should surely realize now that his constituents
have a right TO claim his presence there Inc
Democrats possibly with the aid Of two {"
three other Senator'S who hahitually Vot' with
them on tariff questions. but who nevertheless
look for the continued favor Of the party which
they do not support, will doubtless resist any
uroposal 10 restrict wanton waste OF time IN
such = struggle an absent member, whether
haired or not, virtually votes and uses his
! whole mower on the side Of the Democrats for
his absence will 90 just as far TO prevent he
massage Of necessary rule As his presence and
vote AGAINST it. 4 Republican Senator whether
entirely satisfied with the pending blIl or not
cannot excuse before constituents course 81
conduct which enables a Democratic minority
! to preyent any action on this bill, and thus -
DEPRIVE the majority Of its power II DO bu>I-
B ro... Presence at Washington and III the
I Senate Chamber is now the paramount duty
of every Republican senator.