The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-24
CL0TURE IN TIE SENATE,
ONLY INSTANCE IN WHICH IT WAS
EVER ATTEMPTED.
A War Eeminiscencc-How" "Oid Subsidy
POM Tricked Hon. james a. Bayard-
Contested Election Gases In the Uonse-
CONGREGATIONAL and Capital Notes

| A War Eeminiscencc-HOw "Oid SuDsn'
Pom" rricked Hon. james A. Bayard-
Contested Election Case. In the Honse-
CONGREGATIONAL aud Capital Notes.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Dec. 3.-lspeciai.l
In connection with the present attempt Of
a faction Of Republican senators, led by
Senator Hoar, 70 fasten a cloture rule upon
the Senate. the history of the upper branch
on all kindred propositions is Of special in-
terest. In order 70 ascertain correct
ly and truthiully the record Of
the senate on such questions, THE TINS
correspondent to-day interviewed ID. T..
MURPHY, who for many yeare has been the
official reporter Of that body As youth,
Mr.. Murphy commended the attention Of
the Senate as an accurate and faithful re-
porter and for many years he has had
charge OF the report OF that body AT
| "A salary Of $4,000 per year. lie has tie
yeloped aud maintained qualities showing
his special fitness for the work In fact. he
is now living encyclopedias OF senatorial
! history. In conversation with lnE lIMEo
correspondent Mr. Murphy said be could
| not undertake 10 express an opinion as 10
/ Mull the -tNhtt Nll-lll NV. ftAA ANhA AH' iAAN
or practice to summarily cut of debate was
contrary 10 All precedents and that every
suggestion Of that nature in the past had
provoked Indignant protest from both par
! ties.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
The only time in the entire history OF the
Senate when debate was summarily or ar
bitrarily contested wa in 1863 The ques-
tion at issue was the adoption Of confer
euce report submitted by Senator TIum-
bull, OF Illinois, on a bill TO approve the
suspension OF the habeas corpus act by
President Lincoln, and also to ''imdemLify"
him. The term indemnify was employed
| because the suspension was held
10 be unconstitutional, and dam
ages might be sought by parties
alleged to be injured. There had been
| long fight in both houses over this bill. as
many Republicans hesitated 10 approve the
suspension Of the habeas corpus. In the
senate the little cOterie Of Democrats de-
termned to defeat the bill, and by
! flibustering tactics they believed that
they were justified in resorting
| 10 the most extreme measures 10
uphold the Constitution. senator Powell,
| of Kentucky, was the Democratic leader.
The senate was sitting almost continuous
| ". as the date fixed by law for adjournment
was near nj hand. II was about O'Clock
A NJ. ON March /. 1863 and the senate was
| in session. lt dcNOlyed upon the Democrats
| 10 talk the bill 10 death, and that only
required that they should Keep up their
! tght until noon Of the third. The Demo
Gratis, numbering only a few. were pretty
well exhausted with the continuous sirug-
| giles they had made, and senator James \.
| Bayard, Of Delaware, was detailed To- make
/ tie first move against the conference
] g IN hulnu. sIIbmIffrn bN
Senat r Trumbull. Tie was to speak from
IA. VI. until q, and was to be succeeded 10y
| Garrett Davis, OF kentucky, who IN oi der 10
prepare for the ordeal had gone home To get
| a good sleep. DAVIS was a man OF strong
| physical mowers. and was detailed to talk
! from q \. NJ to II noon. Senator
| Bayard began talking against the confer
euce report, and kept II up for several
| hours. A. he was not IN the best OF health
and did not possess the staying powers
| deemed necessary. senator Powell, who re-
NAMED in the clOak-IOOm, would every
now aud then interrupt him and interpose
a motion to adjourn. This would
necessitate roli.call, and would
afford Senator l}ayaTd a few mo-
ments' rest. OF course these motions to all
! iDurn were made with the consent Ol senator
| Bayard About A. NJ. senator Powell
entered the chamber from Tue cloak-room
and asked senator Btyard To give way for
motion To adjourn. the latter as-enicd,
and the motion was put ami the
roll call ordered. senator B'yard sal
down, and Mr. Murphy stls "a, he WAS
quite deaf ne kept biz hand tU his ear max
| ing Of it "A ,oft oi sounding board iu order io
keen trace OF the proceedings.
Meantime senator Pom, roy, ot Kansas.
| since. tpen notorious as Subsidy Pomc-
roy or "Old subsidy was called to
the chair. IL wac then ana Is yet TIE Gus
| tom for the Chair, when senator has been
/ interrupted, 10 recognize the latter immt-
dately upon toe conclusion OF the business
causing the interruption.
/ Fully cognizant OF tine rules and practice,
senator Biyald retained h.s SEPT, holding
hI, hand 10 his ear. lhat nc might near lhr
/ presiding officer at be proper time. Bon
p.meroy. nt tool for such WOrF, instead
oFreroenilng Mr. Bayard, put tue question
/ 0a tns ad liliOu Oi thc conference report.
/ IA. Republicans took adv tntage oi a. ahc
voted % adopt, senator Powell ha'ing re-
/ l.rncd tO lhc ciOak-IOom in iull cohhuthce
4 that the Usual rules and courtesy Mo"lu De
/ mliowed. Ou "A ylyi-yOce vote Pomefoy
declared the conference report adopted. In
an instant Republican moved lO adjourn,
and that was declared carried. II was not
until the Senators began u leave the cham
Der that Mr.. Bayald, whose deafness pre-
! vented his hearing what nad occurred
even SUSPECTED The trick. lie al once pro-
/ tested bat was ignored and indignant be-
cause Of tnis discOurtey. lie resi- fned
from the senate, and was succ eded Oy MS
distinguished son, Hon. Thomas r..
| BaNard.
This recital covers the experience Of the
senate with gag rule, but then there were
only six OF eight Democrats IA tne body.
Now iheremre Democrats tnou. h 10 make a
protracted fight, and they are determined To
do so.
REPUBLICAN PRECEDENT.
Iitbe Democrats need Republican pre-
lcedent for -ilibustcring one is furnished ny
the late Senator lot VI. Morrill, Wh2' III
\ l~6j. wuen the Congress was in "A few hours
of expiration, talked Tor six hours 10 defeat
"A bill making an Appropriation To conslfuci
a government railroad between WISH
ingion city and New York. senator
Morrill, was not only heavy stockholdrr
IN railroads that would have Deen hurl pl
the construction OF this Government me-
but be was counsel fCT one or more lines,
and 10 defeat the House bill lie talked irCm
about d \. NJ. until nearly noon, when Con-
gress had 10 adjourn.
CONTESTED ELECTION CAsEs.
The present indications are that the three
n remaining COntestel tieciioh Gases III lN'
House will be- postponed until near nnii
adjournment. Republican leaders DOUBT
their ability b. sc. a quorum here TO act ON
ihe s. eases. There rs talk about some sorl
of compronise looking 90 the atlng OF one
Republican. but ihe Democrats, believing
taat they can beat all The cases, are not dis
posed 10 compromise.
CAPITAL MOTHS,
The President sent TO the senate today
the nomination Of Henry B. Brown, Of
Michigan. 10 be associate Justice OF tbe
supreme Court Of the Uniied states, vice
samuel +. Miller, deceased.
SENATE.
I'm the senate to-day Mr.. Morgan, during
tae morning hour. spoke IN support OF his
rpsnlut 90 directing the Committee on Priv
neges aud n cii0ns % amend tue Elections
b.l! 30 as to show what changes and modih
cations in exislng law are proposed. Mr.
, Morgan had not finished his argument wher
Tue morning hour expired.
Mr. sherman, frcm the Committe OF
Finance, reported the bib 10 provide agains
I thp contraction a. The currency ami iO
other purposes Qbe caucus bilil and 1t wal
read twice aud placed on the calendar.