The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-23
A NEW DEVICE.
rcctness of the Senate journal and
Defeat the Republican Scheme.
THE FIGHT REMAINS DOUBTFUL

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-rhc Republican
Senators were greatly surprised this
morning when German got the floor and
moved to correct the journal and com
mcnccd to argue the motion. Comment
ing upon the ruling of the Nicc-P President
the day before he said
NO one who had the slightest idea of
parliamentary law could have made such
decision in the teeth Of the rules
of the Senate and in violation of all
the laws that govern Legislative bodies;
no presiding officer, no matter who he
may be, can take Senator from the
floor, when by the rules, he has the right
TO it, do not believe that the Senate
would allow the Journal TO stand which
declares falSchood.
In some quarters there WAS at first
a disposition to condemn the NiccPrcSi-
dent for his accidental slip of yesterday
in connection with the motion to take up
the closure resolution, for it was upon
recital of that matter in the journal that
the Democrats this morning based their
attack. But as the day wore on ii was
made apparent that any other statement
of fact in the journal would have served
the purpose quite as we'll although not
cloaking the main purpose in the same
degree.
Just how long the present state Of at
fairs will continue can hardly he conjcc-
turcd If all customs regulating debate
are to be observed there is nothing to pre-
vent the Democrats from talking from now
until the 4th of March upon the question
Of approving the journal of january Goth :;
Or if they should get tired of that subject
they may turn their attention TO the ques-
ton of corrections Of the journal Of the
2lst Of January or of some subsequent
day and discuss it to their hearts content.
The ostcnsiblc hope of the Republican
managers lies in their expectation that if
they can succeed in preventing an add
worn out with so much continuous talk,
will finally succumb, but of this there is
little hope for the Democrats feel conf
dent of their ability, by skillful manage
ment of lung power and use of relays of
Senators in rest and duty, in talking away
and emerging in good condition at The
end Of this congress.
The feeling is deepening on the Repub-
lican side of the chamber that there is
but one key to the situation and that
key is in the possession OF the Vice
President. This means, in plain Eng
lish that to break the deadlock other
wise than by an gnominous defeat
on the closure resolution and election
bill, that the Vice president must come
to the rescue Of the ma iority by a
ruling which will destroy, in Il measure
as has indeed been the case with some
of the time honorcd traditions of the
Senate as to the right Of individual Sen
ators as opposed to the rights of the ma
jority, even though it be based on Il sound
construction of general parliamentary
laws.
1t is not possible now to predict what
FORM thlS ruling Will TAKE surprising 'ht'
it is called forth and that the Nicc-PrcSi-
dent is willing to undertake his part, but
it is con ccturcd that it may follow an APP
peal to the presiding officer from the Re
publican Senators to close the debate and
bring the Senate face to face with the
real question at issue, viz, the closure, on
the ground that it is II matter of even
higher privilege than that of the approval
of the journal, inasmucll as it concerns
the rules under which all Legislative bodies
nuet do In SinrSS