Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-18
The Senate in Session for
Thirty Hours.
Practically No Progress Made
in All That Time.
The Republicans in a Bad Plight
with the Elections Bill.
Partisan Debate in the House-The Silver
Pool Inquiry Historian Ban
croft Dead.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE senate to-
day found itself no further advanced
toward final action upon the elections
bill than when it entered upon its con-
sideration at the beginning OF the pres
ent session. The stubborn fact still con-
fronts the friends of the bill, that they
must secure Republican quorum be-
fore progress can be made. At present
forty-four Republican senators are In
Washington, or one less than aquorum.
Supposing the Republicans, who are
numbered with them, attend and vote,
whether they vote for or against the bill
and it's supporting propositions is not
an important question. Their votes one
way or the other are desired, in order
to make quorum in case it is decided
to call up the closure resolution.
The Republican absentees are seven IN
number. They are: Messrs. Blair,
Chandler, Farwell, Moody, Pierce, Pet
tigrew and Squire. The senatorial con-
tests in which the three first named SEN
ators are interested, have been practic-
ally settled by caucus action, so they
may be expected in Washington III
short time to make the necessary
quorum. Ingalls, is reported SICK abed.
It is not clear how the proposition made
by Senator Stewart this morning to re-
commit the elections bill, can come be-
fore the senate as long as the present
plan is kept in operation. 1t must under
the erule lie over for day.
WAITING FOR A QUORUM. .
The hours between 2 and 5 80 am.
were spent in waiting for quorum,
which did not come. At the latter hour
the sergeant alarms reported in writing
the success or failure of his visits. One
of his reports stated that Senators Berry
and Butler were in the cloak room, and
that the former. stated that he would
come in when he got ready, and the dat
ter refused to obey the summons. The
appearance of George at 8 80 am. COM
pleted the quorum, and Faulkner made
another start in his speech against the
bill, although there were not twenty
senators within hearing OF his voice.
At,6 O'Clock Gorman made another
effort to close the days session, but his
motion was defeated on yea and nay
vote. As the vote showed no quorum
present, the senate found itself In the
same endless round in which it had been
revolving for the last six hours.
Daniel, at 7 80, moved an adjournment.
The motion did not succeed, however,
for Casey rushed out and obtained his
allies from the cloak room, and the
motion was declared lost. After that
there was another lull until $3.50, when
a quorum having appeared, Faulkner
proceeded with his remarks.
Faulkner concluded at 10 80, having
held the floor almost twelve hours.
STEWART WILL ASK RECOMMITMENT.
Stewart gave notice of a motion to re-
commit the elections bill, with instruc-
tions to the committee to report it back
with provision for the election OF
members of congress on days when no
other election is held in the several
states.
Vest demanded yea and nay vote on
Faulkner's amendment, which ellml-
mates from the bill such features as
color, and judicial functions OF canvass
ing boards.
The matter went over for the present,
and Vest argued in favor OF his pro-
posed amendment providing that the
circuit court shall appoint two chief
supervisors of elections for each judicial
district in the circuit, and not OF the
same political party. He SAID the
Democrats would exhaust every parlla-
mentary method to defeat the bill.
The question recurring on Vests
amendment, Hoar moved to table 1T.
Agreed to-yeas, 80; nays, 25.
On motion of Faulkner, an amend
ment was adopted striking out the
clause giving the supervisor OF elections
power to transfer any supervisor from
service in one part of congressional
district to another part of the same dis
trict.
Wolcott moved to amend the bill by
providing that any person falsely claim
ing to be citizen of the United States,
or to be resident or qualified voter, in
any application, shall be punished by
confinement of not more than two
wears. or by a fine of not more than
$1,000, or both fine and imprisonment.
Agreed to.
ANOTHER TIE VOTE.
Reagan offered an amendment to come
in at the end OF section 3, providing
that the chief supervisor shall keep the
petitions and lists of names appended to
them open for inspection and examina-
ton by the citizens at all seasonable
hours.
Hoar moved that the resolution be
laid on the table. A vote was taken,
and the result being a tie-yeas, 30;
nays, 30-the ce-president voted aye,
and Reagan's resolution was laid on the
table. The Republicans voting nay
were: Quay, Stewart, Teller, Wolcott:
The following paired: Chandler and
Blodgett, Pettigrew and Call, Dolph and
Colquitt. Blair and George, Pierce and
Gibson, Plumb and Vest.
Voorhees, gave notice of an amend
ment, providing that the application
and the names signed thereto shall be
published in at least two newspapers of
opposite politics, in the congressional
district, every day for one week preced-
ing the election.
DAvENPORT's ACCOUNTS CALLED FOR.
Morgan offered resolution (agreed
to) calling on the secretary of the treas
ury for copies of the accounts of John l.
Davenport and the circuit court COM
missioner from 1886 to 1890.
Aldrich gave notice that on Tuesday
next he would ask the senate to pro-
ceed to consideration OF the resolution
to change the rules of the senate.