Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-21
Lively Times in Both Senate and
House Today.
CORRECTING The JOURNAL.
To Fix the Exact Status of the
Cloture Resolution.
MIR. MILLS STILL TURBULENT.
THE SENATE.

names. On motion of Mr.. Edmunds the ser
geant-at-arms was directed to request the at
tendance of absent members At 1O:15 forty
seven Senators (two more than quorum) had
arrived, and the secretary commenced TO read
the journal OF yesterday. When he got through
the record Of the morning business Mr.. Cor
man requested that the secretary read the re-
malnder of the journal more slowly.
The secretary read 'On motion OF Mr..
Aldrich that the Senate resume consideration
of the resolution to amend the rules as to limi-
tatlon of debate it was determined in the affirm
ative, when on motion of Mr. Aldrich (at 6I0)
the Senate adjourned"
Mr.. Gorman asked whether the question be-
nal.
The Vice President-Yes
Mr.. Gorman-Have l a right to the floor on
that motion?
The Vice President-The Senator has the
right to make a motion for the correction of
the journal
MR.. GoRMAN MOVES CORRECTION.
Mr.. GormanI move to strike out the last
clause read by the secretary as to the motion
of Mr.. Aldrich, ''It was determined in the
Affirmative" He made the motion Che said)
because that had not occurred. The journal
was not correct in that particular. 1t was not
for the purpose of interfering with the con-
sideration of the resolution for the amendment
OF the rules that he made the motion, but it was
that the journal might contain the exact truth
Of what occurred in the body. No Senator,
whether in the majority or minority. could for
a moment submit to permitting an entry to be
made that a question had been carried when
the vote was not put and announced.
Mr.. German read the report Of the proceed
ings from the Congressional Record in support
OF his position, and. commenting upon the rul-
ings of the Vice President. said: mo one who
had the slightest idea Of parliamentary law
could have made such a 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 a Senator from the floor when, by the
rules. he has a right to it. do not believe that
the Senate will permit the journal to stand
which declares falsehood.''
THE RIGHT OF THE MINORITY.
After referring to the revolutionary proceed
ings in three or four state legislatures Mr. Cor
man said that it would not do for the Vice
President to say that he would ignore the law
and trample on the rights of states, and that
no longer should the law govern. "When you
to the Vice President, ''you take a
responsibility such as no man living
in this land of ours has ever assumed.
You set the example for any lawless man or
combination to trample down the constitution
Of his country or the law of his state. Insig-
nificant as the proposition is as to the adoption
Of the resolution) the question goes beyond
that, and l beg you and the Senate to pause.
Let us go on in order. Let us respect the
rights Of each other. Let us observe the rules
that have been provided"
Mr.. Aldrich intimated that the morning hour
was being consumed in the discussion of mat
ter OF no practical importance. He was will
ing to concede that the Vice President had not
declared the motion carried. and he had no
objection to the motion to amend the journal.
cyl1 ne I afp p1a
hour expired, move that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of the resolution, and then
there could be no question as to the exact
rights and status of all parties concerned.
Mr.. German questioned Mr.. Aldrichs state
ment that there was nothing Of practical i'm
portsnce before the Senate. There was a ques-
ton OF great practical importance before it.
1t was a question whether in the Senate the
rights OF the representatives of the states
should be preserved or whether they
should be stricken down by combination be-
tween Senator on the floor and the Vice Pres
ident. If the Senate would correct the
journal that would terminate the matter and
would, he trusted, terminate it forever: and
he hoped that there never would be such an
attempt repeated either designedly or Sc
cretly. He therefore asked for a vote on his
motion, which he would construe, and which
he believed the country would construe, as the
correction of great wrong perpetrated in the
Senate yesterday.
MR.. SHERMAN WANTS DECISION.
Mr.. Sherman hoped that the Vice President
would decide the question as to whether the
journal was correct or not.
Mr.. Harris said that the Vice President had
no right to decide such question. 1t was for
the Senate to determine it.
Mr.. Sherman-Not being here when this oc-
CURED ask the presiding officer to state
whether the chair announced the result of the
vote. / ask for my information.
MIR. MoRroN's STATEMENT.
The Vice President-The chair, from his
own recollection, supported by the Conqres-
siondl Record, is of the opinion that while put
ting the question on the motion made by the
Senator from Rhode Island he did not formally
declare the vote as carried, though he stated
that the ayes appeared to have it, and he will
Senate.
Mr.. Harris-That is the exact fact.
Mr.. Sherman-Then l do not hesitate for q
moment to vote to correct the journal.
The Vice President-The chair will state in
addition that after the matter was called to his
attention yesterday Afternoon he refreshed his
memory and referred to the Congressional
Record this morning with the result announced.
DEsULroRY DISCUSSION.
The discussion drifted of to the custom of
the presiding officer keeping list Of Senators
who desired to speak on measure. The Gus
tom was condemned by some Senators and ap-
proved by others. In the course of the discus
sion several democratic Senators-Messrs. Glib
son, Morgan, Butler and Harris-disclaimed
any desire to cast reflection on the Vice Presi-
dent, Mr.. Gibson adding: He has treated us
with perfect candor and courtesy, and think
that Senators should vie with each other in
treating him in the same way"
After the discussion had continued for An
hour and O half Mr.. Hale inquired what had
become Of the motion to correct the Journal
and was told that the yeas and nays had been
ordered. He suggested, in view Of what had
taken place ON both sides and in view of the
statement Of the chair, that the order for the
yeas and nays be withdrawn and the motion
agreed to by unanimous consent.
THE YEAS AND NAYS WANTED.
Mr.. German could not consent to that He
thought it important, after the memorandum
presented by the Vice President, that there
should be record made, and he therefore
could mot withdraw the cali for the yeas and
nays.
Ir. Sherman thought it very small matter
to try to make record against the accuracy Of
Mr.. Spencer, probably the most accomplished
and experienced officer OF the Senate and Who |
bad only drawn . natural conclusion from the |
facts.
Mr.. Plat said that he would vote against the |
correction Of the Journal bscause he thought |
that the whole prccssdfng entirely justiAsd
NJ. Gosm.a discisinsd any ldss q rsaectias
ON the clerk or seerstazy Who prsparsd TIE !