The critic., 1891-01-26
SENATE.

The Senate has adopted motion offered
by Mr.. Wolcott to take up the House APP
portionment bill thus dispacing, tempo
rarily, the cloturc resolution. The vote
stood 30 to ~. Messrs. Cameron, Jones
tNevada) Stewart, Teller, Washburnc and
Wolcott, Republicans, voting to take up
the bill. Mr.. Ingalls, was announced as
paired on the same side.
When at 1915 this afternoon Mr.. Nor
gan yielded the floor TO Mr.. Wolcott of
Colorado to move to take up the Appor-
tiOnment bill the situation Immediately
became intense.
The galleries were quickly crowded as
the news spread about the Capitol that an
attempt was making to sidc-track the
cloture proposition. As it is generally
recognized that the Elections bill win
never come to vote unless the cloture
measure be adopted there was general
anxiety as to the result.
Mr.. Dolph promptly moved to lay Mr..
Wolcott's motion on the table. Mr.. But
Ter made the point of order that motion
TO lay on the table motion to consider
n bill was not in order.
Mr.. Aldrich admitted that it had not
been so regarded, but last week the Vice
President had ruled the motion of the
Senator from Maryland to lay a similar
motion on the table, in order. He called
attention to this ruling for what it was
worth.
Mr.. Platt, who was in the chair, re-
garded 1t as good enough precedent for
this case and so ruled Mr.. Dolph's motion
in order.
The roll was then called amidst sup
pressed excitement. IL showed major
ity against the motion.
There was at once great shuilling of
pairs to enable Senators present to vote.
II led to two or three sharp exchanges be-
tween Senators on the opposite side.
Mr.. Stewart tried to pair Mr.. Stanford
against the motion to lay on the table. II
was strenuously resisted by Mr.. Aldrich,
and resulted In the California Senators
being recorded as absent and not paired.
Mr.. Aldrich was eagerly active and
jealous in endeavoring to arrange mat
ters SO as to save the cloture resolution.
He held the floor so long and in spite of
being called to order that finally annoyed
at these attempts to compel him to sit down
he exclaimed that he could not be taken
from the floor in any such way.
You are always on the floor, and ap-
parently there is no way to take you off,"
retortcd Mr.. Wolcott.
Then Mr.. Butler in n sharp tone de-
clared Mr.. Aldrich out of order in not
sitting down when called to order. Mr.
Aldrich promptly sat down, but arose
again quickly as Mr.. Butler sat down.
Finally all the pairs were arranged and
rearranged, and the vote was announced
as-yeas, "a; nays, 30.
This was followed by applause on the
goor aud in the galleries, wheregpon Mr.,
Edmunds, who was white with the rage
of defeat, rose and called attention to the
applause and said IL was contrary to the
rules and that il persisted in, the galleries
should be cleared. The Presiding Officer
paid no attention to Mr.. Edmunds, who
wandered off to seek consolation.
The Clerk then read the title of the bill.
The Chair stated the question and ordered
the roll to be called The Senators voted
precisely as they had before and the bill
was ordered to be considered.
BY unanimous consent after the read
ing of the bill and reports, it was laid
aside informally to enable the Senate to
approve its journal and consider morning
business.
The bill will be taken up al 2 o clock to-
morrow as unfinished business.