The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-17
The Senate in Session ALI Night
on the Elections Bill.
DEMOCRATS WELL WOUND UP.
Republicans Unable to Get a Quorum
or Choke Off the Orators.
Reagan, the Ex-Confederate Postmaster
General, Would willingly Give His
Life to Defeat the Measure-A Test

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 16.--In the Senate
supplemental petitions were read against the
pas sage OF the elections bill from the states of
Arkansas, California, Delaware Georgia, Mary
land Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia aud
West Virginia. They include over 5000 sigma
lures.
Mitchell introduced a bill providing for a
temporary government for Alaska; referred.
On motion of Dolph, the Senate bill appropri-
ating sl,s7S,00o for the early completion OF the
Improvements at the mouth of the Columbia
river and ssl5Oo0 for the completion of the canal
and locks at the Cascades of the Columbia were
taken from the calendar Explanations and re-
marks IN favor OF the immediate passage of the
bill were made by Dolph Mitchell, German aud
Gibson. The bill was passed.
AT the closing OF the morning hour the vice
president laid before Senate as unfinished bust
ness the elections bill, and Pasco took the floor
TO make an argument against ii.
Pasco soon yielded to Hoar. who had an artf-
Gle read from the ARglo- Soron Churcanada OF Lit
tie Rock, speaking OF election methods etc
Jones OF Arkansas stated that the writer of the
article was not southern man. He was truth
ful and well meaning man, but had not been on
the ground long enough to understand the mat
ter, and therefore his opinion was worth no
more than that OF the senator from Massaehu-
sets
Berry of Arkansas took part in the discussion,
speaking OF Senator Hoar as man who Passed
his life stirring up strife among neighbors the
danger OF which ne never shared himself. After
this diversion, which occupied about an hour,
fasco concluded his speech, giving notice of an
amendment to punish bribery, by the payment OF
money or by the promise OF procuring employ
nds mens TO voters, ana to punish the use OF pay en-
He yielded 10 Hoar. who also gave notice of an
amendment, the effect being to give the Judge
only power to determine whether federal super
VISION OF election Is necessary and to give to the
accounting officer of the treasury power to audit
accounts of the supervision.
The fortifieations bill was reported back, with
amendments, during an intermission
PaSco, again. at ten minutes past e. Welded In
Wolcott who moved Adjournment FRYE de-
manded the yeas and nays, which resulted:
leas, Y; nays, -; Stewart and Wolcott being
the only Republicans voting ave- Pasco con.
tinucd his speech.
Hampton spoke against the bill and Dixon in
its favor.
Reagan spoke against the bill, and concluded
by declaring with strong feeling that, dear as
NE was to him, he would, as God was his Judge
II ne could save the American people from the
pending measure by giving up his life s,lrren-
his life ~
At the close of Reagan's speech motion was
made by Hoar to lay Buffers amendment that
SUPERVISORS, canvassers and all elections officers
shall De regarded az ministerial and not judicial
80, nays 20.
The amendment offered by Faulkner, propos.
ing substitute for section IA. aud TO provide
lor the appointment by the court of board of
Inree persons In the congressional district TO be
known as the United States board of canvass
ers, was taken up. Faulkner advocated the
apmendment, and condemned the action Of the
Republican senators IN sitting decisions by
moving to lay amendments on the table
In the course of a colloquy between Faulkner
Iray ana spooner, the latter stated, as an illus
,failon OF what the bill meant, that ii he had
boil on the back OF his neck he would not think
IL necessary to place poultices over his whole
hack Inc lllustration was taken advantage of
by faulkner, wfo saw in il that the bill was a
partisan and sectional measure, to be put in
force only In one part of the country
II r. m-Faulkner is still addressing the Sen
q. GOO for rrolh h0,.-
probable now tilat the object on the Democratic
side is 10 occupy time. There are not more than
dozen senators on each side of the chamber
put there are large reserves in the cloak rooms
ready TO meet any phase OF the question that
may present itself Tho galleries are now nearly
empty but the prospect is that the session will
perhaps all day tomorrow
faulkner continued speaking until l 20, when
the absence OF quorum was brought to the at
fention OF the chair by Sanders The call of the
roll showed only thirty-six senators present
only hve OF that number being Democrats
motion was made by Hoar to compel the at
tendance OF absentees, but Harris made the point
OF order that the first motion under the rules
was to direct the sergeant at arms to request the
attendance OF absent senators The presiding
onlcef tWashburnl sustained the point of order
and Hoar changed the motion accordinpIy the
motion was agreed to and a list of the absentees
IuIhlshed TO the sergeant at arms. The only
Democrats present were Coekrell Faulkner
Gorman, Harris and Pasco.
Before the list had been handed to the ser
geant- arms five more senators, all Repllb-
hcans, had answered, making the whole number
present forty one, or four less than a ouorunn.
Up to o'clock no senator had presented him
set IN compliance with the request, and it
looked as II a quorum might not be procured
A quorum finally was secured at $50 a. m
Gorman moved that further proceedings be dis
pcnsed with Rejected
men, when the Senate attempted to resume
business II was discovered that two or three
OF the senators had slipped out again Some
sent word that they Were i'll and could not
come.
OF adlournnent