The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-21
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The Cloture Rule Introduced and Dem
ocrats Filibuster Against 1t.

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 2o.-In the Senate the
resolution offered yesterday by Mitchell calling
on the secretary OF war for statistics and in
formation as to the site for a gun factory on the
Pacific coast, was taken up and discussed. ALI
son asked that the resolution should go over
till tomorrow, intinating that the location Of
an additional gun factory should not be re-
stricted to the Pacific coast, but that the inter
ests OF the country should be considered in the
matter. Mitchell assented, and asked unan-
imous consent that it should come up tomorrow
as unfinished business in the morning hour
Agreed TO.
Aldrich moved that the Senate proceed to con-
sideration Of the resolution to change the rules,
and it was agreed to. Harris rose to question
OF order, and said the notice given did not call
attention to the part of any rule proposed to be
modified, but simply left the chair and each
senator TO find IL out for himself. He argued
that the motion was not sufficiently specific.
a discussion was proceeding when, at 2
O'Clock, the elections bill came up, and George
took the floor TO continue his speech. After he
had spoken three hours and half, Butler, with
n view to giving him rest, asked him to yield
the floor while he had read the chapter of the
Revised Statutes relating to the subject of
elections
George assented, but after the secretary had
read for some time Butler discovered that the
chapter was not the one he meant, and he said
ne wonid read 1t himself. Before he began Nor
gan claimed the floor on the elections bill, but
the vice president said he had Aldrich's name
next On the list. Morgan protested against this
parceling out OF the floor. The vice president
responded that George had the floor. The latter
again offered TO yield to Butler, but Hoar OBJ
iected, stating that under such an arrangement
one senator might hold the floor for whole ses-
sion.
The vice president again announced that the
senator from Mississippi was entitled 10 the
iioor, and after long argument as to the hold
Ing. the vice president said: 'sThe chair is OF
the opinion that senator entitled to the floor
csnnot transfer the right to any other senator -
George then resumed the floor, and, picking
M pile OF manuscript, commenced TO read
dissertation upon the original history of African
slavery in the United States. After some time
he complained OF WEAKNESS and asked whether
Butler might read for him, so that he could rest.
Aldrich objected and George resumed. After
ten minutes more OF reading Aldrch asked if
resolution referring TO cloture. George with an
air OF weariness, said he believed he would.
Aldrich then moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration OF the resolution, and after
much further discussion the vice president put
the question. There was a response of ayes, fol-
lowed by one of nays, and the vice president
said the ayes appeared to have it. Then Morgan
pressed his claim for recognition, and Butler
and Ransom insisted on knowing how George
was LETT by the agreement A long parliament
ary struggle ensued, which was finally terrni-
vice president put the question and declared the
Senate adjourned
After the vice president left the chair, Ran
som declared emphatically to the secretary that
the result OF the vote on taking up the resolu-
ton had not been declared by the vice president
Others argued that il was. but Ransom may
bring up the question tomorrow.