Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-24
THE CLOrURE RULE.
Republicans Fail to Get it Up-Recess
Taken Until To-day.


WASHINGTON, d. c., January 23.-
The Senate met at ii o'clock in continual
tion of yesterdays session, and the
Vice President Immediately recognized
Mr.. Cockrel to proceed with his
speech, pending which Mr.. German
raised the point OF order that there was
no quorum present. During the call,
Mr.. Chandler, of New Hampshire, who
has been absent for some days, made
his appearance in the Senate chamber.
Only thirty-eight Senators responded,
but at 1l;l0 the requisite number to
make quorum (45) had appeared, the
last being Mr. Aldrich, and
business was proceeded with. Mr.
Cockrell thereupOn resumed the
floor i'm order TO continue his
argument against the cloture resolution.
He Welded, however, to Mr.. Hoar, who
said that he desired to add one idea TO
what he had said last evening. He re-
garded the pending proposition, he
said. as he should If the case had arisen
in the Supreme Court of the United
States. There was no one who would
not recognize the Importance OF abso-
lute. free and untrammeled discussion
in that tribunal, and that no member oil
that court should be curtailed in stating
his opinion to his brethren or
in suggesting any modification OF any
Judgment expected to be pronounced.
But. IL IL could be conceived OF that au-
gust tribunal that in the case OF some
controversy about TO pass into Judg-
ment affecting the interests OF large
portions of the American people and eX-
citing their feelings, four members OF
the nine should undertake to read opln-
ions alternately day after day, night
after night, and week after week, one
taking turns.with the other, and having
read all the decisions which had been
made since the foundation OF the Gov
el lnment, and in that way to prevent
the action of the court altogether, OF
10 postpone it until the Judgment could
cause il to be effectual, would anybody
doubt that it would be the duty OF thai
great tribunal to interpose and to adopt
some rule that would put a limit on the
length of opinions, or to the number ol
arguments that should be made by the
minority.
Mr.. Cockrell again took the floor and
resumed his argument against the clo
tnre rule. He expressed his astonish
ment at Mr.. Hoar's statement yesterday
lin reply 10 Mr.. Harris, that the pro
nosed rule contained provision for Of
ferinq amendments TO the pending
measure. because that statement showed
that the Senator from MassachuSett;
was pressing rule, the contents ol
which he did not know, and mat the
rnIe was TO be Reeded, Lodged, Daven
norted and Hoared through the Senate
INST rs measures had been through the
otber house without consideration
without deliberation and without any
knowledge of what they were.
Mr. Cockrell went on to criticise the
nronosed rule and pointed out partlcu
iarlv that the demand for closing debate
rennired 10 be seconded by "a majority
~ the Senators present" instead OF oN
80 majority of the Senate;" so that Oh'
soid1 If there were but three SENATOR
nresent two of them could enforce th'
gag law. ~, .,.o ooo,
| Mr. COckrell having !icluc"
at the request of Mr.. Teller, the latter
manfred of Mr.. Aldrich how long
time he proposed to allow for debate OF
the cloture resolution, remarklng Una
it was rumored that some aroltrar!
means in the shape of comp detH wer'
70 he resorted to for the closing oil th
Question. rro,,od tba
,bere could be no closing OF the deoat'
excent by the action of the Senate II
self and he asked unanimous conSeh
that the vote should be taken on IN
resolution and amendments at o'eioc
tomorrow. - doolora
Mr. German objected, aud declare
that the step taken by the Senate yes
terday was one which had overturne
, The whole history of the Senate an
the decision o, the presiding officer an
the vote of the majority were In direc C.
opposition OBJ to every rule OF the 5, sena, Il
and of the general parliamentary Ia"