New-York tribune., 1891-02-06
MIR. INGALLS'S DEFENCE.
A STATEMENT IN THE SENATE WITH kE"AND
TO HIS POSITION ON THE CLOSURE RULE

STATEMENT IN THE SENATE WITH REOAhD
To HIS POSITION ON THE CLOSURE RULE
, w,sb,rc,ons Feb ! Cspecian.-Mr ingalls, took oc-
oo in tbe senate this morning to state publicly MS
rotlon with reference to the recent attempt 10 pass
closure rule and thus secure the passage oi tie HC
ton bill His remarks are IN great hlc''u''
explanatory, and they make it pretty cieaI ul"' ''o
further help can be expected from the senior ~
senator in any effort to get NatlohM eie''''" 49,
upon the statutes. so,, ,ba
sessions of the senate during the last TWO "ceh'' -
which interval action had been taken on the ciosuo
and nm the Election bill His attitude on booh e''
ouestons had been the subject OF comment anu 'e"
sure and of an animadvers0n. on the DAY Vi III, w
parture after consultation with Mr. AllSoh' On ""''n
he had been accustomed to lean IN every hou' o
need he had left with Mr.. Casey (who had chaIse Va
the pairs of absenees) note saying: 81 Shouid No..
against the proposed change OF the rules anu 0
vote for a motion proceed TO the cohsderauo" -
any other than the Election bill and am palied ac
cordInqly with senator Allison, who Is at hDely ~
vote to make quorum" He had been opp"'cu n'
said to the adoption Of the closure for many io"''
sufficient and satisfactory to himself There were Uios0
present. who knew that, many months ago. "I"c ".
cupying the chair In the absence OF the Nlcefesuci
he resisted many urgent opportunities ana "i''''
Strenuous solicitations cooperate In that direction
were revolutionary and subversive Of the fundamental
prncples Of constitutional government lie hau hoO
since seen any occasion to change or modify his con-
victOns.
He was now and always had been in favor Of a Just
and impartial election law directed alike against iorco
and fraud, non partisan, and applicable equally 10
all parts Of the Nation. The measure under consd-
Grafton however. did not, in many OF It's Details Fe'
celve the sanction Of his Judgment II appeared W
him - be cumbrous complicated, obscure In many OF
is provisions end difficult Of application IL suDor'
dinacd tie judiciary 10 political control ana opcneu
the Treasury to udcGn Spenditure without requisite
supervision. and in violation In his judgment, Vi '"
spirit if not letter, Of the provision OF the Noh'
tltution that declared that money shall be drawn
ont NJ the Treasury except in consequence Of appro'
prations made by law. In order to guard against the
enactment Of such measure into law, In Ms ABSENCE
and without amendments which he reGaideu aS e''
,entlal tO prevent dangers not less distinct ah t"oc
which if was intended TO obvlatc he had reserved thc
right 10 vote i'm his absence, with those Repuohcahs
who favored the consideration Of other important meas
ures unless those notifications were made.
He had no arrangement. agreement or understand
ing eNprrs,ed or implied, direct or indirect, remote
or contingent to have his vote counted agalhs, 'io
massage Of the Election BILL and In that statement he
was convinced that he would be confirmed ana cor
roboracd by the senator from Iowa lie was as IcduS
now ~ he had always been to proceed with its con
.ldoratlon and with notifications which ne haa
ol5,v, believed esscntlaD to support it to the end.
IIc had recently expressed opinion on political
-oclol or ecoiomlc questions which he had not long
entertained and to which he had not given frequent
uttorauce in the senate Chamber and elsewhere
II was related that the streets Of Jerusalem had
bcen kept clean by every sweeping before MS o"
door and a. commended to the seIcohSutuueu
Guardians Of the conscicnccs Of their associates out
side Of the senate Chamber that they should observe
a more frugal. prudent and guarded husoahdry Oh
their dl,anrrobation Those leaders who had conducted
he most powerful political organizations known
f., American history TO the most stupehdous
ard overwhelming disaster received IN us
annals mlght well pardon those who were disposed 10
doubt the iufaubl,ty OF their judgment II they were
wise they would be mora tolerant Of differences %
opinion among their ass,.at on questions OF op opEn
among those whose devotion 10 human HpclS "a ns
n.v,r been Que toned AID whose cOnsidncS ana loEt
tudc had been exposed t. test, ~ seNc'c a' 1''' "
any which they ever had known. -. -
Mr. Allison deemed II due Ia hmSef 70 siy tlat Op
every occasion when he had the opportunity nc h'r
stated distinctly that he had no PAT pnr "ln MI iiSa'D
Mr. Ingalls's colleagues do not think that MS aetyo GO
r.,di,c-s n 70 ahead with the consideration or inc
trc1tinn hin can bc depended upon with nluch CT
m ,i htl ar l," those wished for by Mr. Teller. sucl
~, would alicuatc from the hlll almost an 81 us
,,r,nrt,r. Mr. ingalls,. however, j. loit In a oetter
, ion i,y nj. votes ard h, speech than are MessrS
Tru,r Jones. stewart cameron ana Ndshburn' ING
~ .ncd The written pledge of last August To see lie
Election hll through ~ vote ana 70 support rlI.
o ac II callel upon. Mr. ingalls, neVeg Sgheu
~, ,I.d,, and cannot ie said Ia have broken a
direct and literal promise ilc has by h' '"ui.t noi
"or brolen party faith and honor ana lost the e>'l
n. of the senator's who put his name TO last summers
agreement.