New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-12
IN THE RULES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I

81
Albany March 11.-After continuous session u
sixteen and one half hours, the longest IN many year,
the State Senate adjourned at $3.50 a. m V-udS n"'
before its adjournment the Senate amended It's rueS
In relation TO the power Of the acknowledgements "
appoint some Senator to preside over the senate "ic
he is absent This was the subject of the long con
tention and the cause OF the deadlock iOr nearly
week in the transaction of business in The senate
The amendment to the rules made reduces the power
of the Lieutenant-GiOvernOr TO appoint temPo'"''
chairman from two days 70 one day ana iur'heF po
vides that he must be in Albany when he makes tho
annointmenI Even this compromise is regarded ny
many Republicans as an unsatisfactory one, ana only
the fact that the public business OF the o'auc mas u"
cumulaced upG1 cser hands wMe they have Dee' on'
deavoring to gain the mastery OF inc hiiou''ei'"o
Democratic minority has induced the Republican oena'
TORS 20 agree to it, it is, the amended rule Is III
direct violation of the state Constitution, ana IL uee
the right of the Republican majority to govern inc
senote's proceedings Section 10 OF Arucle III Vi 'io
Constitution says: -.,..
section TO- majority OF each House shall constitute
q quorum do business. Each House shail ~ ,
the rules Of its proceedings ana DC 'uu70 "
elections returns qualifications Of Its own ehoeS
shall choose its officers; ana the Senate sh'i 'o
a temporary president. when the Lieutenant "o'oiH0i
sh.,I not attend as president, shall act as Governor
The Constitution thus clearly gives the rgh' u
The Republican majority in the Senate, whenever
Lieutenant Governor Jones is absent, TO clect P'V
siding officer. Why, then. did they, uhder tne ic"'
of President Pro Tenn Fassett, at 3;3o otlooA Ol''
morning adopt an amendment to senate rule . W
which the Lieutenant Governor is authorized 10 dP
point a Democratic presiding officer for one day ID
case he Is absent Rule 3, before lis amendment cad
He the Leutenant.Covernor shall have the right 70
name any member perform the duties oil inc char WIN
is hereby vested during such time, with al INC p"Vo "
the pre.dcn; such substitute shall not lose th' rS'
~ xctinr on any question while presiding ncr shall MS
power as such continue for any iohser pefou
than two d,ys without leave Of the Senate when mo
shall be ready to 90 into Committee oil INC ""o'
he shall name Il chairman to preside therein.
As amended by Senator FasSet this rule now reads
He THE shall have the right when
in city Of Albany to designate In writng h'iotI
to perform duties but not for any longer time thah
weny.four hours from the time OF making Such CeSsa
ton which may he revoked at any time by the Senate
In other words, the Lieutenant-G0vernor may ap-
point Democratic presiding officer for one day. Du
not for two days as heretofore. In the opinion "i
of the Republican Senators. the principle Is Just
as bad as before. The Senate has surrendered into
the hands of outsider far As jts membership IS
conccrned-that j. has surrendered 10 the Lieutenant
GOvernOr-the authority TO presiding 0ihccr'
when that power is expressly conferred upon Ihe
Senate by the Constitution, ard each senator sWearS
that he will obey and support the Constitution why
have nineteen Republican senators thus bowed 10 the
will of the Lieutenant Governor and OF thirteen Demo
cratic senators This must be question that Is
asked by many Republicans living outside Of Albany
But every resident of Albany who has visited th2
Senate Chamber in the last week. and has witnessed
the actions of Lieutenant Jones and Of the
Democratic Senators. in opposition to the Republican
attempt to make the senate rules conform 10 the Con
siiuon would acknowledge that it is almost imp0S'
sble for a majority 10 force a vote on amending the
rules in the face Of the unscrupuOus opposition of the
Lieutenant Governor and the Democratic senators.
The Lieutenant Governor would not recognize any
Republican senator who sought to bring the Senate
to "a vote the main proposition, namely, that the
rules should be amended as to provide that, when
ever Lieutenant Governor Jones is absent, President
pro tenn Fassett should peside. Hour after hour Lieu
tenant Governor Jones pretended not to see the Re
publican Senators, and the only men he did recognize
10 make motions the Democratic senators. These
Senators made motions to adjourn to another day 10
10 the rules another day; to proceed to other
business. These motions raned upon the Senate fol
about sixteen h0uis yesotday, and there were aUJut
200 rOll-calls in the course of the day.
The only recourse the Republicans had was to make
the matter test of physical endurance. Every ume
they attempted TO bring the senate to 'oe upon INC
proposed new Iule, some Democratic senator would
the Albany directory sent to the desk by the Demo
Gratis TO fll time The Leuienantoovertor VASE" va
rules to give his decisions correctly. Another oDsta lie
TO Amending the rules was the privilege of unlimited
debate There is closure" previous question:
in The Senate. and consequently, The Democrats
Those Who witnessed the scene could not but be i'm.
pressed with the belief ihat gwen p0hllcaiS ui
TP0HI a Es i WoS S un hg
the present rules OF the senate to pass bill which
they might oppose.
But the Republican majority has one power which it
should eAert. No law can be passed without it, con
sent. OF the Republican senators must vote 1oI
evCIy bill which is passed. The Democrats have only
thirteen votes and the Constitution makes il necessary
that seventeen votes shall be cast for every BILL 1t Is
therefore within the power OF the Republican majority,
II it so will, TO turn about upon the Democratic mi
noyity, which is thus attempting 10 rule the Senate,
and 10 veto the laters legislation Certainly the rules
of the should be amended 80 aa to provide that
:: vote shall be reached upon any measure at a fixed
time. As the rules framed, minority, by
flhusteling motions. can prevent responsible ma
iority from doing any business whatever.