The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-06

When the Senate was called to order at
10 o'clock this morning the chamber pre-
scented deserted appearance. There were
only six Senators in their seats--four Re-
publicans and two Democrats, viz:
Messrs. Edmunds, Dixon, Washburne,
Hale, German and Faulkner.
Alter the prayer Mr.. Edmunds sar-
castically suggested that IL was proper 10
give gentlemen who lived in distant part
of the city an opportunity to appear and
attend to their legislative duties.
He therefore moved recess for thirty
minutes. But seventeen Senators re.
sponded to their names on Mr.. Edmun1s'
mOtion-not quorum-and a call of the
Senate was entered upon. No quorum
appearing on thecall Mr.. Edmunds offered,
and the Senate adopted resolution re-
questing the Sergeant-at-Arms TO invite
absentees to appear at their own conven-
fence. After the lapse of three-quarters
ofan hour, quorum appeared, and the
journal of yesterdays proceedings was
The Presiding Officer laid before the
Senate a communication from the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, asking for an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the repair OF the
custom-house at Chicago Referred.
Mr.. Hoar introduced bill for the pay
mcnt of the French Spoliation Claims
A dispute arising rs to the proper refer
ence of the measure, Mr.. Hoar Withdrew
IL, and (disclaiming any responsibility for
the contents of the documents) introduced
bill to establish department of public
periodicals, which was referred.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the Financial bill and was addressed by
Mr.. Teller.
He said bill had been pending before
the Senate for weeks, the importance of
which he did not underrate, and the
benevolent purpose of which he did not
question, yet yesterday, with a full
knowledge of all the criticism his action
would bring, with a full consciousness,
however, that he was in the discharge of
his duty, as he saw it, he had voted to lay
that bill aside and take up the present
measure,
He knew when he did that that he
would renew the ISLANDERS that had been
perpetrated for the last eight or ten
months outside and even in this Chamber
TO the effect that the friends of free coin
age of silver had entered into an alliance
with the opponents of the Election bill
for its defeat in return for their votes in
favor Of free coinage.
During his public life he had never re-
piled to a SANDER against him in the pub
lie press, nor anywhere else. But there
were times in every mans life when the
ordinary course might be departed from
with propriety, and there never was
more unfounded SANDER published than
the statement that there had been com
lination between Republican Senators
and the Senators on the other side whJ
were opposed to the Elections bill.
He understood that he would be sub
ject to criticism because it would be said
that he was willing to place question OF
dollars and cents above what the friends
of the Elections bill were pleased to call a
question Of humanity and of the rights OF
individuals. If the Elections bill wa.
such an important question demanding
the individual attention of the Senate) or
the list Of December, it was an equally
important question last July, when 1t wa.
laid aside by the friends OF the measur,
in order that the economic question
might be considered.
He did not underrate the importance Of
the economic question. Believing tina
that question was one of paramount i'm
portance he had voted to lay aside tn,
Elections bill in order to take up tn,
economic question. His remarks wcr,
not an apology for. himself or his col
leagues, for their action in voting to taxi
up the Financial bill. They would an
swer to the people and to their constitu
encies for their course.
Passing to Mr.. Sherman's Speech he dc
clarcd that il was composition of moth
ing but assertions as to what would.follov
the passage of the pending bill. Tn
Senator from Ohio had occupied higl
financial positions in this country. III
had become, in certain sections of tn
country where the almighty dollar wa
all powerful, and where the grosscst ignor
ance existed upon financial questions
save upon questions of discount and ex
change, u financial oracle
Therefore the utteranccs of the Senate
fell upon the country with great weight
not because there was anything in hi
statements, but because of the Academia
position. he had heretofore occupied AM
The reputation he had heretofore made