Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24
SENATE.

NANc ccsciOI. On tue assurance tnat IL would not
occupy more than five or ten minutes.
MR.. STEWART ON HIS AMENDMENT.
The Legislative session was resumed at 1l:25.
when Mr.. Stewart took the floor and offered
the amendment of which he had given notice
on Thursday last. 1t contains three PROPOSE
tons the first being to strike out of the pro-
posed rule the words land the question shall
be put upon the amendments, if any then
pending, and upon the measure in its
successive stages, according to the rules
or the Senate, but without debate" and to
substitute the words ''and debate on pending
amendments and such amendments as may be
offered while the measure is under considera-
ton shall be limited, as provided under rule
.: the second to insert in the sentence pro-
viding that no motion shall be in order but a
motion to adjourn or take recess
the words Ito recommit with or
without instructions, to lay on the
table, &c., and the third being a clause that
pending proceedings under the proposed rule,
rule IL shall be suspended" Rule s. referred
to IN the first proposition, provides an "order
OF business after the morning hour and rule
IL is that when an amendment proposed to
any pending measure is laid on the table it
shall not carry with it or prejudice such meas
ure."
Mr.. Faulkner demanded the yeas and nays
on the amendment and they were ordered.
AGAINST CLoTURE AND THE BILL
MIR. Stewart commenced his argument against
the proposed rule and against the elections
bill. The first question that presented ITSELF
he said, why was the business of the
session suspended for the purpose of con-
sidering the proposed rule. 1t was GER
tur1;.naa taln,y not for the purpose of providing
government. of the Senate, because the first
clause disclosed the fact that it was but tenn
porary expedient. The words used were: That
for the remainder of this session." What had
na1r h. Ill
render necessary such departure from the or
binary proceedings such an interruption Of the
business of the Senate during the final
session Of the Fifty-first Congress
when no appropriation bills were
passed, when numerous important meas
ures were pending and when, if the remainder
OF the session were devoted exclusively to the
regular business of the Senate and if the Sem
ate were to work day and night, it would be
impossibls to find any extra time in complet-
the Fifty-first Congress? Why was all
the important business Of Congress stopped
AMI q proposition introduced which was un-
American and contrary to the genius of Ameri-
can institutions, and which had never before
been found necessary in the hundred years of
the existence of the Senate! Through all the
contests that had taken place such a resort had
never been found necessary before. 1t was a
proposition which had never been
considered in the British parliament
people were struggling for their liberties and
had only come under consideration when lib
erty was to be suppressed. He might withhold
his opposition if what Mr.. Hoar said on Thurs
day last were true; that the opposition was as
much conspiracy against the national au-
thority as had been the rebel congress that sat
in Richmond.
WORSE THAN SECESSION.
If that were true there might be justifica-
ton for the proposed rule and for the elections
bill; but was it tr1e? On the contrary, was
not the reverse tr =? If he understood
the elections bill c, rrectly its principle
If carried into effect, would be more
prejudiciai to human liberty than
secession itself: because secession would have
still retained local governments. But, with
federal officers to superintend local elections in
every state in the Union, there would be no
more home rule for America, and that removed
all was lost. He repeated that the proposition
lying at the foundation of the elections bill was
more dangerous than secession.
He went on to argue at length against the
constitutionality of the elections bin. and was
asked by Mr.. Mitchell how he reconciled his
for the manner in which United States
Senators are elected. He replied that
in regard to the election OF Senators
there was no federal interference words of
approval from democratic Senatorsl and that
Congress had confined itself Tin that act) exclu-
ton. 1t had fixed the time and manner of
election but half left it to the state legislatures
to provide how the election should be con-
Quoted. 1t had placed no federal officials over
state legislatures-no marshals and no SUPER
visors.
Mr.. Spooner sought to ask a question as to
decision of the Supreme Court, but Mr.. Stew
art said that he would come to that and show
that that very decision was an illustration of
the iniquity Of such kind of legislation, but he
did not propose to stop now.
Mr.. Hoar also desired to ask a question. but
Mr.. Stewart declined to yield for that purpose
saying that he knew how very annoying il was
for men with preconceived notions to hear |
them exploded.
TO LIMIT DEBATE.
At the close of Mr.. Stewards speech Mr.. |
Sanders took the floor, but yielded to Mr. Al |
drich, who asked unanimous consent; first, to |
limit the debate to half an hour, then to limit |
then to have the vote taken on Monday, but to |
each of these requests as made objection was |
made on the democratic side. Then Mr. |
Aldrich asked whether the Senator from Nevada |
and the Senators on the other side were pre- |
pared to fix any time for taking the vote. He |
was told by Mr.. Faulkner that several Sem
ators desired to speak. and that il would be /
until they had all spoken, to az |
any time for taking the vote.
Mr.. Sanders then proceeded with his speech. |
HOUSE.
Before the reading of the journal Mr. Breck- |
inridge (Ark.) raised the point that there was |
no quorum present The Speakers count dis |
closed the presence Of but sixty-fve members, |
and on motion OF Mr.. Mckinley (Ohio) Q call |
of the House was ordered.
One hundred and ninety five emembers-more |
than . quorum-having responded to their |
names the clerk proceeded to read the journal. |
The journal having been read in its usual form,
MIR. Breckinridge (Ark.) demanded its reading
in full, including the reference Of biIa, resolu-
tons and petitions.
The Speaker said that it was not customary |
TO read this portion Of the Journal Il was |
identical in this respect with the Record and /
1t would be but wsste Of time to read it.
Mr.. Breckinridge replied that il was his right |
to demand the reading.
. Mr.. Cutcheon, (Mich.) inquired why the |
gsntlepan bad suddenly become 80 ss.lOus 70
Mr.. Rogers (Ark.)-Thas il none Of your
businea.
The Speaker then directed TIE CLARK to pro-
cesd with the further reading Of ths journal
Nh nx1cxu1sDoR skD uAocunAcun
The reading Va eonplstsd st I e'eiosk !