Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-23
Discussing the Cloture Resolution in
the Senate.
A VOTE WANTED TOMORROW,
Mr.. German Objects and De-
nounces Yesterdays Decision.
BREEZE IN THE HOUSE
SENATE.

The Senate met at IL o'clock in continuation
Of yesterdays session and the Vice President
Immediately recognized Mr.. Cockren to pro-
ceed with his speech, pending which Mr.. Cor
man raised the point that there was no quorum
present. During the call Mr.. Chandler (N.H.),
who has been absent for some days, made his
appearance in the Senate chamber.
Only thlrty-eight Senators responded. but ut
lll0 the requisite number to make a quorum
forty-fve) had appeared, (the last being Mr..
Aorich) and business was proceeded with
MR.. GoRMAS OBJECTS.
Mr.. Morrill, asked consent to offer a resolu-
ton for distributing public documents to agri-
cultural colleges. but Mr.. German said that he
was compelled to object to any business what
ever except the regular order.
MR.. HoAR ON THE PENDING PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Cockrell thereupon resumed the floor in
order to continue his argument against the
cloture resolution. He yielded, however, to
MIR. Hoar, who said that he desir ed to add one
idea to what he had said last evening. He re-
garded the pending proposition. he said, as he
should II the case had arisen in the Supreme
Court OF the United States. There was no one
who would not recognize the importance Of
absolute. free and untrammeled discussion in
that tribunal, and that no member of 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 if it could be conceived
of that august tribunal that in the of some
controversy about to pass into judgment, af-
fecting the interests of large portions of the
American people and exciting their feelings,
four members of the nine should undertake to
read opinions alternately day after day,
night after night and week after week
one taking turns with the other-and hav-
ing read all the decisions which
had heen mode since tho foundation If tho Cov-
eminent, and in that way to prevent the action
of the court altogether. or to postpone it until
the judgment could cease to be effectual,
would any body doubt that it would be the duty
of that great tribunal to interpose and to adopt
some rule that would put limit to the length
of opinions, or to the number of arguments
that should be made by the minority?
Would anybody claim that that action would
be inconsistent with the fullest respect for un-
trammeled freedom of discussion or sugges-
tion when used ir good faith? 1t was almost
an affront to the name and character of that il
lustrious bench even to suppose possible what
he had supposed. But that bench was GER
tainly no more important. august or illustrious
and no higher in constitutional func tions than
the Senate Of the United States.
MR. CocKKELL RESUMES HIS SPECIE.
Mr.. Cockren again took the floor and re-
sumed his argument against the cloture rule
The article which he had been reading at the
close of his remarks yesterday (Mr. Hoar's in
the Youths Compdnion) was. he said, specific
answer 10 what Mr.. Hoar said yesterday, and
also to what he said this morning; and he
asked that the Senate should have il printed as
a separate document, in order that it might be
treasured up by Senators with other valuable
documents and transmitted to their children.
He went on to read and comment upon SEN
tences in the article. As to one Of them he
said that no severer condemnation Of the gag
rule Of the House had ever been pronounced
AS to another of them, reading ''The process
of change is slow and is meant to be slow, Mr..
Cockrell said that he wished the Senator from
Rhode Island (Mr. Aldrich) to heed that in his
reckless efforts to trample under foot the par
lamentary usage of the Senate which had pre-
vailed through the past century. Another
sentence which Mr.. Cockren read with en-
phatic commentator was this: 'f any citi-
zens be disposed to feel impatient under this
restraint Of the will of the majority let them
remember that it was in that way that our
fathers laid the foundations Of this govern
ment below the frost"
COMMENDED TO MR.. HoAR's PRAYERFUL ooNsID-
GRAFTON.
He commended that sentence to the PRAYER
full consideration of the distinguished Senator
from Massachusetts in his wild and reckless i'm
patience to do the thing proposed. That Sena-
tor had put forward this Senator froll Rhode
Island to trample under foot every sentiment
and thought contained in that great article. He
(Mr. COckrell) almost felt Inundated at the
position of the Senator from Rhode Island in
bringing forward his resolution, which he must
have done without the advice or appreciation of
the Senator from Massachusetts, He also ex-
pressed his isastonishment at Mr.. .Hoar statement
yesterday Tin reply to Mr.. Harris) that the pro-
posed rule contained provision for offering
amendments to a pending measure; because
that statement showed that the Senator from
Massachusetts was pressing a rule, the contents
Of which he did not know, and that rule was to
be Reed-ed, Lodged. Davenport-ed and Hoar-ed
thrO1gh the Senate, Just as measures had been
through the other house, without consideration,
without deliberation and without any knowl-
edge of what they were.
Mr.. Cockren went on to criticise the pro-
posed rule, pointing out particularly that the
demand for closing debate required to be sec
onded by "a majority Of the Senators present, /"
instead Of by "a majority of the Senate" SO
that, he said, if there were but three Senators
present two of them could enforce the gag law.
MR.. EDMUNDs EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Edmunds explained that the same locu-
ton was to be found in the Constitution, but
that it was to be taken with the constitutional
provision requiring majority of either house
to transact business.
Mr.. Cockrell-Then your understanding is
that If such a demand be seconded by q
majority Of the Senators present it must be q
majority OF quorum?
MIR. Edmunds-Undoubtedly Just as clear
as words can make it, taking in view the Con-
stitution and the rest Of the rule.
Mr.. Cockrell appeared satisfied with Mr..
Edmunds assurance, but said that he saw in
the phrase used evidence Of the Senator's hand
writing in drawing up the proposed rule
Mr.. Edmunds thought that very strange,
because Mr.. Cockren could not read his hand
writing If he saw 1t.
Mr. Frye expressed his belief that amend
ments would undoubtedly be offered to the pro-
posed rule allowing the consideration of all
amendments to measure OF which notice
would have been given.
Mr.. Cockren.-H such amendments are to be
made to the proposed rule, why are they not
pending now, 30 that Senators may have an op-
portunity Of discussing them?
FORMER PREvIoUs QUESTION DRBArEs.
Mr.. Cockrel in support of his position read
from reports of congressional proceedings in
the past, particularly from the debate ON Mr..
Clay's previous-question rule in 1874, and, COM
menting on one Of his extracts applied it TO
the present situation. He invited republican
Senators 10 turn their attention to matters Of
public necessity, and said that democratic Sem
ators would be as brief a. possible in discussing
them, but II republican Senators insisted on the
elections bill-a merely partisan measure
not indorsed by half Of their own party. DEM
ocratic SENATOR would discuss IL, aud were
entitled to discuss ii, in al its rami6cations,
and they had done nothing else. He also
referred TO the resolution for . previous ques-
ton submitted BY Senator Dougiao (ul) in
Tu1~ ~ Afok III