New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-24
THE WEARY TALK GOES ON
NO CHANGE In THE SENATE SITUATION.
nrNocR ,Ts STILL PREVENTING LEGISLATION
A REPUBLICAN QUORUM AT LAST SECURED
THE PLAN FOR STOPPING DEBATE.


A REPUBLICAN QUORUM AT LAST SECURED
THE PLAN FOR STOPPING DEBATE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUHE.
Washington Jan. 23.-The Senate RESUMED at II
O'Clock this morning the session which was inter
r,,pted by the recess Of O'Clock last evening, the
same legislative day continuing still unbroken The
consideration Of the closure rule was cCnse llenty
the only business which could be proceeded with,
and the debate-whch OF course IS one only in name
on Mr.. hldrch's resolution went OH With mono'-
onous regularity. Mr. COckell, by beginning rs soon
as a quorum had appeared. was able 10 :lish his
formidable assault the pages of "The Congressional
Record shortly after O'clock most Of his time on
the floor having been spent in reading from oihciai
publications almost everything which has ever been
said In the Senate the subject OF limiting debate
Mr.. Gray. Of Delaware. followed in speech which
aimed 10 show, by quotations from many Socaiicd
independent and few semi-Republican newspapers,
that public sentiment throughout the country was
not wholly favorable to Federal control Of Congress
slonal elections. About 6 O'Clock Mr.. stewart OF
Nevada obtained the floor for speech. but Aieided
for another recess till tomorrow at II o'clock
The situation in the Senate left practically I'M
changed therefore, by today's proceedings. An ef-
fort made early in the afternoon by Mr.. Aldrch 10
secure unanimous consent for vote on the closure
resolution tomorrow at p. NJ. showed plainly that
the Democratic managers will never voluntarily allow
the proposed rule 10 be acted upon. Mr. Adrchs
request was drawn out BY question from Mr.. Teller.
who said that it evident to him that some move
end debate the rule was already impending. and
that he would consequently like 90 know inst how
much time likely to be left fr discussion.
After expressing his eaSerncss to arrive at any rea
sonable agreement by which the hour for taking
vote might be fixed, Mr.. Adrch proposed . O'Clock
tomorrow. But Mr.. German, after fencing on the
proposition for five ten minutes, blunty announced
that no agreement to close the debate could be thought
of for the present by the opposition. The Maryland
Senator then offered formal objection TO Mr. Al
drfch's request and the Rhode Island senator with
drew It, saying that he never had expected the Demo
cratic side TO agree to fix time for voting and thar
lie would take other means 10 secure TO the majority
its right to pass upon pending legislation This cour-
ageous and sensible declaration of Indifference to mi
nority dctaton pointed all way and there Is little
doubt that Mr. drlch will endeavor 10 smut oil dis
.ussion and reach action by next Monday at the
latest. He anticipates the deser0n of the whole
body of Democratic senators when the crisis comes,
and is strengthening, by every means possible. the
scanty quorum of Republicans here. Mr.. Chand
Ter of New Hampshire, arrived today and his ap
pearance reduced the number OF Republican abSentees
10 five, making quorum, with one vote TO spare
Mr.. Squire, of Washington, is expected TO be here on
Monday, giving margin of two The other four
absent Senators-Messrs Moody, Petigrew, Pierce and
Ingas-cannot be depended upon with any certainty
TO return in time for action upon the rule
The present Republican plan for stopping debate
simply requires the presence and vote OF fortyhve
senators. II the Chair does not cut off debate arbi
trarily at given point some Senator VIII get up ana
make the point of order that further debate Is
dilatOry and improper, and ask for ruling by the
Chair II the Chair decided that debate is permissible
an appeal can be taken and sustained by majority
OF the Senate The duty Of the Chair will then be
TO submit the resolution forthwith, and II il Is adopted
it can be applied at once to whatever business the
majority next calls up. Among the senators VINO
expect to continue the fight against time tomorrow are
Messrs Stewart, Daniel Morgan and probably Teller.
When the Senate met, Mr. Coclire resumed the floor
in order to continue his argument against the closure
resolution. He yielded however. to Mr. Hoar, who
SAID that he desired TO add one idea 10 what lie hlu
said last evening. lie regarded the pending propo
sidon he should if the case had arisen in the SUI
pre1ne Court Of the United States There was one
who would not recognize the importance of absolute.
free and untrammelled discussion in that tribunal and
that no member Of that court should be curtaled In
stating his opinion TO his brethren or in suggesting
any modification OF any judgment expected TO be pro
nounced But if it could be conceived of that august
tribunal that, in the of some controversy about
10 pass into judgment, affecting 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 weekOne taking turns with tho
other, and having read all the decisions which
had been made since the foundation of the Gov
eminent, and in that way to prevent the action OF
the court altogether to postpone 1t until judgment
could to be efecual-would anybody doubt that
II would be the duty of that great tribunal to inter
pose and to adopt some rule that would put limit
10 the length of opinions to the number Of argu-
ments that should be made by the minority Would
anybody claim that that action would be inconsistent
with the fullest respect for untrammeed freedom OF
discussion suggestion, when used in good faith
1t was almost aront to the name and character Of
that ustrOus bench TO suppose possible what he
had Rut hat certainly
important august illustriou and no higher in con
Ititutiona functions, than the Senate OF the United
States.
Mr.. Cockrell again took the floor and resumed his
argument against the closure rule The article which
he had been reading at the close of his remarks yeer
day (Mr. Hoar's in The Youths Companion' was,
he said, specific to what Mr.. Hoar said yes
terday and also to what he had said this morning, and
he asked that the Senate should have IL printed as
separate document in order that 1t might be treasured
up by Senators with other valuable documents and
transmitted to their children. Mr. Cockrell went on
TO ccise the proposed rule pointed out particularly
that the demand for closing debate required to be
seconded by majority Of the Senators present" in
stead Of by "a majority OF the Senate" so that (hc
said if there only three Senators present two Of
them could enforce the gag law
Mr.. Edmunds explained that the same locuton
10 be found in the Constitution, but that it 10
be taken with the constitutional provision requiring
d majority Of either house to transact business.
Mr.. Cockrell-Then your understanding is that. if
such demand be seconded by majority Of the
senators present, it must be majority of quorum
Mr. Enthusiastically. Just as clear words
can make it. taking In view the Constitution and
the rest Of the rule
Mr.. Coekrell, in support of his position, read from
reports of Congressional proceedings in the past
ticularly from the debate on Mr. Clay's previous
question rule in 1871, and commenting on one Of his
extracts, applied it to the present situation. lie
Yielded to Mr. Teller, who inquired Of Mr. Aldrich,
chairman of the Committee on Rules, how long a
time was to given TO the debate. Mr. Aldrch said
he hoping be able TO get the floor to request
the Senate TO fix some time tomorrow or Monday
when the vote would be taken on the resolution and
amendments.
Mr.. Cockren asked Mr.. Teller his reason for asking