New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-03
FILIBUSTERING BY APPEAL.
AN UNPROMISING MEANS OF OBSTRUCTION
FOR THE SENATE MINORITY.
THE VICE PRESIDENTS RULING on MR.. NOR
CANS REVOLUTION - HOW THE RULES
WOULD PREVENT A RESORT TO
SUCCESSIVE APPEALS-NIGHT
SESSIONS POSSIBLE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.I
Washington Jan. "A good deal Of amuslngly aD-
surd rubbish has crept into print In the last gay OF
two in the columns Of Democratic newspapers about
the ruling made In the Senate on Wednesday by the
Vice President question Of order In dispute DC
tween Mr. Sherman and Mr.. Morgan. Mr.. Morton's
decision Is grotcsquey described this morning In the
headlines OF an article in New York newspaper as
having furnished means of preventing the Force bill
from ever coming 10 vote" and half column OF
space is devoted to apparently serious attempt to
prove that the minority senators have now no oD'
-taclc ahead Of them in their avowcd purpose 10
prevent any decision upon the leading party question
before the termination Of the Congress BY constitutional
limitation" An attentive examination of The Con
grcssonal Record Of yesterday will show Just what
sort Of straws the opponents OF the Election bill are
now grasplng at In their efforts to convince themselves
that that measure cannot be brought TO vote
The ruling made by the Vice President arose on the
onetlon whether or not resolution offered some days
ago ny Mr.. Morgan calling for synoptlcal statement
Of the content, Of the Election BILL properly before
the Senate during the morning hour The general
practice Of the senate has been that resolutions ai'er
being offered for considerations going over under ODD
lection one day aud then being discussed "ilhou'
reaching d conclusion shall take their places on the
calendar and be brought up again out Of Their 'h''
endar order only by II vote Of the senate Mr. MOT
ron resolution had gone through these three stages,
and WAS not entitled 70 be- laid before the senate eN
cept on motion. when on Wednesday morning nc uo
manded the right after the routine morning business
to go ahead and Kill time by discussing IT, MI Sher-
man raised the point Of order very properly that the
re.olutlon cond not be considered except upon MI
Morgan's motion. which would have been promptly de-
,eoted The Alabama senator vchemcntly protested
that tho resolution was I'm order during every succcS
siyc morning hour until IT should be d, posed 0i-a
most cNravagant and untcnablc propositlon wh'h inc
vco President presently ruled against. Mr. MoFE"n
then appealed from the decision Of the CHAIR ana sVreu
I'm to debate the appeal Mr.. sherman contended that
the appeal was unbeatable. and on this issue he was
oycrrlrd rightly or wrongly by the Vice c'dcnt'
who held that on an original question NJ order an appear
taken could be debated. Mr.. Morgan consequently
talked away for the few remaining minutes before
the morning hour expired.
That ,ays the Democratic journal triumphanty'
was a revelation to tho Democrats. Unless MI
Morton should now be compelled e. change his De
rl,lon and to hold directly the reverse. the Demo
Gratis are furnished with the opportunity Of prolonsns
debate until March D. when they have exhausted
themselves with debate upon one appeal from INC
decision of the chair they can make another ueoa'
that To exhaustion. raise another question can iof
A now decision. appeal from that, debate the appeal
let IL 20 {, q vote mako stl now appeal ana 20
an Indefinitely. pling appeal upon appeal, until the
session Ia, BEEN used mp IN discussing the rulings OF
the presiding officer. II the object Of the opposition
. only ~ prevent a vote on the Force BILL Il "onld
seem 4. II the Nlcr P,dcn had furnished the oppo'
.rion with way 90 prevent any decision upon the
cadlns party question before the termination % the
Congress rs constitutional Imitation
The inheritance Of thi, revelation" may be est.
mated after an examination Of the rule Of the He'ate
upon which the Vice President based his decision Here
Il is 80 20 In the senate Manual:
QUESTIONS OF ORDER
l. question o. od,r BE- raised At any stage ~ INC
p-o o,diuq except when DC S"nat" is dividing snd N'''
submitted 90 IN srnate .hs BE- decided by the siding
officer without debst" .lb.e,, - appea - ihe s'r'e
hen AZ appeal any sub.equent question q Order
which may before tho decision Of such al sAaI
decided BY presiding onlcer without debate ana
,rv ,,e thocironi shall decided and without
r.,atc and any apr~sl may D. Ind n" table without
r,uder 10 hc pending proposition and urreulon shall DO
h,.d a. al rmins decision o. The pre'fns officer
? The rrr-diug o1ccr nav submit any question u
order o. th, deci-lan ~ tie senate"
From mi. II IS plain that, although an appeal IN
the first Instance. from decision on question %
order may be- by an extremely liberal Interpretation
Of The word, subject to an appeal to the senate be
held to II. dcbatnble. all subsequent appeals ARE made
expressly not dcbaablc. and even the first appeal IS
Away subject to a motion to lhN W we Itt', NHn
ton. discussion. But granting thai "a" prh"'I ratio
sctator, were fertile enough IN ingenuity to fir frNh
question, - order continually. the prr-ihg oiN''r
.o,ild avoid cclatc upon them by admitting the que
Non directly To tho senate. which, d. precedent N"uIi
ha,c 10 vote upon II forthwith iilbustcrhf by
stem ~ appeal. is ~ fact far c>, ca, and prom
.lnc than a rc.ort 60 the simple method II successive
motion. for ana alluuIiu'N ny ll' "ll"''''''
and n tried VIII meet With nothing but temporary sue
oe,,. Neither plan Is lik"l' ~ p. E!"d. m NJ
The effect Of the Ni,e Presidents rulluE on Mr.
u,rg,u'- resolution is certainly decisive" The tr,oiu
lion he, nov gone 20 the calendar. with th:. appear
d,ngl.n, ~ H. and the Alabama senator wiz MOI bu
ri~ Ia renew his argument without the assistance %
- vote ~ tl-, senate which he ha' no chance Wat
ry,r ~ Obtaining lie may hiuster around on Mon
d,v and try ~ get the presiding officer - let MN
c"r,.f tho discussion. but II Mr. Morton follow mo
stric, ruc tho resolution and all the points ~ Order
- Involves will be left O sleep uudsturted ~ the foo'
II the calendar. ,,.,.. 49,.
The Republican conference expected on Monda' MAJ
r may not be held but there /, no doubt that most
yn,uts effort will De begun g. uUt an End 10 me -
icrl legislative bloch which has existed during th'
In, three week. n il not unlikely That, IN "dPiilph
e, every thing else night sessions VIII be rcsorrN 10,
md mo minority driven NJ once 10 aVowcd nlhd,tr-
,nc when rllbu,tcriug breaks ont openly, ~ WI pc
only question Of hour, before vote VIII be h'u u"
the prppO-cd new rule.