New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-19
GAG METHODS IN THE STATE SENATE.

GAG METHODS IN THE STiIE HENAiE.
II must have occurred to the Democrats OF the
Senate before this that in rushing through the
Enumeration bill as they did they committed an
amazing blunder, a blundcr as stupid Us 1t was
biz They have succeeded at the very threshold
of the session in discrcditing their motives III
convincing the candid members OF both parties
that they arc Simply partiSans OF the most I'M
scrupulous type The Enumeration bill Is con-
ccdedly one of the most important OF the genera
measures Of the session. il vitality concerns all
the people of every section of the State. Never
theles it was forced to Il passage the day II
was presented without giving the minority mem
bers of the body any opportunity, however
slight. of examining it. Nor did this fraud-madc
majority content itself with the preparation OF
this unparalleled outrage upon Republican SEN
atoIs Several OF these Republicans naturally
refused to vote upon measure OF when they
knew nothing, and simply because they refused
they were placed in contempt and their names
were erased from the roll There cannot be any
difference Of opinion among reputable citizens be
they Republicans or be they Democrats, in re-
gard to the nature of this transaction. The
Democrats Of the Senate disgraced themselves.
ffllCp IL pilIl NY ludb nv. NhHION w ''~7'''
with the grave business of lawmakins, that they
can only be trusted TO Use their power for party
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in utter disregard of the meth
DDS which ought to prevail in dclibcrative bodies
Senator SaYton one Of tho Republican Sen
ators who have been'place1 in contempt, in the
interview with him which THE TRIBUNE printed
yesterday wildly portrayed the crime against
the people, against reputable legislative methods,
against the minority which was committed by
the majority. lie directed attention 10 the sig
niicant fact that thus far only six Of the fifty
four rules which have hitherto regulated the pro-
ceedings of the Senate have been adopted. Why
have the Others not been adopted? Why, for the
first time in its history, has the previous question
been recognized in the Senate? For partisanship
pure and simple in order to give the Democrats
mean and cowardly advantage to which they arc
not entitled over the minority. THE Demo
cratic Senator's" says Mr.. Saxton, have refused
to give the minority the rules which have al
ways been conceded for the protection of their
rights, and have only put in operation those
which will enable them TO carry ont most eff
fcctivcly their arbitrary proceedings" In other
words, thee Democratic SenatOrS-incudng the
three who were defeated by Ire people-arc dis
playing the same respect for honest dealings as
is shown by the thimblerggeIs, the dealers in
green goods, and the agitatOrs of loaded dice.
For it must be remembered H. Mr.. SaxtOn points
out, that if the ordinary Senate rules had been, as
they ought to have been in force when the
Enumeration bill came up for consideration, any
Republican Senator could have prevented its con
sdciaton until it had been printed
1t is to the credit Of leading Democratic jour
mails dn the State that they have dissented from
the action of the Democratic Senators in this
matter. 1t is impossible however, TO believe
that any person. not knave or a fool, could
counenance so wanton an insult to lawmakers
and lawmaking. We trust that the Senators
who were signalled out for punishment will de-
cline TO purge themselves Of the contempt in
which they were placed. In the circumstances
the contempt is in the nature of an honor.