Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-13
TIE RULES PROVIDE NO RELIEF

senator voorhees, Discovsrs the Utter
HeIplessne.s OF the senate-TO Tran
saot Business Is Impossible If There Il
One Nan against It
WASHINGTON, d. c., October 12.-
The weary struggle in the Senate goes
on, and tonight little progress seems
to have been made towards a settle
ment. The silver men still have the
upper hand and control the situation.
The first intimation OF a weakening on
the repeal forces WAS the decision
OF Mr.. Voorhees, TO move for q
recess tonight from 10 p. m.
tonight TO IL a. m. tomorrow. be
reckoned, however, without the silver
men, who announced that they would
not yield the floor to Mr.. Voorhees, to
make the motion, and thus he was
Obliged TO abandon his plan. Many
stories OF compromise were in the air
tonight, but the unqualified statement
of both sides is that the fight now in
progress must be decided before any
compromise can be broached With sue
cess.
Secretary Carlisle was again at the
Capitol in consultation with Demo-
cratic Senators in order TO keep himself
we'll informed on the situation.
The hours dragged along until at
$50 O'Clock. when Mr.. VOORHEES,, chat
ing under the continued roll calls the
silver men were forcing TO hold their
tired adversaries on the rack, petulSnt-
ly arose aud demanded TO know OF Mr..
Frye, OF Maine, who was IN the chair,
20 what extent the privilege Of calling
for a quorum could be abused.
The scene was a brilliant one. The
setting for the fierce struggle in
progress on the floor in the dazzling
glare of the artificial lights was one to
impress the mind aud faScinate the eye.
The galleries were banked TO the doors.
In the reserved galleries were many
ladies', their bright dresses adding color
to she scene. The press gallery, over
hanging the Vice Presidents chair, was
crowded with busy correspondents
scratching away with persiStency.
Below on the floor was the wreck OF a
great parliamentary battle, then thirty
two hours Olo. The venerable Senator
Stewart, looking like patriarch, with
his long white beard, was grinding mo-
notOnously away, while the haggard
faces around him betokened the long
strain TO which the attempt to force
the silver men to yield by test OF brute
strength had subjected the Senate.
Mr.. Cullom sat listlSssly in MIS- seat.
Behind him Mr. Hoar, OF Massachu-
setts. was peRging away st some corre-
suondence. Mr.. TurDie and Mr.. BSte
were talking wesrily and Mr. Lodge,
the student Senator from MASSACHUSETTS,
tall, erect, and undaunted, stood aim
lesslv In the aisle. In the rear of the
chamber were representatives from the
other House, conspicuous among whom
was "Silver Dollar" Bland, who was
talking earnestly to Mr.. Teller. Over
in one corner Mr.. German was the CEN
tre Of an interested group composed Of
MessrS. Hill and Murphy, Of New York,
and Mr.. Faulkner, Of West Virginia.
No more perfect demonstration OF the
helplesSneSS OF the Senate under the
present system OF rules has been given
than by the events that followed Mr..
Mr.. Voorhees, inquiry.
"Mr. President, my inquiry" said
Mr.. Voorhees, with head erect and
defiant, 'iS whether there is s0y limit
OF restraint on the rule permitting Sen
ators TO make the point of no Quorum?"
'In the terms Of the rules" replied
Mr.. Frye, who was presiding, There is
no Limitation, and the chair knows OF
no power in the presiding officer to
place q Limitation"
Mr.. Voorhees, sank back in his seat
angry, but with no further word Of pro-
test. The roll call brought IL unwilling
victims into the chamber.
As soon as the announcement was
made Mr.. Quay, Of Pennsylvania, got 70
mis- feet and suggested the absence OF a
Quorum. He did it. be said, because
the decision OF the chair put it soSo-
lutely in the power of any one Senator
TO block legislation, for as rapidly as q
computation was made Senator could
suggest the absence Of q quorum aDd
the roll would have to be called.
The Senate OF the United States, ="
said Mr.. Frye slowly and with gravity
that caused the galleries TO litter, sis
the most digni6ed legislative body in
the world, here be paused, land, /" he
proceeded, "the trainers Of its rules
did not suppose that any Sc ,or
would violate the proprieties or u le-
~ancies OF the Senate. Therefor he
Il made without RHy limit on