The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-13

So the PETER amendment was laid on
the table. Voorhees, said the PETER amend
ment to the Voorhees, bill was the only
one pending, except that offered by the
committee ON finance, which is the VIII
son, or house bill. There were. however,
other amendments proposed by senators
but not yet offered. These would be in
i order when offered. He said the finance
committees amendment was now before
the senate, and that Martin of Kansas
should be recognized to discuss the ques-
ton. 1t was 9o'clock when Martin began
plea for free coinage of silver. At fire.
quent intervals he was interrupted by de-
mands for roll calls when il became evil
dent that quorum was not in the chamber.
During one of the intervals Stewart read
letter warning him to desist from lob
siruSting legislation" or he might be
blown M with dynamite. The reading
merely provoked laugh.
The hours dragged wearily along until
$50 when an incident occurred which
demonstrated the helpiessness of the
senate under the present system of rules.
Voorhees, arose, chatting under the con-
timed roll calls the silver men we're fore
ing to hold their tired adversaries on the
rack, and petulantly demanded of Frye of
Name. who was in the chair. 10 what ex-
tent the privilege of calling for q quorum
could be abused. .Tn the terms of the
rules" said Frye, "there Is no Limitation.
aud the chair knows no power in the pre-
siding officer TO place iimitatio on" voor-
hees sank back in his seat and the roll call
brought forty-four unwilling victims into
the chamber.
As soon az the announcement was made
Quay of Pennsylvania suggested the ABB
sence of q quorum. He did IL, he said, be-
cause the decision of the chair put it abso-
lutely in the power of one senator TO block
legislation. 'The senate of the United
States" said Frye with gravity that caused
the galleries TO litter, lis the most digni-
fed legislative body IN the world. and the
trainers of its rules did not suppose any
senator would violate the proprIeties or
deceneies of the senate" The theory of
tie constitution" said Quay disgussedly.
s.may be asserted by the chair but our re-
cent experience has shown the senate TO
be very d fferently constituted He then
withdrew the suggestion, bns Carey OF
Wyoming, who evidently desired TO show
the country exactly how poweriess the
senate was, repeated II.
At9:45 Dubois blandiy suggested that
only seventeen senators were present.
Forty-six senators appeared. Before
Stewart proceeded Harris of Tennessee
presented an amendment which he said
he would offer in due time. Stewart con-
tinued. being interrupted from time TO
time by calls for quorum. several sena-
tors were excused on the plea Of illness
and fatigue, and the quorum diminished
Ia the danger line and then disappeared.
II was broken by the refusal OF certain sill
yer Democrats To vote.
Finally. at | 30 a. M. when il vas found
impossible to- get together quorum, Voor-
hees rose and said he felt that he had done
his duty in the matter, and moved ad-
iournment- The motion vas unanimously
agreed to. and in an instant the chairs OF
the chamber were deserted, after session
OF thirty EIGHT hours and forty inmates.