Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-10-21

Manderson explained that the con-
stItution required a majority OF all
| senators entitled 10 be elected and that
this rule obtained in the other house.
The present rule was adopted uDoer
stress OF circumstances in 1864 when
| thirteen southern states we're unre-
presented. He contended now, how
| ever, the necessity for that rule IN
contradiction of the constitution.
| Palmer, Mcpherson and Hale contend
ed 43 was quorm. Vice-President
| Stevenson ruled that the senate as
! constituted was composed of 50
senator's and 43 was quorum.
Wolcott appealed from the decision
Hale promptly moved lay appeal on the
table. Appeal tabled SO to 5.
At 8:15 Allen concluded his long
sreech, by saving he yielded the floor
to Martin of ofKansas.
To this proceeding voorhees, took
exception and asked Allen if he pro-
posed to farm out the floor. Allen
declared he had no such intention.
Mr.. Power, republican, Montana.
apparently tired of suggesting the alb
se1ce of quorum, simply said: "Call
the roll"
When the result was announced, 43
senators having answered, Mr.. Voor-
hees arose and said: "Mr. President,
it is obvious that if there is to be a call
OF the senate every fifteen or twenty
minutes, or at the most thirty minutes,
with the notable absence of certain
notables opposed to the bill, and the
object dou btless being TO compel an
attendance on the part of the friends
of the bill all day, while they are
sleeping for the night. Now / give
notice that on every call for a quorum
of the senate from this time on l shall
insist on having the names of the
absentees called and to compel their
attendance. If | were to sit here all
the time subject to call every fifteen
minutes, they should do the same, as
far as it is in their power to secure it.
Mr.. Voorhees, statement apparently
had no terror for the opponents of
repeal.
No more perfect demonstration of
the helplessDess of the senate under |
the present system of rules has been |
given than by the event that followed |
Voorhees, inquiry: "Mr. President, |
my inquiry is whether there is any
limit or restraint on the rule permit |
ting senators to make the point of no |
quorum?"
IN the terms of the rue'." said Mr. |
Frye, who was presiding, "there is no
power in the presiding officer to put a
limitation
Mr.. Voorhees, sank back in his seat |
angry, but with no further words of |
protest. The roll call brought forty |
four unwilling victims into the cham |
Der. As soon as the announcement |
was made, Mr.. Quay of Pennsylvania,
got to his feet and suggested the
absence of quorum, he said, because |
the decision of the chair put it ahso- |
lutely in the power of any one senator |
to block legislation, for as rapidly as |
computation was made a senator could |
suggest the absence of a quorum and |
the roll would have to be called.
1.-THE senate of the United States"
said Mr.. Frye, slowly and with a |
gravity that caused the galleries to
litter, sis the most digniied legislative
body in the world" here be paused, |
''and the trainers of its rules did not
suppose that any senator would violate
the proprieties or the decencies of the
senate, therefore the rule is made
without any limitation upon a ssnstor
except his own sense of right" The
theory of the constitution" said III
Quay disgustedly, may be stated 10y
the chair, but our recent eXperience
has shown that the senate is very DIFF
ferently constituted" He then witt
drew his suggestion of the fact Of q
quorum not being present.
Mr.. Harris, OF Tennessee, presented
an amendment which he said he would
offer in due time. The amendment
provides first for the coinage of all the
silver bullion in the treasury depart
ment, representing the government
seignnorage, into full legal tender dol
lars at the rate of S4,700,000 per month.
Second-When this. seignorage shall
have been coined the secretary shall
purchase each month bullion sufficient
to coin blank dollars and to coin the
bullion into legal tender dollars.
ThIrd-That ali paper notes or certi-
ficates Of less denomination then SO
shall be redeemed and not re-issued
and that national bank notes Of less
denomination than $40 shall be re-
deemed and the national banks requir-
ed TO substitute notes of that denom'n-
alton.
Feurth-That two and half and five
dollar gold pieces shall be no longer
coined. but when received at the treas
ury shall be re-coined as eagles and
double eagles.
Fifth-That the. holders of standard
silver dollars shall be able to exchange
such dollars on presentation for notes
of the same legal tender qualities as
such silver dollars which shall be held
for their redemption.
This amendment created much inter
est and was assumed that it furnished
perhaps the first concrete and specific
compromise proposition growing out Of
the continuous session.
At 1:30 the senate lacked five of a
quorum aud the silver men say that
another quorum cannot be obtained
tonight. fhey declare that nothing is
now left but adjournment.
At 1:i5 a. m. the sergeant alarms
reported that two were absent from
the city, twelve had been excused,
four answered to the summons by a
statement that they were Ill, nine in
the capitol made no answer, and six
teen were reported absent from their
residences and could not be found.
Mr.. Voorhees, Immediately rose and
said: "Mr. President feel, that | have
done my duty in this matter and with
out complaint | will now move to ad-
journ."
The motion was unanimously agreed
to and in an instant the senate cham
Der was deserted, aftsr continuous