New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-14
FORMER SENATE TANGLE.
HOW TT ONCE HAPPENED THAT AN AID.
JOURNMENT WAS MADE IMPOSSIBLE
TIE wEAGEEs or TIE TOCA FOUND THEMSELVES
HELPLESS TO ACT UNDER THE WORK
INGS OF TrrlR OWN RULES.
ny TrIFGR,Pn - TIE TR,Dvyrl

Washirgton oct l3-Thc senate Of the United
States only a shor, time ago found itself in the
! embrace Of "A deadlock" upon its own rule. from
which singular situation IL had difficulty in ex-
Treating Itself II was an instance where even a
motion 10 adjourn. which Is universally supposed
To be always in order. ruled ont Of order. And
one OF the remarkable things about 1t was that the
deadlock occurred while that most sl,ilful Of
parliamentarians John !. Ingalls, Of Kansas, was
occupying the chair The 'tie-up. as 1t was called.
iudcrous have been some Of the parlia-
mentary schemes that have been suggested By
superficial observers who have lately INDUCED in
much speculative talk about how 10 work the
Senate out OF it's present embarrassment and 10
secure an early vote the unconditional repeal
OF the Sherman Silver Purchase law. The circum-
stances Of that deadlock suggest possibilities which
may arise from the complicated condition o:
affairs In the senate at this during the test
OF endurance"
The Senate got Itself into tange over n
proposed amendment to important appropri-
alton bill. When the time arrived TO take vote
upon The measure the Senate found Itself with
out quorum. on motion Of Mr.. Edmunds that
N" Sers"ant-it- Arms be directed TO request the
attendance Of absent Senators. it was determined
in the affirmative. but pending the execution OF
that order Mr. German moved that the Senate
adjourn. That motion rejected. Mr. Ed
munds explained that there was a great deal OF
important business pending. and he thought 1t
duty 10 insist. far he could. that the senate
should eo on with the pending bill and finish it
that night. tired as Senators were. Mr. Teller
however. said it seemed very unwise to attempt
to sit there after O'Clock any night.
The most OF as" said he. 'came here at IL
o'clock this morning and have been in attendance
on the Senate every moment OF time since then
There has been no unnecessary delay this bill.
far. The bill has progressed as rapidly as THIS
class OF bills usually progresses. We who have
stayed here from II O'Clock till G are entitled
10 so home 10 dinners. SO far as ! am con-
ccrned. while I willing to stay and attend to
the business. | propose as n regular thing To go
home at 6 O'Clock to my dinner If the Senator
from Vermont Nr. Edmunds, wants to stay here
tn II O'Clock he stay. Therefore. Mr.. Presi-
dent, | move that the Senate do now adjourn
The Chair cannot entertain that motion. no
Intervening business having occurred" said Mr..
Ingalls, the President pro tempore.
Mir Cocsrell moved to indefinitely postpone the
pending bill
Less than n quorum cannot entertain the mo-
tor" was Mr. Ingallss decision
"Do | understanl the chair to hold that n mo-
ton to adjourn Is not in order now?' inquired Nj
Coclroil
$50 the Chair thinks under the rule" was the
Chairs reply.
Under what rule Mr. Cockrell inquired.
Two successive motions to adjourn cannot be
made unless business intervenes. The motions can
not be- repeated" said Mr.. ingalls,.
can wc 30 any business askel Mr. Teller
Nothing until = quorum Is present replied the
Chair
Alr. Cullom-Ts II in order TO move TO suspend
proceedings under the CALI
Nothing can be done uniil quorum Is present
WIS the decision.
Mr. Ransom l. II In order to suggest that
quorum is present and ask Tor call Of the roll?
the President pro tempore-it IL not.
Mr. Eansom-l think there IS a quorum present
f...s tai n.l
Tho President pro ,-mpore-The last roll call us
closed the absence OF a quorum. and the proceed
INK required by the third clause Of Rule ' Is I'M
p,ra'.vc.
sir coclrcll-T find nothing in Rule which pro-
Llnlis any number of motions to ADJOURN from De
Inc made.
The presiden, pro tempore-It is general parila-
r,o,t,rv law that when "A motion TO adjourn Is
once made and negatv.d 1t cannot be repeater
until business hos interviewed.
MIR Cockrcll-When no business can intervene
how IL +, possible FOR us 10 do II?
The President pro tempore-The Chair mas no
gicprstion 10 make on that point. whenever
ouorurn is present the Senate can act.
Mr. Cockrell--lf appeal from the decision OF
the chair will that not be business?
The President pro tempore-The Chair cannot
entertain an appeal
MIR pasco-I move that further proceedings under
the call be dispensed with.
Tho President pro trinioI' wa" " f"''"'''
cannot dispense with the proceedings under the
call.
Mr. Tenor-r-ndcr that state OF ruling we are
mot then by the statement that we cannot al
inurn until we get u quorum Is that the ruiihs Oh
the Chair?
The President pro tempore-That seems TO be the
meaning of the rule.
Mr. Morgan l move mat the SENATE 'dNe 'eo'''
until o'clock
The President pro tcmpore-Thc Chair cannot en-
terrain the motion.
Mr. Morgan-I appeal from the decision OF the
Chair.
The President pro tcmpore-The Chair cannot
entertain the appeal under the rule.
Mr. Morgan-I move the appointment or select
committee Of three to inquire whether the Chair
is following the rules Of the Senate
Mr. Fdnunds-You cannot move that without
quorum.
Mr. Uoar-Is It In order now to move to compel
the attendance Of absent Senator's
Tbe President pro-tempore-Thc Chair thinks an
order has been made to request the attendance OF
absent Senator'S and until that Is vacated nothing
nor" is In ORDER
Mr. Iloar-That cannot be vacated until a quorum
arrives?
m, prcrtIeu, nro ,enporc-Thc Chair thinks not !
vr posco-l In order that the Senate may enjoy /
rho constitutional privilege OF enforcing the at |
tendance Of absent Senators. | move that the |
Senate do order the ScrGeant-ai Arms to com
pcl the attendance Of absent members thihk |
trat motion IL in order. because it is "A constitu-
tional right that the Senate cannot be deprived OF
simply because a previous order has been passed |
To request the Attendance OF absent members
The President pro tempore-The Chair calls the |
attention o: the Senate to the language of the rule
~ ma ority OF the Senators present may direct inc
Scrgcant-at-Arms to request End when necessary
TO compel the attendance of the absent Senator's
There are two distinct Independent propositions.
not necessarily connected. one Is independent OF |
the other. The motion to request IS preliminary
The motion compel depends upon necessity |
occurring in the opinion OF the CHAIR.
Mr. Ioar-I agree with the Chair. but that re-
quest having been directed to be made In the opin-
ion Of the senate II may become necessary 10 com
pei the attendance In five minutes. ten minutes or
twenty minutes and the mere lapse of time ana
the Judgment OF the Senate all that are re-