Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-10-12
TO PRODUCE A VOTE.
VIGOROUS EFFORTS MADE TO PASS
THE REPEAL BILL

and the CaDinet-Mf' Sormah ''|"
tary Carlisle.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 11.-[Special.J i
st last a vigorous effort is being made TO
pass the Sherman repeal bill through the
senate. We are sure TO have some high old
times in this chamber before the contest IS
over. The desire of the managers OF the
bill is to hold a quorum in the senate for a
long time, if possible for a long enough
time to tire out the opposition. But this is
easier to talk about han TO do. Abundant
proof of the talking abilities Of the silver
senator's has been afforded during the last
few days. Old Senator Stewart is now in
his element. The old man from Nevada,
who looks SO much like a patriarch OF
ancient mold, is never so happy as when
the fighting is hot. He glories In his stability
TO make speeches on every occasion and OF
great length.
An evidence of his confidence in his W
powers is found In a proposition which he
made a few days ago to Senator Dubois,
who has been one OF the most active of the
senator's who oppose repeal. There were
well defined runners that Mr.. Voorhees, and
his associates were about to force the fight
ing with these long night sessions in hope
to wear out the strength of the opposition.
Senator Dubois is young and vigorous,
while Senator Stewart is e5. Yet the old
man said to the young man:
dubois, when the hard fighting comes
on, get three or four of the boys to stay
with you, and you young fellows take one
night, and l will take the next. BY alter
mating on them / guess we can keep them
busy"
but can you hold up our end all by
yourself'" asked Mr.. Dubois.
Don't you worry about me. / am an old
hand at this business. 1 nave fought Mex
leans, Indians, mining camp thieves, claim
jumpers and all sorts of things. l guess ]
can hold this senate up by the tail for a few
weeks, taking every other night"
And then Senator Stewart smiled in full
confidence in his own staying powers. Now
the old gentleman has a chance to see what
he can do.
Where the Rub Lies.
The repeal nag think they can
quickly clear the decks for action. While
a large number of amendments to the bill
have been offered, these they propose to
dispose of without delay. Under the rules
of the senate a motion to lay on the table
is noG debatable, and by making this mo-
ton on amendment after amendment Sen
ator Voorhees, thinks the whole of them
can be quickly disposed of. But the rub is
how TO suppress the silver senators who
are insisting upon the right to debate.
Under the rules of the senate there is no
method by which debate can be cut off.
Friends of repeal nave again asked Vice
President Stevenson to construe the rules
in such a way as to afford some relief, but
the vice president declines to depart the
slightest from the practices and traditions
of the body. When a question is pend
ing, ne motion shall be in order but the fol-
lowing" say the rules, and then is given a
list of the motions which are in order.
Among these there is no mention of a mo-
tion to vote nor to set a time for voting.
Thus we have the anomaly of rules which
do not by letter or explicit provision give
a parliamentary body any method of pro-
ducing a vote. 1t has ample opportunity
to debate, but no way of closing debate and
proceeding to that which many people re-
gard as of more Importance than discus
sion-to wit, voting.
lnasmuch as among these motions laid
down in the rules as being in order is one
to lay on the table, it follows that the rules
of this great body provide means of killing
a measure, but none to put life into it. 1t
looks as IL the rules were framed to prevent
legislation rather han to promote legisla-
ton. According to the strict construction
Of the rules, legislation is almost impossi-
BILE, save by unanimous consent or by sur
render OF the minority. The reader who
takes these things into consideration will
be better able to understand the bearings
of the various moves made in this great
fight from day to day.
TrOuble With Ono Rula