The record-union., 1893-10-13
Little Progress Toward a Settle
ment of the Silver Question.
OPPONENTS OF REPEAL CONTINUE
TO HOLD THE FORT.
They Talk Night and Day - Allen
Speaks for Twelve Hours and a
HaIf-Lfttle Chance of a Compro-
ise-Representative Loud of Cali
fornia Addresses the House on the
Question of Chinese Restriction.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIox.


and tonight little progress seems to have
been made towards settlement. The
silver men still have the upper hand, and
control the situation. The first intimatlon
of the weakening of the repeal forces was
the decision of voorhees, to move for
recess tonight from 10 P. NJ. until IL to-
morrow. He reckoned, however, with
out the silver men, who announced that
they would not yield the floor to Noor-
hees to make the motion, and thus he was
obliged to abandon the plan. Many
stories of a compromise were in the air
tonight, but the unqualified statement OF
both sides is that the fight now IN pro-
gress must be decided before any COM
promise can be broached with success
The scene was brilliant one. The setting
for the fierce struggle in progress on the
floor, in the dazzling glare Of artificial
lights, was one to impress the mind and
fascinate the eye. The galleries were
banked to the doors. Below on the floor
was the wreck of a great parliamentary
battle. then thirty-two hours old. The
haggard faces around betoken the long
strain to which the attempt to force the
silver men to yield by test OF brute
strength subjected the Senate.
SILVER MEN HOLD THE FORT.
WASHINGTON, Oct l2.-Ali night long
Senator Allen OF Nebraska held the floor,
interrupted by an occasional ill-tempered
colIoquy or roll call, which dragged the
sleeping Senators from the adjoining
cloak rooms. Gray dawn, at A. NJ,
found Allen still holding the fort in the
great struggle against unconditional re-
peal. as he had been doing since darkness
fell last night. He had broken all pre-
yious records. For twelve hours and a
half he had held the floor continuously.
The longest time any Senator had previ-
ously occupied the floor was on the oc-
casion of the force bill fight in 1891,
when Faulkner remained on guard
twelve hours, though Allen had breath
ing spell during the absence of quorum.
He seemed almost as fresh as when he
began His voice was still loud and
strong, and the great strain seemed not to
have affected his physical or mental
Yigor.
The effort was made shortly after 6
o'clock by the anti-silver men to reach
an agreement with the siIverites for a re-
cess until 10 o'clock, but the latter de-
clined the offer.
AS hours passed Senator Aliens pow
ers of endurance amazed the auditors.
Shortly after7 o'clock Shoup made
point of no quorum. The roll-call de-
N6lOp6Q Lt40 BlGSOIOO Vi OhAJ AOAbS
bers, three short Of quorum. These.
however, were soon supplied.
Wolcott made point that forty-three
were not quorum, as Idaho, Wyoming
and Washington were only partially
represented, and forty-three would not be
a majority with their full representation.
The rule was then read to the effect that
the majority of the Senators chosen and
sworn should constitute quorum.
Manderson said the present rule was
adopted under stress of circumstances, in
1864, when eighteen Southern States were
unrepresented, but contended the neces-
sity for it had passed.
Nice-President Stevenson ruled that
the Senate as constituted was composed
of eighty-five members, and forty-three
were quorum.
Wolcott appealed from the decision.
Hale moved to lay the appeal on the
table.
The appeal was tabled-3S to 5. Allen.
Manderson, Martin and PETER voting in
the negative.
Then Allen, apparently as fresh as
when he began fourteen hours ago. re-
sumed his address. 1t was far from the
argument upon the question at issue, but
Il filled in the time. Allen concluded at
6:15 o'clock.
Martin of Kansas was to follow him,
but VOORHEES, suddenly interposed with a
IlOllOu 10 lay lu6 6Ll6E 1Tb6-COlud2G
amendment to the repeal bill on the table
and the roll-call thereon began.
The result showed two short of quo
rum, owing to the announcement of sew
eral pairs and the refusal Of some of the
silver men present to vote.
Villas made point of order that when
Senator is present he must vote unless
excused.
The roll-call was ordered, showing
fortv-fiVa Senators present
The poll was then recalled on the mo-
ton to lay Peffer's amendment on the
table.
Only forty-one Senators vbted.
Dubois being the first Senator on the
roll and present who refused to vote, the
Chair called on him for an explanation
Dubois said he considered the amendment
too important to be passed upon without
debate. t
The vote on the motion to excuse Du-
bOis resulted-2l ayes, % noes.
Dubois name was again called. He still
failed to respond. Then followed a dis
cussion whether Dubois could be COM
PEELED to vote, but the point was soon
dropped.
GlMeantime other Senators came in, and
at 9:15 the ballot was announced, show
ing fifty Senators voting.
The PETER amendment was laid on the
table.
' OOrne6S SAID the Pou6r amendment 10
the VOORHEES, bill was the only one pend
ing except that offered by the Commit
tee on Finance, which is the Wilson or
House bill. There were, however, other
amendments proposed by Senators, but
not yet offered. These would be in order
when offered. He said the Finance Com
mittee's amendment was now before the
Senate, and asked that Martin of Kansas
be recog nized to discuss the question.
1t was O'Clock when Martin began his
plea for the free coinage of silver. At fire.
Quent intervals he was interrupted by de-
mands for roll calls, when it became evil
dent that quorum was not in the cham
ber.
During one of the intervals, Stewart
read letter warning him to desist in lob
structing legislation" or he might be
blown up with dynamite.
The reading merely provoked laugh.
Martin kept on with frequent interrIlp-
tions for roll call until O'Clock, when he
said he would close for the present. with
tbe hope that he might continue discus
sion at some future time, as there were
several important phases he had not
touched on.
Morgan gave notice of an amendment
to the repeal bill prepared by Repre-
sentative Turpin of his State, providing
for the coinage of silver dollar of 4l21
Grains. which, together with all silver
Collars of like weight and tineness, are to
make legal tender, except where other
wise expressly stipulated. The Secretary
ot the Treasury is directed to purchase
silver bullion at the market price, to be