The sun., 1893-09-28
FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS-
PROCEEDINGS OF TIE SPECIAL
SESSION OF CONGRESS.

PROCEEDINGS OF TIE SPECIAL
SESSION OF CONGRESS.
Condensed Record OF the business
Being TrRnsncted by our National
Law-mal<ers--ROutin Report Day
by Day.
Washington. Sept. 20.-The financial
situation in the Urited States senate
has reachcd a critical stage. Mr.. Voor-
bees, leader of the repeal forces, after q
, sensational denunciation of the New
York bankers and defiance to the press
that has been criticising his actions and
questioning his motives, demanded that
the minority senator's name q date for
a final vote, and Mr.. Dubois of Idaho
met the demand by a positive declaration
that the anti-repeal men would oppose the
passage of the repeal bill by availing
themselves of every advantage afforded
them under the rules and usages of the
senate. Voorhees, retaliated by giving
notice that he would to- morrow move for
longer and more nearly continuous ses-
sion, and the financial situation III the
senate now appears to have resolved
itself into a mere question of endurance.
Immediately after the assembling of the
senate the repeal bill was taken up and
Mr. Voorhees, once more attempted to
obtain an agreement as to when Il vote
should be taken. He reviewed the his
tory of the rules of the senate from its
creation, showing that for seventeen
years from 1913 the senate had among
it's rules the provision for the previous
question. 1t was tried fully, and in 1906,
when Thomas Jefferson was president,
it was deliberately abandoned and never
claimed or admitted again. Il am now
arraigned," said Mr.. Voorhees,, before
public opinion for not terminating this
debate. AS well might / be arraigned
for not terminating the tide of the ocean
or the northwest winds. For eighty
seven years this body has been a law
sufficient unto itself. 1t has never been
found wanting in peace or war, so that
the criticisms of certain class will fall
as harmless on this body as they fall
upon me-" Mr.. Platt gave notice of
closure resolution. Discussion of the re-
peal bill was then resumed. and Mr..
Mills addressed the senate.
After an objection Gn the house, was
made to the resolution offered by Mr..
Finn of Oklahoma calling on the secre-
shooting of settlers OF the Cherokee strip
by United States soldiers, the fight was
resumed over the federal election bill,
and the ayes and nays were ordered on
MIR. Burrows old motion to dispense with
the call of committees. The Democrats
came within five of quorum. securing
173 votes, but as a miss is as good as a
lille, the fiilibusttring continued. 4
81 ioto o1y
after the house adjourned at which it
was decided TO push the bill to u vote.
Washington, Sept. 21.-Victory finally
crowned the efforts of the Democrats in
the house, but the battle TO secrr" the
report on the Tucker bill repeating the
federal election laws Nas begun five
days ago, was only won by the vigorous
application of the party lash, supple
mented 10y in order frcm the committee
on rules. Even then it required six hours
of hard fighting before the stubborn mi
nority could be defeated. Every expedi-
ent that skillful parliamentary maneuver-
ing could devise was resorted to by ex-
Speaker Reed, who stood in the breach
all day directing the movements of the
minority. The task vas hopeless, how
ever, as long dS lne l)eUOcIdIiC quorum,
which appeared for the first time, held
Once only did the quorum break down.
But on the next roll call it reappeared
and the ground that had been lost was
quickly regained. The Republicans took
their medicine with fairly good grace,
when at last tn. fight was over the
report on the Tucker bill was presented
ard with it an APPLICATION from the
1nT1ift nc1-i fnT
cial order for its consideration.
After the routine morning business iH
the senate there was a conflict between
Mr.. Voorhees, and Mr.. Platt Rep. Conn
az to the right of the floor Mr. Platt
was given the opportunity of stating
that, as the senator from Mississippi
(Mr. George desired to address the sen
ate early to-day, he OIr. PlatO would
rot to-day introduce the resolution Of
Which he had give notice yesterday,
but would do so at some future time.
Mr.. George then began his speech.
-
Washington, Sept. 44.-In the senate
Mr.. Platt CRep. Conn., offered the reso-
luton for Il closure, of which he gave
notice last Tuesday. The discussion on
Mr.. Platt's closure rule was brief and
closed by letting the matter go over till
tomorrow, when Mr.. Teller is to speak
against it. Mr.. Platt was cOmplimented
by Mr.. Voorhees, for his clear and lucid
statement of the situation. Substitutes
for the resolution were suggested by Mr..
Hoar Rep. Mass.) and Mr.. Hill Dem.
. q. ". A strong argument in favor
of the closure rule was made by Mr..
Lodge Qlep. Mass.) although he recog-
nized the fact that the adoption of the
rule would be made use of to pass meas
llres which he consiG erred worse than the
Sherman act-that is, 3 new tariff bill
and a bill to repeal the election laws.
The repeal bill was then taken up and
Mr.. White of California addressed the
senate, claiming that there were other
causes for the financial panic besides the
Sherman act
There were many empty seats in the
house. Indeed there were not more
tran 1OO ME mbers present when the
speakers gavel called the house to order.
After a short passage between Mr.. Reed
Rep. Me.) and the speaker relative to
the journal, the approval of the latter
was deferred, and Mr.. Catchings pre-
scnted the report of the rules committee
providing for taking Up the election law
repeal bill on Sept. 26, and final vote
on Oct. 10. The ayes and navs were
called On ordering the previous question
and it was ordered-175 to !. The house
then proceeded to vote on the report of
the committee OIL rules. The report was
adopted-ayes, 179; nays, 3. The house
then took up and discussed the report
of the committee on accounts:
Washington, Sept, e3.-After a very
shart routine morning business session
the .cloture resolution was laid before the
senate and Mr.. Wclcott Rep., COLI took
the floor and made a statement. Al=
though lie said that he would vote gainst
It, he declared that no factious opposi.
ton would be made to it, and that vote
upon it could be reached much sooner
than vote upon the repeal could be.