St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-17
DISBAND The SENATE
The Old Incubus Is PoWepless
to Legislate.
SENATOR HILLS SENTIMENTS.
Efforts to Change the Sena-
topial Rules
MEETING WITH OPPOSITION.
MEETING WITH OPPOSITION
Vest, the Missouri Mossback,
Justifies the Minority.
HOURS OF SILVER 7WADDLE.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.::- There vii.
probably be no more night sessions In
the senate while the repeal bill III pend
ing. The silver senators clogged the
wheels effectually for about two hours
tonight, and would probably have con-
tlnued to do so but for an understand
ing brought about by the entanglemeut
which was inaugurated between the op-
posing forces to check filibustering OH
promise from some of the leaders of the
repeal side to attempt to so arrange
matters as hot to make another effort to
secure night sessions. This agreement,
while it was not perfected, had the
effect of causing the silver men to cease
their calls for quorum, and of permit
ting MIR. Peffer to continue his remarks
without interruption from the call bell.
If this arrangement is completed as now,
it seems probable there will be
no more night sessions. After dispOs-
ing of some unimportant business the
senate took up for consideration the
question of amending its own rules.
Mr.. Lodge (Rep., MasS.) spoke in ad-
vocacy of his proposed amendment to
the rules, providing that no senator
shall read printed or written speech,
and senators present and not voting
shall be counted as present for the pur-
pose of making quorum.
Mr.. Lodge said it had been held by
the United States supreme court that
member silent and present was there
acquiescent. and. for the purpose of
making quorum, could be counted.
ION, no." said Mr.. Gray Dem., Del.),
'it was merely held that the house of
representatives had right to make its
own rules"
Mr.. Lodge said it had been held by
the state courts and by the English
courts as far back as the time of Lord
Beaconsfeld, that presence and silence
in corporate board constituted acqui-
escence. The present condition of the
senate was an absolute travesty on
every rule of parliamentary procedure.
MIR. Stewart rep, Ney.) thought the
recent debate would 90 down in history
as the most important and instructive
excluding, of course. the humble part
he had taken in lO that had ever been
conducted in any parliamentary body.
Mr.. Vest (Dem., MOI referring to the
reply to Hayne of Mr.. Webster, and Mr..
Lodges rule against reading speeches.
said from the best authority Obtainable
at this time Mr.. Webster did not give
that speech to the public, as it stood in
parliamentary literature for more than
one month after it was delivered. No
stenographerS were then in the senate,
and it was today question of very
great and reasonable doubt whether
that speech, as 1t had come down to pos
terity, was the same speech, at least III
verbiage, that was then delivered.
MIR. LODGE THOUGHT
the speech was taken down somewhat
in shorthand, or what passed for short
hand, by Mr.. Gale, and after being held
by Mr.. Webster for some time, and re-
vised by him, was published in the
form in which it was now.
Mr.. Hoar (Rep., Mass ] said that what
ever preparation MIR. Webster made for
his speech was such as he could make
in the waking hours after the adjourn
ment of the senate in the afternoon and
its meeting in the following morning.
Mr.. Vest said his experience had
taught him to believe that written
speech was much more effective than
an oral one. The best speeches he had
ever heard in the senate for the effect
upon the people of the country had
been written speeches; and this he
could say without prejudice, as it was
not his custom to deliver written
speeches in the senate. In regard
to cloture rule, said that
if the action of a minority in
resisting the votes of the majority had
no other defense in American history,
the defeat OF the force bill would conse-
crate it to large extent with the Amer
lean people. If the senate had been as
false to all the precedents of American
history and to the libertyloving i'll
Stincts of the American people as was
another tribunal in regard to the force
bill. the country would have been in
different condition-the states with
their autonomy destroyed, large por-
ton of great people struck down by
federal authority, while the minionS of
partisan power would have looted and
reyeled in the destruction wrought.
''I THANK HEAVEN"
said Mr.. Vest, with much feeling, that
there was one time in our history hen
a minority under the rules of the senate
were able to defeat that infamous leg
iSlation, and | am glad that the junior
senator from Massachusetts can hear
now in this tribunal the deliberate
incident furnished a whole acre of argu..
ment for the resistance of minority so
far as the rules of this legislative body
will permit to grossly outrageous legis-
latiop which involves the autonomy of
the states and the liberties of the entire
people But, Mr.. President, whatever
the senate may do, this is not the time
to consider it. / honestly believe that
we can never arrive al a solution of the
question that is harrasSing us and the
country until all parties are satisfied.
as | am satisfied that unconditional! re-
peal cannot be had in the senate.''
Twill you please explain to u.s."
asked Mr.. Hill, "what you mean by
your confidence in the fact that the un-
conditional repeal bill cannot pass the
senate? Why, if majority is i'll favor
of it. can it not be passed?'
IF the senator from New York" " re-
piled Mr.. Vest. ''having read the rules
and having witnessed our proceedings
under these rules for two months call
not answer that satisfactorily to him
self, it would be arrogant vanity for me
to attempt it. Laughter.] There is no
intelligent man in this Union who does
not know that the senate cannot pass
this bill.''
II think that is the only answer the
senator can make" said MIR. Hill.
''It is sufficient" Mr.. Vest replied.
I'VE are confronted with condition
and not theory"
Mr.. Hill-If the rules of the senate
ABSOLUTELY PREVENT