The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-20
SILVER SENATORS DEFIANT.
A VoTE ON REPEAL WILL BE 7AKES
AT THEIR PLEASURE.

sonai Explanation ms to His Inability 20
Secure n Vote-Most OF the Day Given TO
Debate on Ciorure-Grim DETERMINATION
OF Silver Men-MiI. Speaks for Repeal.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 1o-All day the air has
been full OF rumors as to some change In the
situation by which q vote will soon DO reached
In the Senate on the silver Repeal bill. One
report was that the silver Senators. having re-
ceived assurances from President Cleveland
that he would sign a bill favorable to the
enlarged use OF silver after the Repeal bill
should havo become a law the opposition to
repeal would vanish within few days. after
several set speeches had been delivered and
vote allowed to be taken. Senators Teller.
Wolco.t Dubois. and others Of the silver Sena-
tors denied this report and said that they had
received no information whatever from the
President as to what no would would not
do. and that they were moro than ever deter
mined in their opposition to the repeal bill
and felt perfectly able to defeat It.
Another report was that the President and
Secretary Carlisle now believe that the Admin-
istration is bound to be beaten either by the
fllibusterlng tactics OF the opposition or by
direct vote. and that therefore they were in ia
vor OF having some compromise. such as the
Faulkner amendment, brought forth at once.
Secretary Carlisle. who was at the Senate dur
ing the delivery OF Mr.. Mills's speech. said.
however, that the Administration did not hold
these views and did not endorse the adoption
OF the course suggested.
Senator Platts proposition in the Senate to-
day FOR cloture rule has caused the belief to
become quite general that he acted after .
consultation with tho Republican Senators as
a body, and that they would stand together in
support OF the proposition. This idea was
shown to BIO entirely erroneous. however. By
the action OF Senator Hoar In announcing In
the course Of tilt with Mr.. Dubois that he
was as much opposed as ever to the idea of
cloture in the United States Senate. There is
little reason to believe that cloture will be
adopted now or at any time during the course
OF this debate Indeed Mr.. PIatt's resolution
providing for cloture simply puts another club
In the hands OF the silver Senators. 1t will DO
as easy for them to discuss that proposition
as to discuss the Repeal bill itself. Senator
Platt Is one OF the Senators who was in
favor OF cloture at tho time it was
proposed as q means OF getting vote upon
the Force bill. He is no moro inconsistent in
his action now however. than IRE the Repub-
leans in the House. who 1libustsring
against consideration OF the Elections bill.
for It is understood that Mr.. Platt. who is q
member Of the Judiciary Committee. from
which Senator Hill recently reported bill to
repeal the Federal election laws, is one OF the
Senators who endorses the fllibustering tac-
tics OF the Republicans OF the House. and who
stands ready to fllibuster In the Senate to pre-
vent the passage OF the Hill bill or any other
bill to wipe out the Republican election laws. I
The only plan for getting q vote upon the
silver Repeal bill that seems to give PROMISE
OF success is that Of having continuous ses-
sions as announced by Mr.. Voorhees, to-day.
This Is q very difficult plan to put into opera
ton however. and Mr.. Voorhees, will probably
find himself unable to maintain a prolonged
session Of even twenty-four hours. The
weather is very hot and the air in the Senate. !
especially after a long sitting. exceedingly OPP
pressive. The Senate now meets at II o'clock.
and adjourns between and 9. and at that
hour the Senators are very well worn out. To
sit all night would be hardship that
very few OF them would care to endure The
Inconvenience would fall. moreover. chiefly
upon the repeal Senators. as it will DO neces-
sary for them to keep u majority on hand at
all times. wheI the fllibusters could simply
wind up man like Stewart or Teller or Nor /
gan or PuGh or Cockrell or George and 60 !
away and leave him. being sure to find him
still talking after they have had good nights
rest. bath. and a breakfast.
The continuous session programme has
often been tried before. but has not met with
conspicuous success Tho truth is that there
is no way to force Senators to stop talking.
and until the silver Senators have said all thoy
care to say there Is no prospect OF a vote on
the Repeal bill. They were defiant to-day. It
is probable. however. that when they have
talked themselves dry. tho m ost level headed
OF them will prevail upon the others to forego
the threats OF flibustering and allow vote to
be taken. This happy day may not arrive for
month.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE.
After Mr.. Squires had introduced new silver
bill and q resolution had been agreed to giving
Messrs Beckwith aud Mantle. recent con-
testants for seats in tho Senate. $4,000 to
cover their expenses. Mr.. Voorhees, arose. say
ing that he thought 1t time to instruct the pub
lie somewhat in reference to the organization
of the Senate and the laws which governelit
He addressed himself to tho great body Of in
tclligent public, opinion; On March 4. 1889,
the Senate Of the United States had convcned
in The city Of New York There was no quorum
Of rules had been reported by a committee
and HdoP,ed BY the Senate He would Rad
e esSt an
ado ha t h doab s & ruiz i
would be a surprise to men inside the cham
rule i - was as '"TRe pTevoms question having
been moved and seconded. the question from
the Chair shall be- Shall the main question be
Those two provisions had governed the Senate
GT hs
there was now in the House Of Reprcsenta-
tives. 1t had boen borrowed from the old
tried fully and entirely. and In 1903, while
Thomas Jefferson was President OF the United
States 1t had been deliberately abandoned.
and never used in the Senate to close debate
from that hour the present; substitute
for II was adopted in 1906. that when n guess
ton is before tho Senate no motion shall he
received except for amendment. for postpon-
ing. or a motion to adjourn, &C.. thereby drop
ping the previous question and all relation
10 IL,
II there was any motion by which debate
could be forced to a conclusion In tho Senate.
It was not written down in the law the rules.
He had been arraignrd by public opinion Log
not Terminating debate on the Repeal iii, "a
well might he be arraiEnod for not terminate
ing the tides OF the ocean or the blowing OF
the northwest winds He wished to emphasize
the fact that the clpture rule once prevailed in
the senate and had been deliberately aban-
duned. and that in abandoning II tho senate
Ind nan Is g0Norn ID mt on tho sen So OF nLO-