Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-21


Senator Teller's Speech.
Though the beginning of yesterdays SEES
sion Of the Senate was disappointment to
the hundreds who had gone to the galleries
In the hope Of listening to q hot debate ON
the cioture question. the close Of the after
noon was marked by one Of the climaxes
that are now such q frequent feature Of the
silver debate. As told In yesterdays Star.
Senator George secured the floor early and
talked through several roll calls that were
ordered to gather the quorum that Lept
scattering. At about half-past 1 Senator
Quay asked for roll call and but forty-ons
Senators responded, or two less than q quo
rum Mr.. Dubois came in and made forty
two. and Mr.. Teller was counted by the
Vice President. though he did not respond
to his name as he entered the chamber.
Senator Voorhees, then suggested that
there were but two ways under the Consti-
tuition by which compulsion can be used in
the Senate. One was to compel the attend
ance OF absentees and the other was TO
keep order on the door. He asked that the
sergeant-at-arms be directed to enforce the
attendance Of absent memberA
This caused considerable Of q sensation,
Senator Dolph suggesting that 1t would be
better to use the word request rather
than compel" He thought that there was
hardly q unanimity Of opinion as to the ex-
istence Of q power to enforce such re
quest
The Vice President caused the rule to be
read. but in the meantime other Senators
had entered the chamber and the quorum
was secured. with total attendance VI
forty-seven.
Mr.. Teller here cast his stone into the
smoothing surface Of the pool by protesting
against the action Of the Vice President In
causing his name to be called without his
asking for recognition after the first call
Of the roll He considered that II ~ did
M 10 = ~
ognizing a rule which had never been rec
ognixed In the Senate-that was that the
presiding officer had q right to call a Sena-
tor who had not answered on the roll call
without that Senator addressing the chair.
The Rights of . Minority.
II do not desire to recognize such q prin-
ciple.'' he said. II am not wiling to recog-
nize. in the slightest degree. that right on
the part Of the presiding offacer. 1 am In
the minority. my political party Il in a
minority. have reason to believe that I
will be in the minority on q great many
questions during the next four years. and
I do not intend to submit Of can help IT.
to any change Of the rules which will in
any degree limit the power of the minority
for obstruction. The best writer's on pub
lie law, without exception, have asserted
that the right OF obstruction Is as sacred
to the minority as that Of progression to
the majority. I do not believe that free in
situations can be preserved without free
dom Of debate. and freedom Of debate can
not be preserved without q recognition Of
the right of the minority to obstruct, 10
hinder and to delay. 50 as to secure dis
cussion. consideration, attention to the
question presented When the Senator from
Connecticut presents his resolution to es-
tablish a cloture presume that will have
something to say about II. I only object
now to having been called before had in
dicated desire to be called. Neither by
direction nor by fndirection. 50 far as can
prevent II. shall the power be intrusted to
ANYBODY to count q quorum In the Senate !"
The Vice President informed Mr.. Teller
that when his name was called and he did
not respond he was not recorded As pres
eht
Senator Voorhees, withdrew his request
for the compulsory attendance Of q quorum
ard Senator George announced that a. he
was tired he would not proceed with his
speech until today. Senator Butler sug-
gested that the regular time for adjourn
ment had arrived, and It would be q good
plan either to adjourn or 60 into executive
session. Though 1t was whispered that the
silver men were at that time in the ma
tortty they did not take advantage Of the
fact and almost before any one realized
what had happened Senator Voorhees, had
asked and obtained permission for Sena-
tor Gray to take the floor in favor Of re-
peal
He talked for an hour and q half. and at
$40 Senator Voorhees,. after having COM
PEELED the Senate to sit far beyond its usual
hour for adjournment. moved to adjourn,
and thus the drst Of the prolonged sessions
was ended.