The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-20
FRITTERING AWAY THE DAY
Another FruitlCSS Effort by Mr., |OOT-
bees to Approach a Vote,

DllaLOTY or OLutL AdNtAG1 ~ H A W.
trate Repeal Notice of a Substitute
for the voorhees, Bill to be Pre-
scented To-day-It Means Further
Probably Indefinite DEFY - Notice
Also, However, by Mr.. Platt of a
Rule Amendment Which viii Ena-
BILE a Majority to Proceed With the
Public Business.
Washington. Sept. 19.-The President is
uoted as saying to a southern senator
that if. after the passage of the voorhees,
bill a safe and proper silver measure
were sent to him he would not disapprove
it. This was not said as a communication
to be carried to the silver senators, but
was part Of a general conversation.
REPEAL VOTE NEXT WEEK.
The intimation comes from responsible
sources this morning that the prospects
are so good for an understanding between
the opposing forces on the silver question
that a vote on the Voorhees, bill will be
reached probably not later than next
week. 1t is not a compromise, but an un-
Outstanding to take up something sub
stantially equivalent to the Faulker
amendment as an independently proposition
after the passage of the voorhees, bill.
No positive agreement has been reached,
but disposition to get together is grow
ing, and the outlook now is cheerful
MISCELLANEOUS.
District Attorney Joseph :. James is in
the city to-day on official business.
John V Heidi of Atlanta was to-day
appointed census COmputer.
Democratic members are entirely salts
fed with the caucus to-day. One hundred
and SiNty-five were present, and the re-
suit was just what was desired. The
party will henceforth act together on the
federal elections bill.
REPEAL BILL SUBSTITUTE.
After the routine of the morning in the
Senate. Mr. Squire, rep, of Washington,
gave notice of a substitute which he in
tended to offer for the bill TO repeal the
silver-purchasing act, and it was read in
full 1t provides that the owners of sill
yer bullion may deposiI it attany mint, to
be turned into standard silver dollars of
the present weight and tneness for his
benefit. He is to be paid, however,
only such number of stand
ard silver dollars as may equal the
commercial value of the silver bullion.
The difference between the nominal and
coined silver of the bullion is to be re-
tanned by the government as seigniorage.
The coinage of silver dollars is not to ex-
coed 81 900 600 per month, and the total
not to exceed 5000 600, 600 per year They
are to be a full legal tender, and no silver
certificates are to be used.
A resolution to pay Mr. Beckwith s., 600
for his time and expenses in prosecuting
his claim for a seat in the Senate under
appointment from the governor of WYO-
ming was taken from the calendar and
agreed to. Also, like resolutions to pay
Mr.. Mantle from Montana and to hand to
Mr.. Allen of the state of Washington
s., 800 each
REPEAL BILL TAKEN UP.
At 80 o'clock the bill to repeal the
silver purchasing act was taken up, and
Mr.. Voorhees, made a statement to the
Senate. He said that in the discharge of
the duties entrusted to him, he had to
beg the indulgence of the Senate while
he made a few remarks. He thought
that it would not be misspent time to in
struct the public mind somewhat in refer
ence to the organization of the Senate;
what it was that governed it, and the
possibility that surrounded it, and what
could and what could not be done. In
doing so, he addressed himself to the
great body of intelligent public opinion;
as well, in certain quarters, TO dense
and Opaque degree of ignorance, in some
respect innocent and in others malicious.
SENATE RULE ON DEBATE.
On tn 4th Of March, 1889, the Senate
of the United States had convened, or en-
deavOred to convene for there were but
eight members prcsenU in the city of
New York There was no quorum until
the 10Th of April. Shortly afterwards a
system Of rules had been reported by a
committee and adopted by the senate As
a matter Of curiosity. as well as of en-
lightenment, he would read the eighth
4 Il, A
question is before the Senate no motion
shall be received, except for an amend
ment for the previous question, for post
poning the main question: or TO adjourn
He said no doubt that that. rule would
be surprise TO men inside of the cham
Der as well as to men outside of it. The
ninth rule was:
The previous question having been
moved and seconded, the question from
the chair shall be, SShall the main ques-
ton now be putl' etc.
PREVIOUS QUESTION FOR SEVENTEEN
YEARS
Those two provisions had governed the
Senate for seventeen years, so that there
had been previous question in the Sen
ate Tor seventeen years, as there was
now in the House of Representatives. 1t
had been borrowed from the old English
system of closing debate. 1t had been
tAATu lNAlA anu tulItlN anu III lNUO,
while Thomas jefferson was President
of the United States, it had been DELHI
erately abandoned, and never used in the
Senate to close debate from that hour 70
the present A substitute for it was
adopted in lS06-that when a question is
before the Senate no motion shall be re-
ceived except for amendment, for post
poning. or for a motion to adjourn, etc.
thereby dropping the previous question
and all relation TO it,
no WAY TO FORCE a VOTE.
If there was any motion by which a de-
bate could be forced TO a conclusion in the
Senate it was not written in the law or
rules. he had been arraigned by public
opinion for not terminating debate on
the repeal bill As well might he be ar
raigned Tor not terminating the tides of
the oceans or the blowing of the north
west winds He wished to emphasize
that cloture rule ouce prevailed
in the Senate and had been
deliberately abandoned, and that. in
abandoning it, the Senate had placed its
government on the sense Of propriety. the
patriotism and the regard for the public
interest of every senator and Of the Sen
ate itself-with the certainty that no
senator would be found to abuse the pa
thence of the Senate or to outrage the
public business or public duty.