New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-17

would bring them back TO new 81 sslon sure
10 be crowded with vast variety OF otner ies
islative business Still, with the diifcuities az
tcuding q compromise on the Democratic sac
and the general WEAKNESS of Senators OF all De-
lcfs under the burdens imposed by the intracta-
bity and utter incompetency 10 govern ny tnc
respons ible majority, L Is possible that a move
ment to adjourn might be hailed at any uhe
as q welcome escape from the perplexiiies OF
the present legislative deadlock.
THE yICE-PRESIDENT'S POWER.
A word should be said here. perhaps. about
the absurd and extrdvagant suggestions maze
in some quarters that Vice-President steven
son should break the deadlock by summary
putting unconditional repeal to vote III
is not to be wondered at. perhaps. that these
suggestions come from the same persons who
in 1891 were most clamorous against any IN
reference by Vice-President Morton with the
rights of the Democratic minority tfen oD-
structing vote on the Federal Elections Dill.
Mr.. Morton very properly at that time declined
10 go beyond his powers as presit;ng orhce e
and close debate although had he done so ne
would have been supported in his acutn by
than majority OK the Senate. Mr'
Stevenson to-day rightly reSents such sue-
gesttps made to him as insulting 10 MS Po,
n4c6lF intelligence we'll as TO his personal
L41r. lie knows we'll that no possible politcal
cxuse could be given for his violating the rules OIL
the Senate in behalf of minority.o of his own
party. and his critics. If blind TO any other
arguments should know that any movement 10
close debate on Mr.. Stevensons part would DC
at once repudiated by the Senate by al least
four-fifths vote. More than half OF the
Democratic Senator'S would refuse to counte-
nance such an abuse of authority. and the ite-
publican side would of course resent IL WIN
unanimous voice. The idea that the VICE
President can have any but mereiy nominal
powers as a presiding officer is opposed 10 an
sound traditions in the Senate and to the eX-
press spirit of its organization. Beng heither
a member of the body nor elected by IL 10 MS
Office and often of different party faith from
thA
President is necessarily shorn OF an
but a very circumscrbed authority, .hat
Of settling parliamentary questions as uhe!
arise under the guidance of the rules That
he should suddenly assume superiority 70
the rules and dictatorship OF the Seha,e ~
a most absurd and inconsequential idhc!' oaSvu
on gross Ignorance of the limitations or MS
Office. The Senate. except In case OF an
extreme partisan and revolutionary suuss'c
would never submit to such an unwairanted
and indefensible assertion of power by the wee
President. jealous as II is OF It's privileges
and reserved rights. To expect TO see such
dictation tolerated now on "A non-partlsan ques
lion can argue only objectionable unianlailtS
with political conditions. or an unreasonins
easerness to transfer the blame for the delay
with repeal from some shoulders wnere IL pe-
longs to those of the courteous and conscien-
tious Nice-President $3.50.
To-day's proceedings were of nteres, chieny
for the spirited discussion in the morning
hour" on the proposed changes in the rules. ana
the continuation for two or three hours OF Seha-
tor Jones's remarkable speech. Mr.. Voorhees,
began the 'tapering down process from the
Continuous sessions of last week to the regula-
ton hours of the previous weeks by trying To
hold the Senate together until 10 p. m. AS was
to be expected the extra fo,r hours from p M
on were nothing but dreary farce. three
quarters of the time being spent in securing a
Quorum The silver men caught Mr.. Voorhees,
at once in the wise of the reappearns and dis
appearing quorum, by insisting on vote on MS
motion 10 dispense with proceedings under the
first order to the Sergeant-at-Arms. and the re.
peal leader did not escape from its jaws until
nearly o'clock. The galleries and both sides
on the floor found rather wicked amusement
II must be acknowledged. in the embarrass-
ments into which this simple piece OF tactics
plunged the self-plumed parliamentary Paul
Zones. This ard-hearted lack of sympathy was
n rather dscouraging omen for leader who
had lust begun to fight