Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-10-28


evening, that senator having failed to answer
when his name was called. In the course OF
| his remarks he said that while the decision
cited by Mr. Hill dem, N. W relative TO the
| right Of the house TO make rules to ascertain
| the presence OF quorum might be perverted
into support OF Mr.. Hills position,
| as judicial decision 1t could not be
placed in that category except by the artful-
ness OF an astute politician. A fair-minded law
yer could not do it. There were men in the
world whose conscences were so easy that
they could follow the supreme court in
all its decisions, who could bend their
| coDsciences to any purpose that political
necessity required at any time, but such
men had no just conception OF the right and the
rights of the representatives of the people and
| of the states.
| Referring TO Mr. Hills allusion to his (Mr
Morgan's) connection with the confederacy
Mr.. Morgan said the eleven states which went
| out of the union did so, not to dissent from the
constitution, but TO preserve It, He had more
| respect for those who had the pluck TO shoulder
q gun and go to the front than for those who
| continually referred to that PERIOD but re-
| mained at home. 1t was only those who hired
| substitutes and pleading the baby act remained
at home who were in the habit OF risiLg in the
senate and out and referring to the fact that he
| (Mr. Morgan) had participa ted in the secession
OF the south. He was not ashamed of the fact
| Mr. Morgan, referring to the action of the
secretary Of the treasury, said he did not be.
| }ieve congress could confer the discretion upon
| that of1cer to coin or not 10 coin at his will
The secretary in this respect had but partially
executed mandatory law. Mr.. Morgan ar
gued that the Sherman act should be repealed
out and out
AT the conclusion of Mr. Morgan's speech a
motion by Mr. Voorhees, to lay on the table the
motion Of Mr. Dolph TO amend the journal was
| agreed to-45 toS.
| Mr. Teller {Tep., COLI then moved to amend
| the journal so that IL would show his presence
on n certain roll-call when he did not respond
| TO his name, and on this motion he addressed
| the senate He quoted from statement of
| Mr.. Carlisle in regard TO insisting upon the
| passage of the repeal bill and said: What
right has the secretary of the treasury to inter
| fere with us in this natter 1 resent it
myself as u breach OF privilege. i have
heard good deal about the dignity
of the senate The misconduct of one senator
or dozen senators will never degrade the SEN
ate. The senate will be degraded, however
F, whenever 1t abandons its prerogative of inde-
pendent legislative action given 1t by the consti
tuition Whenever the senate shall take its or
derS from cabinet officers or an executive, then
| there shall be degradation OF the senate
degradation that the people OF the country
shall take notice of and understand. When we
decline TO be stampeded by boards of trade,
chambers OF commerce, etc, we will command
the respect of the American people. But when
we surrender our convictions, whether it be on
the advice of the president or on account OF
public clamor, the degradation will begin and
the usefulness of the senate will be at end. -
He quoted from President Cleveland's letter to
Gov Northen, of Georgia, and insisted that it
was an attempt to influence the action of the
senate on this measure.
Mr. Daniel (dem w. Va) regarded those
| who called themselves the majority on the
pending question more responsible for the de.
| lays which had occurred in coming to vote
| than those whom they described as n minority.
| wiShpl n Mr. Mills Of TaSnS that
he, for one, was ready instantly TO submit the
question 10 n majority of democrats who had
been sent to the senate charged with RESPONSE
bility. Was Mr.. Mills ready to do this and
abide the result?
Mr. Mills didnot reply to this question, but
further along in the debate said there was nc
doubt n paramount and permanent power in
both houses to get the rules necessary TO enable
them TO dispatch public business ~ do not
blame the minority" he said, II blame the
majority for sitting still like children
and permitting the government TO be par
aly2ed. The government is in a state
OF paralysis. You cannot pass an ap
preparation bill, bill reducing taxa
tion. nor help yonr commerce. because we
are told the senate has left its rules and abdi
Gated its power, and this great branch of the
government, ntrusted with power to legisate te
for the people, is a dead body until the minor
ity permits it to act"
AT 5l5 p NJ Mr. Voorhees, moved n recess
Until ~ U CIOCk luuT5udy uOTnlUBs WHICH was
agreed to-
On the 10Th Mr.. Stewart (rep, New took the
floor on the motion to amend the journal anC
argued that in the midst of an exciting discus
son was not the time to change the rules of the
senate. He said the appeal to the vice presi
dent to make himself infamous throughout al
ages was most outrageous. He was an Ameri
can and would not lay his hand upon the con
stitution and laws of the country. The rules o
the senate were made for occasions like the
present TO protect the minority, and they woulC
protect the minority.
Mr. Dubois rep, Idaho) regarded the pres
ent MS an unfortunate occasion TO attempt Il
change the rules. In reply TO question by Mr.
Hill Mr. Dubois said that any bill which the
people of this country desired passed. and OF
which they had voted, would be passed by III,
senate. He said n majority favored n com
promise In respect TO the criticism of himsel
for not voting Mr. Dubois said ii was his pleas
ure and delight TO sit in the senate but II hi
expulsion from the senate would prevent tn,
passage OF the repeal bill he would not hesi
tate for moment
Mr. Palmer dem, Il.) regarded Mr. Teller
motion that his (Tellers) name be entered a
present on roll-call when he did not answer
as personal request Mr. Palmer went ol
sarcas tically to remark that he had understood
the senate was courteous body and that
personal request of o senator was always nc
! ceded to on the lofty ground of courtesy.
Mr. Call dem, Fla.) opposed any change il
the rules and was followed by Mr.. Butle
dem, S. C) in an impassoned arGumen
against the propositions of the senator from
New York (Mr. Hill and the senator iron
Texas (Mr. Mills) If their doctrine wer
the correct one why not make bonfire o
the rules OF the senate. He declares
that the proposition ITO railroad through
the senate a motion to change the rules
TO enable, was claimed, the majorit.
} to transact business, would never be done will
his consent In answer TO question by MI
Hill as TO how vote could be reached on a bill
Mr.. Butler replied that when the majority hat
a strong determined, sincere anxiety TO pass
bill it would make some concession in order I
get 1t through, and. If that was not done, tn
bill ought not 10 pass.
running debate ensued between Messrs
Butler, Hill, Mills and Palmer as to the righ
OF the majority to change the rules at its pleas
ure SO MS to secure vote on the measure IA
vored by the majority, Mr. Butler contendin
that "the minority is clothed by the constitution
and the rules made in pursuance of it wit
power to prevent the passage OF obnoNiou
measures, and when the majority has expresse