The morning call., 1893-10-18
OUARRELING ABOUT RULES.
John Sherman Calls Upon the DEM
ocrats to Define a Policy.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17.-At the opening
of the Senate this morning Dolph asked
that the journal be corrected to show the
presence of Allen and Kyle on the suDdry
rolcalls yesterday, they having been pres
ent in the Senate, but having failed to vote.
Dolph said that it had become apparent, il
Senators could talk Indefinitely, read from
books and papers without limit, the Sem
ate, without an amendment to the rules or
| a different construction on those 1t had,
must drift along without accomplishing
anything. Twenty.six Republican Sem
ators not only favor the repeal of the Sher-
man act, but would vote to amend the
rules so tina. majority could limit tho de-
bate. He regarded it as farcical for a
Senator to suggest the absen ce of quorum
and then on the rollcall refuse to vote.
The Senate was being brought into disre-
pute by such course.
Faulkner of West Virginia, who was In
the chair last evening and ruled on the
re solution then offered by Dolph that the
names of Allen and Kyle be recorded, said
there was no power 10 record the Senators
at present under the rules.
Hill of New York said there was no rea-
son why. in the absence of rules, the pre-
siding officer should not tell the truth and
make the journal refuse to tell lies. The
presiding officer had the right to exercise
his senses, and when member sat right
in front of him and did not vote. to have
the journal show the fact Of his presence.
The Senate was clinging to past tradi-
tions and there was no sensein It, The duty
of Senator is more than merely remain
ing in his seat. 1t was his duty to take
part in the business. To hold that the only
way to ascertain the presence of a Senator
was response to the rOllcall involved an
absurdty.
The Vice-President ruled that there was
nothing in order except matters pertaining
to the approval OF the journal.
Dolph moved that the name of Allen be
entered In connection with the rollcall at
80 o'clock last evening. He chose this
name, as Aliens name appeared at that
time as having taken part in the colloquy.
Morgan O) of Alabama said he was not
surprised that the Senator from New
York (HilD cbampioned the rulings of the
Speaker of the House, because he was the
unfortunate instrument, when he presided
over the Senate of New York. in the intro
duction Of that heresy. not only into the
Democratic party and traditions, but also
into tho constitutional rights Of legislative
bodies. Morgan went on to speak of the
"allance and coalition" between certain
d emocratic Senators and certain Republi-
can Senators as certain to disrupt the
Democratic party. and he asked whether
his Democratic colleagues were willing to
strike that fatal blow. The coalition In
- I>o1 faI IN 6nfo -
the national banks, and for the purpose Of
destroying silver money.
Morgan in the course of his speech said
that he proposed to offer an amendment
to the bill to strike out all after the enact
Ing clause. and insert q section repeating
the whole and not part of the Sherman
law.
Washburn asked Morgan what he mean /
by coalition.
II mean an agreement" said Morgan,
''between Democrats and Republicans
who favor the pending bill that it shall
not be amended in any particular what.
ever"
81 desire to state that there Is no coali-
tion of any description" said Washburn.
Morgan proceeded to argue against the
position taken by Hill. which brought that
Senator to his feet.
''I claim first" said Hill. "that 1t is
within the power OF the presiding officer
to determine the presence of quorum.
My second proposition is that there is no
rule of the Senate which expressly or even
implicitly forbids that action"
On the question of cloture Morgan de-
fed the Senators to establish such rule.
IF / must die here" Morgan said in clos
ing, II will die like an honorable man at
my post"
Gray took issue with Hill and he read a
portion of the rules to show that the pre-
siding officer could not act In accordance
with Hilfs suggestion.
Messrs. Allen and Kyle took occasion to