Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-25
wEDYEsDAY.....OCToBER IS, 1893.
Now for Repeal.

The PresideDt's determined stand
ngainst compromise has not only killed all
thoughts Of II. but. Il seems, has taken the
wind out OF the sails of most of the sena-
tors by whose action n vote on repeal has
been prevented.
The silver Democrats yesterday inform
ed the silver Republicans that they deem-
ed it 20 be the proper course for them to
pursue 20 let the Senate come 10 a vote on
the Voorhees, bill.
This will almost surely bring the long
Jrawn.out contest 20 close within short
time. The silver Republicans have neither
the numbers nor the nerve to carry on the
battle alone. At best (or worst they
could only drive the Senate to tho adop-
ton of some sort OF closure rule. As 1t
j.. appearances indicate that vote will
he reached at an early day. and without
any change of rules. The dread OF clo-
sure-the apprehension that Mr.. Hilrs de-
wee would drive them TO a coruer-dOubt-
less Influenced some Of the silver senators
10 the conclusion winch they announced
yesterday; but it will cot be long time be-
fore the Senate Will again have to consider
amendments TO its rules. amendments
which will give assurance that that body
j. 70 be a legislating and not an obstruct-
ing body. No sooner will the Voorhees,
bill be disposed Of by the Senate than the
bill proposing to repeal the Johnnie
Davenport Federal elections-law will de-
maDd consideration. After that will come
the Democratic tariff bill. If closure be
not adopted now il may indeed be mat
Ter OF regret hereafter, when we see the
Republicans fighting like Turks against
every measure which will enable them to
defeat or delay the reform measures which
the Democrats were put into power 10
pass
With disposition to be entirely liberal
towards the Senate, we cannot but hold
that the Senate IS wrong IN allowing any,
thing in the shape of rules to prevent that
body from doing that for which 1t was
oreated-namely. to legislate. The Senate
has no raison d'etre-no reason for its ex-
istence-excopt its ability to aid the House
of Representatives in the business of pass
ing new laws and repeating old ones.
When the House of Representatives
passes bill it sends that bill to the Sem
ate In order that the latter body may pass
upon IL, and join with the House in ask
ing for it the Presidents approval. or may
disagree In opinion with the House OF
Representatives. and decline to recon-
mend the bill TO the appreciation of the
President. To make rules, therefore,
which dlvest the Senate of the power
either TO concur with or to dissent from
the action of the House of Representa-
tives, il TO reduce the Senate to the con-
dition of body inferior in power and
dignity to the House of Representatives.
The Senate is no longer coordinate
body with the lower house of Congress.
In fact. the lower house is thus by the
action Of the upper house rendered in-
ferior in dignity and power to the upper
house, which has no longer any right to
style itself the upper house Of Congress.
Again, the Federal Constitution pro-
-vides that each house may determine
sthe rules of its proceedings" As this
lprovision is embedded in the organic law,
it would seem that neither house has the
right to divest itself Of the power TO de-
termine the rules of its proceedings. If
q senator offers q motion to change or
amend tho rules of the Senate, and an
other makes the point Of order that under
existing rules that motion is net in order,
II would seem to DO entirely proper for the
ipresiding officer to hold that the point Of
border was not we'll taken, in view OF the
fact that the Senate has no power 70 make
rules that shall be binding longer than
the Senate chooses to recognize them as
binding.
In a word. as the Senate cannot make
rule binding itself for two wears. or four
years, or elk years-that is. irrepeslable
for that space of time-so II cannot make a
rule binding upon itself not to change any
rule for even twenty -four hours.
We do not know whether to congratu-
late the Senate or not upon the indica-
tons that it will be able to come TO vote
on repeal without amending its rules. A
an evidence Of harmony. or at least of
resignation on the part of the silver sena-
tors, the present prospect is gratifying.
but good opportunity to put the Senate
on working footing may thus DO lost.
Anyhow. We rejoice at the nearness OF
repeal. We would have accepted compro-
mise gladlys We shall receive repeal
more gladly. The country desires that. the
wheels OF industry and the sails of con-
merce shall be put to full use again. aud
this cannot be well done while this par
ticuhr phase OF tho currency question is
30 recklessly agitated as now. Therefore
We halt with pleasure the signs OF repeal.