Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-17
A QUORUM QUESTION
The Correctness of the Senate Jour-
nal Discussed Today.
A LIVELY AND INTERESTING DEBATE
As to Whether Senator Shall be
,Recorded Present
IF HE FAILS TO RESPON

me journal OF yesterday having been
read. objection to it was made by Mr..
Dolph (Ore.) on the ground that it did not
show the fact Chat Senators Kyle G5. d.
and Allen CNeb.)-who had not answered
to a roll call. although they were in the
chamber-should have been entered as pres
ent although he had at the time called at
tention to the fact. He spoke of the ex-
traordinary spectacle presented BY the Sen
ate. It had been In session over ten weeks,
with democratic majority and with twen-
ty-six republican Senators whowere ready to
follow the chairman of the finance COM
mittee on any course he might suggest
II Senators could talk indefinitely and could
read from books. and newspapers. without
limit; and II the Senate was not to amend
the rules. they would have to drift down
current Of endless talk without accom-
plishing anything.
The twenty-six republican Senators who
were In favor Of the bill would be willing
to vote and cooperate with the political
majority In securing some rule to limit de-
bate. He knew. and his republican COL
leagues knew. that such a rule might be
used against them In other measures that
were coming up at the present session. The
Senate was in a ridiculous attitude. A
Senator would suggest the absence Of q
quorum, and then when the roll was called
he would not answer. Then, II there was
no quorum. the chairman Of the finance
committee would rise and move that the
sergeant-at-arms be directed to request the
attendance Of those absent
And all the time there were Senators
present In the chamber who would not an
swer to their names. He was tired" Of all
this. 1t was time that the Senate showed a
little backbone. II Senator refused to
vote. he should be dealt with. II a Senator
the duty Of the chair to order his name to
be put on the journal II the chair did not
Senate
Mr Harris CTenn) suggested. sarc.sttcaI.
iy, that If the Senator from Oregon was
tired, the best remedy for him was to sit
down and rest. 1t would be a relief to him
ana rest to the Senate Qaughter). He
argued that the journal was correct
Mr.. Dolph retorted by saying that he
had often wondered what the Senate and
the country would do II the Senator, from
ne tennessee, who was supposed to ernbody
all parliamentary knowledge, should die
Oh" said Mr.. Harris. that viii depend
survive" '
Mr. Butler Is. c. taunted Mr.. Dolph with
not having shown backbone when he had
got TO deal, a couple Of years ago, with the
newspaper correspondents on the question
OF executive sessions. He contended that
there was no authority in the presidjne .
officer to do what the Senator from Oreann
wanted him to do. The session would be
very much prolonged If the Senator from
oregon would attempt to apply the lash
and arbitrary rule
He would find resistance in a quarter
where he least expected it.
Mr. Faulkner Va.), who was In the chair
,ast evening when the question was raised
by Mr.. Dolph. defended his ruling. and con-
tended that the journal was absolutely cor
rect. There was no power in the presiding
OFFICER to count Senator as present who
refused to answer to his name
Mr.. Hoar CMass) said that the journal
was accurate in form and substance He
believed that the Senate and the country
would see. in the end. that 1t was not pos
slble for body Of eighty-eight men. eighty
eight political leaders, eighty EIGHT men
sharing. and. to some extent, creating the
earnest political feeling which precedes all
great political questions. to continue much
longer under the system OF rules which were
framed for body Of twenty-six.
Mr.. Morgan Has the Floor.
AS the question presented by Mr.. Dolph
as to the correctioness Of the Journal is
what is known as a question Of privilege. it
was not set aside at O'clock when the
hour for morning business ends. and when,
under other circumstances. the repeal bill
would have been laid before the Senate
The discussion went on beyond that hour,
and 1t is still far from a close as Mr.
Morgan (Ala) has the floor and has had 1t
for the last hour. He dealt some hard
blows at Mr.. Hill Of New York, because of
Mr.. Hills advocacy of the right to have
entered on the journal the names Of Sem
ators present and not responding. That
"heresy' Mr.. Morgan said had been intro
duced when Mr.. Hill was president Of the
New York Senate. He had also sharp tits
with Mr.. Washburn tMinn) and Mr.. Gray
Oel). The coalition between republican
and democratic Senators on the silver bill
was similar, he said to the coalition on the
Malone and Riddleberger controversy. Mr..
Washburn denied that there was any Goa
lition and was told by Mr.. Morgan that he
had not had him in his mind at all, not re-
garding him as one Of the republican lead
ers. He announced his Intention Of MAX
ing a crucial test on an amendment to re-
peal the whole mot a parO of the Sherman
act. In a stage whisper Mr.. Hoar remarked
that that would be good compromise, and
Mr.. Cullom asked Mr.. Morgan whether he
would vote for it himself. He said he
would.