Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-10-04
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 4, 1898.
SENATE.

As there were but seven Senators
present in the chamber this morning
when prayer was said, Mr.. Stewart
thought that the reading of yesterdays
journal should have larger audience.
He therefore called attention to the
fact that there was no quorum present.
The roll was called and forty-three
Senators-just a quorum-responded.
The journal was then read and the
incoming business was proceeded with.
Mr.. Morgan reported back iIom the
committee on foreign relations, with
out recommendation, the bill referred
to it making appropriations to enforce
the Chinese exclusion act.
Mr.. Dolph, who had introduced the
bill and who is also member of the
committee on foreign relations, said
that the report was not unanimous. He
himself was in favor of making favor
able report.
The report was referred to the COM
mittee on appropriations.
Mr.. PETER offered a resolution, which
went over till tomorrow, for the ap-
pointment Of select committee Of
three Senators to consider and report
whether any aud what legislation is
necessary to improve the banking sys-
tenn of the country to the end that
greater steadiness may be maintained
in currency circulation, that there may
be less interruption in business ex-
changes, that depositors may be better
secured against loss, and that the saw
ings of the people may be safely kept.
Mr. Morgan offered resolution in
structing the judiciary committee to
inquire and report what provisions OF
the act of January. 1887 (the free coin
age acD are now in force, aud to re-
port by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Allison took exception to the
last clause of the resolution as
transferring the financial question 10 the
judiciary committee.
Mr.. Morgan suggested that the ju-
dietary committee might report that
bill for the revival ofthe act Of 1887 was
necessary, or that au amendment Of
that act was necessary, or that
the act was now in force and
had been neglected aud over
slaughed by the officers of the United
States government, and been allowed
to tall into "innocuous desuitude." AT:
ter some further discussion, the resolu-
ton went over till tomorrow.
The silver purchase repeal bill was
taken at 1880 o'clock and Mr.. Butler
addressed the Senate in opposition.
He began by criticising some of Mr..
Pllmer's statements last evening-par
ticularly the insisting that the Senate
should be put in position to govern
itself. He would say TO that Senator
that the minority was not attempting
to coerce anybody, but he thought he
might safely say that the minority did
not intend to be coerced by anybody.
The Senate was not town meeting.
1t was great deliberative body, in
tended to put veto upon hasty, un-
wise and improper legislation. The
Senator from Indiana, (Mr. Turpie) had
spoken of the Senate as being the
refuge of minorities. In his (Mr. But
ler's) judgment, it was the last
refuge of minorities in this coun-
try. This was not govern
mant of majorities-unrestrained ma
jorities. 1t was a government of writ
ten law, to which the majority in the
Senate was as amenable as The minority
was to which the President Of the
United States was as amenable as the
hamblest citizen Of the republic. 1t
had been asked: "Whst was to be
done?" His reply was Compromise;
compromise is the solution" 1t had
been said that the President of the
United States was interfering with leg
isl4tion and that whenever compro-
mise was spoken of, the statement was
mlde that the President would not ac-
cept compromise. Whoever states
that" said Mr.. Butler, emphatically,
"does that high official great Injustice
because it is none of his business what
the Senate does. do not believe that
he has attempted to use his high office
to ipf1uence the Senate improperly"
Mr.. Butler yielded the floor without
finishing his speech, and then Mr..
Blackburn took the floor aud made an
argument against the repeal bill. He
had voted. he said, against the Sher-
man act, but bad as that measure was,
unfair, uncandid as be believed it to be,
still he did not believe that it was the
cause OF the country's financial woes, or
that It's repeal would prove a panacea
for them. He would not, therefore,