New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-01
A STRANGE SITU4TION.

Senator Voorhees, has tried in vain to bring
his majority in the Senate to fix an END OF
debate on the silver question. Meanwhile, AT
the hehest of the Southern masters OF the DEM
ocratc party, the majority in the House has
decided to force through with indecent haste
the repeal of the election law Behind both
these measures comes the repeal OF the pro-
tectiye tariff. the pretended hearings, in which
American manufacturers have been constantly
insulted by representatives. of the majority,
having ended In order that the way may be
cleared for these two partisan measures, non
partisan Republican Senators are expected 10
assist the Democratic minority by sitting up
several nights in succession.
1t is best that the condition should be eX-
actly understood by the people. Absolutely
nothing can be done in the Senate, except by
unanimous consent, when there is not ma
iority present and voting. Estimates OF the vote
fer silver repeal vary widely, but nobody has
ventured to predict that even majority OF inc
Democratic Senators will vote for it. Should
much more than a majority so vote they would
still be pOwerless to terminate debate, because
there would not be a quorum OF the senate,
without the support of Republicans one or
t,vo silver Senators on duty at a time would
be enough to occupy the floor, and to call at
tention at any moment to the absence oi a
ouorum. Unless the Republicans choose to SIT
as long as anybody wishes to talk, the senate
will be left without quorum ana poweriess
70 do business. dozen silver senators ON!
two being required on the floor at time, can
Tins keen ND the farce Of debate indefinitely
because the rules of the Senate have not Dceh
so amended as to permit majority 70 coh'rol
business THE TRIE'NE and many Repub-
lcor Senators most earnestly urged that reform
in the methods Of the Senate when Demo
cratic minority with few Republicans blocked
the passage of the Elections bill. The rnles
mon which the Democrats then lnsisteu no"
make il impossible to act without all-nl9ht
assistance of Republicans
If the Democrats who profess TO believe the
Rope,l bill absolutely necessary to public wei
fara were sincere and in earnest, theyevouid
NOT hesitate 10 agree that a purely partisan
measure like the Elections bill should be de-
seated bv their aid. No matter how much they
may desire that measure for partisan reasons
they know that it is in no sense neediui 70
nuLIic nrospcrit,.. nor calculated to improve
business 1t would be poor compliment u
them to say that tntH ucIipcid''i' P''''' :"
Democratic partisan measure to one upon
which. they assert the whole commerce and
industries of the people depend. If they do not
believe what they assert, if they are perfectly
aware. as Republicans are, that the silver re-
neal. however desirable, cannot restore pros
neritv until their tariff revolution is ont OF the
way. then they may naturally, though not
Justly. insist upon securing partisan advan-
tage by wiping out the election laws while
they can. The Democrats who talk most zeal
ously for silver repeal make no suggestions
They do not show by their action that they
regard that measure more important than the
portisan advantage which the Elections bill
offers. Their conduct thus far lustiiies the
immersion that they mean to use the Re
pubcan minority as far as they can, and
then intend to override it with partisan
measures like the Elections bill and the Tariff
bill.
Thus the situation tests the sincerity OF the
Administration Democrats. They can easily
make it clear that they believe what they say
and that they prefer public prosperity to par
tisan advantage, if they choose.