New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-21
PRICE THREE CENTS.
VAIN ATTEMPT AT COERCION.
A BAD DAY FOR REPEAL.
Mr.. VOORHEES, FOUND HIMSELF A LEADER
WITHOUT FOLLOWERS.

HAUsTIoN HAD FLAW IN 1.-THE ADMIN.
IsTRATIoN GENERAL IN THE SENATE
HOPES TO HAVE BETTER LUCK
TO-DAY.
Washington, Sept. 20.-Mr Voorhees, first at
tempt to apply "coercive measures to stop
debate in the Senate made this afternoon,
and like every previous manoeuvre OF this luck
less parliamentary leader, turned out TO be any
thing hut decided SUCCESS. According to the
programme announced yesterday by the respon.
sibe leader of the responsible majority. from TO-
day discussion Of the Repeal bill was to be dealt
with as purely datory,' and the process OF
pumping dry the stock of oraory on the anti
repeal side to be inaugurated by gradual
extension of the length of the Scnate's sessions.
This promising theory of closure by physical ex-
hauston was found, however, at the very outset,
much more difficult of application than the
chairman Of the Finance Committee had lightly
fancied. With a purely nominal and daily
weakening control the repeal forces, Mr..
Voorhees, discovered to-day the first test OF
his new programme that he leader with
out followers, and his much-boasted policy OF
coercion little more than laughing stock to
the opposition.
1t was indeed due simply to the good nature Of
the anti-repeal leaders, to whose courtesy the In
diana statesman was obliged TO appeal that the
Senate did not emphasize the absolute failure OF
his "coercive" generalship by adjournng an hour
earlier rather than two hours later than usual
The anti-repea leaders were by o'clock in undis-
puted control Of the situation. without their
votes quorum could be maintained, and on the
test of motion for an adjournment or an eXecu-
tive session they would undoubtedly have beaten
the repeal forces. OF the 40 members of the
Senate counted supporters of the Voorhees, bill,
not more than "a or 25 were present at that
juncture. Mr.. German was conspicuous by his
absence. SO were Mr.. Turpie, Mr.. Voorhees's col
league; Mr. White, of louisiana and Mr. Ransom.
Either no concerted action had been taken to hold
the friends of repeal together, or Mr. German and
his associates had again deserted the nominal leader
of the Administration column.
VOTE WOULD MEAN SURRENDER.
If the test vote had been taken, Mr.. Voorhees,,
stripped of the support of half his following,
would have been Obliged to capitulate in the
first stage of his exhaustion process" Tie anti
repeal men did not push tleir advantage how
ever, being content to allow Mr.. Voorhees, publicly
to stultify all his contentious about the dilatory
character of the debate by putting in a repeal
speaker Mr.. Gray, to stretch the time little
further before an adjournment would become nee
essary.
The device of "cXhausing' professedly dilatory
debate by employing n friend of repeal TO contrib
ute his cloquence TO keep the senate in session
may seem paradoAical To any ordinary observer,
but Mr. Voorhees, was delighted to embrace it 40
the only way out of humiliating situation. Un-
| able to make the anti-repeal Senators 20 on, he
was willing TO have anybody go on; simply to
keep the Senate occupied and thus save appear
ances with the President and the country Per-
haps 10 suppress further hlibusterlng discussion
and secure vote, lie will himself talk few days
out presently. as an earnest of his belief in the
necessity OF suppressng debate. ard an example of
the most direct means Of accomplishing it.
BAD SHOWING FOR REPEAL.
The repeal cause, indeed, made a worse show.
ing to-day than II has at any time since the begin
ming of the present session. Although Mr. voorhees,
had given due warning Of his intention to "eN-
haust debate" this afternoon, he had at no time
within twenty Of quorum of repeal Senators
present, ard of the total attendance it is more
than doubtful whether he had at any time a
clear majority. Senator George was to begin
an elaborate speech, and the physical endurance
wds to he applied 10 the Mississippi Senator's
very robust and ample oratory Mr. George
started shortly after IL o'clock and talked
until 4, when hc grew weary and desired TO stop.
Here was Mr. Voorhees, chance to work the
| lung and throat exhaustion method of closure.
! Unfortunately Il call of the Senate Just before
o'clock had shown only forty-three Senator's
present about twenty-three repeal and twenty
| anti-repcal. The exhaustion method could not
! be worked, for all busD.sS came to standstil
while Mr.. George rested and the Sergeant-at-
Arms sent out to bring in absentces.
-Four or five more Senators, some repeal and
some anti-repeal, came in in the next five
minutes, and quorum was obtained. Mr..
Voorhees, and his exhaustion policy were left,
however, completely at tne mercy of the antl-
repeal Senators, who, by simply not answering
to their names on the point raised of no quorum,
could at any time force an adjournment
executive session. Mr.. George pleaded weari-
ness, and said he would yield the floor and 10
On with the rest Of his speech tomorrow.
A SUDDEN REVERSAL
Mr.. Voorhees, accepted this arrangement Ct
necessity. Then, after some parliamentary sparring,
Mr.. Butler moved for executive session, and the
coercion" programme the point of being
dropped, the IL o'clock session resolution had
previously been, into innocuous desuetude. Mr..
Voorhees, in despair, but he took his knock:
out with the best grace he could. As an act OF
courtesy to him he mplored the South Carolin"
Senator TO withdraw the motion Tor executive
session, and allow Mr. Cray, of Delaware, To pro-
long the debate, which had IN twlnkllng lost
in his and Mr. Voorhees, eyes its dilatory and
obnoxious character, ana DecI Udll>lori"u INTO d
serious and cOmmendahle public discussion.
The anti-repeal Senator'S who were ready to
resist the application of the exhaustion process to
one of their own number, were not lndisposed 10
see Mr. Voorhees, try IT on known friend of ~.
| peal who besides by occupying time, after all
further debate had been declared "dilatory,' only
put another weapon for delay in the hands Of the
opposition So without further friction Mr. Gray
talked the session out, closing his remarks about
o'clock. -,
Tomorrow. Mr. voorhees, announces, he will
try TO have a still longer session and work his
"exhaustion process" with better effect. But un:
los, he can ret a much fuller attendance OF -epeal
senators the only outcome of the attempt will he
TO "eNhaust repeal, instead of anti;repeal, ora
even further away. Mr.. Teller gave fair warning
a. H., th,t tho silvar Senators will not hesitate