St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-04

MT. Palmer (Dem., lll.) then adj
dressed the senate. Congress had been
IN session eight weeks, he said, and it
had became very interesting inquiry
whether the senate would at any time
dispose of the question now before it.
There was great anxiety in the country
that the debate should end some time
and that the senate should dispose Of
the important legislation before it.
A careful examination of the
rules of the senate failed
to disclose any means by which the SEM
ate could govern itself. And, on the
other hand, there was an intimation
from the opponents of repeal that they
would like to see somebody test the
question of the rights which they claim,
Such contest he did not contemplate
with pleasure. A contest with physicaT
endurance made no allowance for age
or helplessness. In such a contest,
When his ancient friend from Vermont
(Mr. MorrilD and himself, almost as
ancient. encountered the juvenile sem
ator from Nevada Stewart, Mr.. Palmer
hoped they would be allowed to hire
champions to sit in their seats and
starve in their stead. [Laughter.l Mr..
Palmer said he could see no end to the
discussion, and knew of no method by
which it could be terminated. 1.-The
senate ought to act and it ought to
VOTE" said Mr.. Palmer, and then he
proceeded with an argument in favor
of repeal. He believed that if the drain
on the treasury continued it would be,
necessary to authorize the secretary Of
the treasury to sell bonds in order to-
secure gold. In the course of Mr.. Palm
er's speech a discussion occurred be-
tween Mr.. Gray. Mr.. Stewart. Mr.. Allen
and several others as to whether the
fall in the price OF wheat and cottoni
was due to the fall in the price of sill
yer, Mr.. Gray taking the negative view.l
After the discussion had proceeded
some time Mr.. Chandler (Rep., N. H.)f
asked Mr.. Palmer to state his position.
Il must confess | have entirely for
gotten the point" replied Mr.. Palmer,
amid much laughter.
About dozen senators participated
in the discussion, and NJ. Dolph sug-l
gested that the best way to secure fair
play was for senators to form ring,
which recalled to Mr.. Palmer's mind
the story of the boy and the dog. The
farmer had put on cowhide and thei
boy had set the dog on him. When the
farmer shouted to him to call the dog
off, the boy answered: ION. no. pap;
it may be rough on you, but it'll be the |
maxim of the pup" Laughter.
Mr.. Palmer believed that the fire g
coinage of silver would drive out gold, |
and instead of having both metals the
Uniled States would have but the one.i
The proper thing was to repeal the /
Sherman law on public grounds, and /
why should the senate not be allowed 4
toact? If the senate had no power to .
govern itself, no power to register its /
decision when it had reached a conclu-
sion; if it were mere impotent body.
and nothing could be done but talk and
talk forever, it was an abortion. 1.-The /
time will come" declared Mr.. Palmer,
"when the country will insist that the
senate shall, in the interests of law and
right, and the exercise of its great
power, declare in some way or another
thatlt will govern itself; that when the
Judgment of the majority is matured,
that majority shall be permitted to reg
lister its determination. AS it is, it has
not the power to make law except by
the consent of the minority"
Mr.. Teller rep. COLI inquired
whether the senate had not been able ia
make all necessary laws up to the press
ent time.
Mr.. Palmer thought perhaps it had,
but he confessed standing in the press
nf = Fl...r
lShed to find that it was impOtent.
''It has no power to act; it cannot
speak-oh, pardon me, it can speak,"
Laughter.
Mr.. Dubois (Rep., Idaho thought that
whenever there was a strong sentiment
in the country in favor of any measura
the senate would respond, but the sem
ator from Illinois knew as we'll as he
did that the senate did not want to pass
the unconditional repeal bill.
There is no sentiment in favor of it."
said Mr.. Dubois. II honestly believe
thre are not ten senators here who are
anXlously desirous of passing the un-
conditional repeal bill. Ii there were a
strong sentiment here they would pass
1t. There is manufactured sentiment
on the outside, but it does not exist
here"
IF the senator from Idaho and those
whom lie represents" said Mr.. Voor-
heeS, earnestly, will give US a chance
to vote, we will answer the question
whether there are ten, or four or five
times ten senators who will vote for the
unconditional repeal of the Sherman
act"
Il will say to the senator from In
diana," replied Mr.. Dubois, defiantIv,t
that you have the power 10 resort toi
any end you see fit, but the minute you
undertake 10 resort to unusual methods
1t Will be demonstrated how futile it is
to endeavOr to pass the unconditional
repeal BILL"
Il only wish had the power to resort
to measures to compel VOTE" said Mr.
Voorhees,.
Mr. Palmer said if the people of Illf-
nols had been as wise as those of Idaho.
instead OF electing man pretty Welt
worn out, they would have chosen some
vigorous. athletic young man who would
starve the senator from Idaho to death.
Laughter.
Mr. Palmer regarded the declaration
OF MI. Dubois as an appeal to the bar
Darlsm OF the senate. rs it true, as a
matter of constitutional law," Mr.. Palm
er asked, 'or is 1t consistent with the,
nature OF this body, that the only ultiS
mate means of securing a vote is that
we shall quietly announce that we are
engaged i'll the great business of sitting
each other out. Are we to have beds
and food brought in. with an occasional
bit OF refresIment of some other name
and character. Laughter Is that to
be the termination Of great intellectual
struggle?''
we do not desire it," said Mr.. Teller.
ut is the same old thing" continued
Mr.. Palmer. UNLESS you are better
man than l am you cannot do it.
Laughter My friend from Idaho (Du-
bois) | knew before he was born. The
idea of sending me here now to compete
with hlm in test of physical endur-
anee!"
Seriously" continued Mr.. Palmer,
lit is very serious thing. and protest
(not that the senators shall yield any of
their rights that the time will come,
and is very near, when the sensible men