Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-10-12
FIFTY-THlRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Oct. u, 1898.
SENATE.


ed for a quorum, and is Senators
appeared. At 7:l5 Mr.. Shoup, republi-
can, of Idaho, called for quorum, and
10 Senators answered to their names.
This was less than quorum, although
three more responded in few mo-
ments. This is regarded as a quorum,
but Mr.. Wolcott raised the point that
IS Senators were necessary to constl-
tute quorum. A quorum appearing
Mr.. Allen continued his speech which
he concluded o'clock.
Mr.. VOORHEES, moved to lay the PEI
fer amendment on the table.
Mr.. Wolcott suggested that there
was no quorum present, but As senat-
ors were found to be in the hall.
The vote on Mr.. Voorhees, motion
resulted: Yeas %, nays 12-no quo
rum.
A call of the Senate was ordered and
Is Senators answered ''here." Mr..
Villas several times called attention to
the fact the Senator from Idaho Mr..
Dubois) was present aud in his seat but
declined to vote.
After some discussion on the point of
requiring Mr.. Dubois to vote or to as
sign his reason for declining to vote,
the Vice President caused the rule on
the subject to be read, and then order
ed the clerk to call the name of the
Senator from Idaho. Mr.. Dubois
name was called, but he made no an
swer. Then the Vice President said he
would hear any excuse which he de-
sired 10 make. The principal reason
assigned by Mr.. Dubois was thai mo-
ton to lay on the table a most import
ant amendment had been made, thus
cutting of debate on it, and the Senator
who had offered the amendment, Mr..
PETER, had asked the courtesy of the
Senate to address it for few minutes
and had been refused. This Mr.. Du-
bois thought a sufficient excuse.
The Vice President submitted the
question to the Senate whether Dubois
should be excused, and it was decided
in the negative, yeas 81 nays %.
Mr.. Dubois name was again called,
/
and he still remained silent.
Mr.. Henderson, began to argue the
parliamentary question as to the i'm
possibility of compelling senator to
vote. How he asked, would his mouth
be opened if he saw fit to stand mute !?
He was interrupted by the point of
order made by Mr.. Aldrich, that no
debate was in order pending motion
to lay on the table. The point was
sustained by the Eice-President, who
added that the recording of the facts of
the journal ended the entire proceed
ing, as to the senator refusing to vote.
The vote on laying the PETER amend
ment on the table was then announced
as: Yeas So nays II. So it was laid
on the table.
The amendment thus defeated was q
complete free coinage act in itself. 1t
was intended to supplement the repeal
paragraph of the Voorhees, bill. The
amendment prescribed the proper
lions and weight of the gold and silver
coins to be coined hereafter and the ma
ture of the alloy, and provided the ne
cessary machinery for the execution of
its purpose, namely: Free coinage Of
both gold and silver.
The vote having been announced,
Mr.. VOORHEES, remarked that the only
other amendment pending to the House
bill was the amendment reported from
the finance committee.
"What has become of all the other
amendments that have been offered 2"
Mr.. Butler inquired.
"There have been none others offer
ed" Mr.. Voorhees, replied.
"There have been notices of amend
ments given"
Mr.. Martin, democrat, of Kansas,
then addressed the Senate.
While Mr.. Martin was talking anoth-
er suggestion of the absence of quo
rum was made TAT 1920 and the roll
having been called, only IS Senators
responded.
Mr.. Stewart read to the Senate a
threatening letter which he had just re-
ceived. 1t was dated Baltimore, Octo-
Der II, and addressed him as MY dear
sir. 1t says:
"You are now warned not to put
your foot on the toilers neck, although
you have him down; for there might
be something to drop between your
feet (here there is a rude figure of
an exploding bomb that will surely ex-
plode. Take warning. By one who
knows. Mr.. Joseph 5. Blackburn
will also take warning. P. S.-This is
no anarchist talk. 1 am an American
born.n
Mr.. Hoar suggested, in all courtesy,
that the reading of such letters in the
Senate could do no good. He had