Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-09-21
MANY INTERRUPTIONS
Failed TO Choke OF. Sena-
tor Georges Speech.
A LIVELY HOUSE SESSION.
The Federal Election Bill Fight Goes
on With Renewed Vigor.

WAsHINGToY, Sept. 2l.-The proposition
Or such "A change OF the rules Of the senate
~ would establ Ia the principle Of closure
was not made yesterday.
Senator Platt of Connecticut, who
had given notice on Tuesday that he
would propose that change, declined to do
30, because he did not wish To stand In the
way of Mr.. George Of Mississippi, who
wished to address the senate. but said that
he would offer it at some future time.
Mr.. George argued against the repeal
bill, believing that 1t would be a leap In
the dark and AS likely to increase as to
diminish the aggregate Of the financial
troubles His speech was broken into by
three rollcals of the senate, in the last of
which Mr.. Teller made a protest against
his name being called after he had come
into the chamber, he having been absent
when 1t was first called. The vice presi-
dent informed him that his name had
been recoId dec NJ present, and that closed
the incident
Mr.. George, although he had his speech
prepared In advance, delivered II with all
the impressiveness which he generally
gives to his off-hand speeches. He did
not seem to trouble himself as to whether
senators did or did not derive any instruc-
tion from his efforts, for once. When Mr..
Call of Florida indicated an intention of
calling the notice of the presiding officer
to the fact that there were but few SEN
ators in the chamber. he was prevented
by Mr.. George himself, who told him he
was Indifferent whether senators listened
to him or not
Nevertheless, as he went along, the alb
sence Of senators became too evident, and
It required two rollcalls to get sufficient
number Of them into the chamber to COD
stitute quorum. The quorum soon
melted away again, but Mr.. George took
no heed Of the fact, and he was allowed
TO 20 on with the reading of his speech
without further interruption. Much Of it
was given to attacks upon the national
banks and dennnciation Of the circular
sent out from New York to states whose
senators were opposed to the bill, recon.
mending that pressure be applied TO
them"
An interruption, however, finally did
come. 1t was from Mr.. Quay. He said
that he noticed that while one Of the
strongest speeches was being made In the
interest Of the silver states there was not
a single senator from one Of those states
present.
THAT makes no difference to me-" Mr..
George interposed resignedly.
1T seems to me-" Mr.. Quay insisted,
shat a suggestion should he made that
there is no quorum present"
The vice president directed that the TO II
be called. But Al senators responded-two
less than quorum. Just then, however,
Mr.. Dubois Of Idaho entered the chamber,
making the number AZ Mr.. Teller also
came In and his name was called, but he
did not respond Mr.. Voorhees, then rose
and said:
"There are but two laws under the con-
stitution by which compulsion can be used
in the senate of the United States. The
one Is 70 compel the attendance of absent
senators; the other to keep order on the
floor Of the senate. / ask that the SER
geant-at-arms be directed to enforce the
attendance OF absent senator's"
Mr. Dolph suggested that the rule was
to direct the sergeant-at-arms In the first
instance to request attendance of senator's,
and that there seemed to be very great
diversity of opinion whether, II the re-
quest were not complied with, there was
power to compel attendance.
The vice president directed that the
rule be read. In the meantime, other sem
ators came into the cham ber, and asked that
their names be called, and they responded.
The number present was then announced
as AZ. Mr.. Voorhees, withdrew his motion
as to the sergeantat-arms requiring the
attendance Of senator's After further de-
bate he admitted that the senate had done
a good days work and said that he would
not ask it to sit later, that he might
ask it to sit later on Thursday. The sen
ate then adjourned.
Battle In tho House.
The federal elections repeal bill has
tA1
upon the calendar, but this action
was taken only after severe strug-
gle. the Republicans seeking every par
liamentary device to betray enmity.
But the Democrats were ready at every
But the Democrats were ready at every
point to throw the obstruction of the
track, and the way was finally cleared.
Mr.. Reed, In commenting on the vote,
said that the Republican party In the Fifty
first congress had made certain rules First
impressions were the most powerful The
Republicans today occupied an unusual
position. They stood TO win In any event
The Democratic party had either to re-
sort to everything they had or be beaten.
The Democrats had their choice between
humiliation and defeat, and they had
chosen humiliation.
They had deliberately settled themselves
Into the traces that they had affected to
despise. Now these gentlemen could look
forward to the haven of rest. Not only had
Dhey violated all the precedents Of 100
Fears, but had added new zest to the occa.
Iion by violating all principles Of parlia-
mentary law. They had announced that
committees could originate legislation.
They had destroyed the sacred right Of ap-
peal. for which the present occupant Of the
chair had argued vigorously four years
ago.
The Republicans had offered the ma
jority. in good faith, an honest system, by
which 1t could control the business of the
house without acts of violence Instead
Of that the majority wanted violence in
zach particular case What a spectacle,
the house representing the Democratic
party was going through the valley Of
humiliation.
Mr.. Catchings said that It was hardly
worth while to say any thing in vindica-
tioD OF the parliamentary rulings made
by the speaker. 1t was cruel (sarcastically)
Tor the gentleman from Maine to advise
the Democrats that they were In Q state of
humiliation. He (Mr. Catchings) had not
discovered IL himself He thought the
Democrats were getting along pretty we'll.
The trouble with the gentleman from
Maine was that he had discovered that
there were other methods than those In
vented by him and his assistants in the
Fifty-frst congress BY which the houss