The Indianapolis journal., 1893-10-13

How the Senators Passed the Hours
Aliens Long Speech.

Aliens Long speech.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.-All night long
Senator Allen held the floor, interrupted by
an occasional ill-tempered colloquy or roll
call which dragged the sleepy Senators to
their posts. At a. m, when the first
streaks Of the dawn's early light kissed the
folds of the stars and stripes which fly
above the Senate while that body is in
session, Mr.. Allen was still holding the
fort in the great struggle against uncondi-
tional repeal, as he had been when darkness
fell from the wings of night twelve hours
before. He had broken all previous records.
For twelve hours and forty-five minutes
he had held the floor continuously. The
longest time a Senator had previously oc-
cupied the floor was on the occasion of
the force-bill fight in 1891, when Senator
Faulkner remained on guard for twelve
hours. The West Virginian, however, had
a two hours breathing spell during the alb
sence of quorum. Mr.. Allen seemed
almost as fresh as when he began His
voice was still loud and strong, and the
great strain seemed not to have effected
his physical or mental vigor The floor
about him was strewn and Uttered with
paper. A few belated spectators in the
galleries dozed. Senator Voorhees, sat in his
seat reading. Senator Mitchell was writing
industriously at his desk Senator Dubois.
alert and very much awake, occupied the
sentinel tower for the silverites, while. to
the right and left of him, Mr. Caffrey and
General Hawley were fast asleep in their
chairs. In the, rear of the chamber SEN
ators Quay, Higgins, Lindsay and Lodge
were stretched out on the lounges Sud-
denly Mr.. Turpie came into the chamber.
ana ana sought @ To- to make the point of order
rules OF the Senate, In reading a newspaper
extract which reflected on the House of
Representatives. This aroused some of his
sleeping colleagues, but Mr.. Blackburn.
who was in the chair, promptly overruled
the point Of order. The Senators sank
5 PACK again to repose, and Mr.. Allen pro-
At $50 a. m. Mr.. Wolcott rounded up the
Senate sen M again, again, forty-eight members answer
that had Illuminated the ehsmbeT nliSM NVgee Viee
president Stevenson had returned to the
chair refreshed by his long rest the Sene
tors read the morning papers. chatted
with fair degree of sprightiiness and the
senate senate Sse seemed once more thoroughly
Martin, who to follow Mr. Allen re-
mained where they had been placed twelve
hours before dropping. it is true. but adj
ding a tone of freshness to the reanimaaed
chamber. One lady, who had sat through
out the night in the gallery was rein
break. - at uas
The silver men were not as severe on
thought hay
would be, for IL was believed and expected
mat the silver men would insist that the
advocates of repeal should continuously
maintaln man "a q quorum within the Senate
every roll call the quorum immedia telv
disappeared, and often an hour elapsed be-
Senators in the chamber was made Thus
they were enabled to catch considerable
sleep during the night, An effort was
agreement to take a recess from that
hour until 10 O'Clock. The proposition was
MADE to the silver men, who took it under
advlsement, and finally decided to reject II
They said that as the repeal Senator'S had
forced the continuous session, they would
be obliged to suffer the consequences. and
the silver men would not aid in any ef-
4 fort to take a recess adjourn until some
settlement of the question was reached.
INTERRUPTED BY PALMER.
Senator Aliens powers of endurance
were amazing. His wonderful staying quail
tiles made every one who watched him 90
on for hour after hour tireless and un-
daunted, admire his abilities and his in
domitable energies. About O'Clock Mr..
Palmer interrupted him, while speaking OF
| the poverty and distress of the people, to
remark, rather sneeringly, that the Me-
braskan seemed able to give only words:
| he wanted to give them actual relief. Mr.
Allen turned savagely upon Mr.. Palmer
| of his means, given until he had kept him
| self poor, and he did not want to be chided
! on that score. The alteration that ensued
| led Mr.. Palmer, at one point, to say that
| he would give 800 to some charity, where
upon Mr.. Allen declared that, although
| Mr.. Palmer was four times wealthy as
| he, he (AIr. Alien) would give a like
amount.
| Fifteen minutes later MIR. Shoup made the
! point of mo quorum" Only forty Senators
appeared--three short of a quorum The
quorum had broken down for the first
time. On motion of Mr.. Faulkner Ser.
! geant-at-arms Bright was directed TO brine
/ In absentees. Within two minutes three
1 more Senator'S had come in and answered
| TO their names. The Vice President an.
nounced that quorum was present Mr.
| Wolcott suddenly sprang 10 his feet and
| made the point that quorum was not >
| majority of, the members chosen TO ths
| Senate, but a majority of the number en-,
| titled 10 be chosen. He asked the r1,linp
| of the Chair. The Vice President ruled tS
| the effect that a majority OF Senators
| chosen and sworn shall constitute quorum
| Mr.. Manderson explained that the Consti
| tuition required a majority of all the Sen.
| ators entitled TO be elected, and that thi,
| rule obtained in the other house The
| present rule was adopted under the stres.
| OF circumstances, In 1884, when the thirteeT
! Southern States were unrepresented. II,
| contended that now, however, the necessit,
for that rule was In contradiction OF the Con
stitution. Mr.. Palmer. Mr.. Mcpherson anC
| AIR. Hale contended that forty-three wa: