The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-18
argue against the position taken by Mr..


ceedings, / claim first that II Is WITHIN
the power Of the presiding officer dn the
absence OF express rules TO the contrary
20 determine the presence Of a quorum
my second proposition Is that there Is
no rule OF the Senate which expressly,
or even impliedly. forbids that action
Mr.. Mcpherson asked Mr.. Hill whether
he made any distinction between the
power and duty Of the Nice-President
In the chair. as compared with senator
temporarily called TO the chair.
Senator H,i 20 Mr. Morgan.
Mr. Hill do not"
Mr.. Hill proceeded 10 pay his respects
TO Mr.. Morgan, as having spoken con-
temptuousy Of the politicians Of New
York. He admitted that there were poll
ticians there; but they were politicians
IN the highest and best sense of the term
OF course Ironically there were no poll
tlcians In Alabama They were all states
men down in that country. Qaughter)
IL did not lie In the mouth OF that sena-
tor to reflect on the Democratic party
OF the great Empire State. Elections
there were as honest as elections In Ala
bama. The senator CMorgan) had spoken
OF his lifelong devotion 10 the Constitu-
tion. II might be So He C1ilD had sup
posed that for a brief period his friend
had been supporting another constitution,
but he might be mistaken. daughter and
applause)
"A 10 Mr.. Morgans talk about dying at
his post, Mr.. Hill had heard like state
ments by men who were going 10 "die I'm
the last ditch" but" said Mr.. Hill,
there are many OF them left" (Renewed
laughter)
In com ection with a remark which Mr..
Morgan had made disrespectful 20
decision o. the Supreme Court in a case
involving the counting Of a quorum by
the Speaker of the House Of Representa-
tives, he related the anecdote of a law
yer pleading before a country justice and
reading a page out Of Blackstone not for
the purpose. he said, OF convincing the
justice, but for the purpose OF showing
what a fool Blackstone was" Oaughter)
He (HilD had cited the decision OF the
Supreme Court, not 10 show that Mr..
Morgan was wrong (for that Senator was
always right but to show what a fool
the Supreme Court had made Of itself"
Qaughter)
Mr.. sherman Has the floor.
Mr.. Sherman expressed the hope that
a vote would now be taken on the ques-
ton before the Senate, but, as Mr.. Dolph
demanded the yeas and nays and Mr..
the table, Mr.. Sherman passed beyond,
and addressed the Senate. He did not
intend 20 debate the question Of the ap-
proyal Of the Journal, as It had been
sufficiently debated. While he concurred
entirely with the senator from Oregon,
he had no doubt that the Journal was coz
rectly made up. The rules Of the Senate,
he weIt on 20 say, were made TO expe-
dite public business In an orderly proper
manner. There was no doubt OF the right
and the necessity for every legislative
body 10 have exclusive power over it's
procedure. The rules Of the Senate ought
all 10 aim for that purpose and no other.
At the same time while that was the
primary object Of all rules, It was equal
~ important to give 10 the minority full
and fair opportunity OF debate. The right
to debate a question broadly had been
recognized by the Senate since the be-
ginning Of the government But, while
the rules OF the body were intended TO
expedite legislation, they were used as an
obstruction by the minority IN order to
defeat the Will Of the majority. The rules
therefore should be at once changed cor
rected and altered. Whenever minority
pressed its means Of obstruction unduly,
10 acted In the nature Of a revolution: Il
sought 10 break down the rules Of the
Senate and TO use them as a means to
deprive the Senate Of it's power to make
laws for the people Of the United States.
He knew that the recent obstruction,
made during this heated contest had gone
beyond anything he had seen i'm his ex-
perience as a member Of the Senate. He
had seen methods resOrted 20 on the
present occasion which had never been
resorted to since he had been a member
Of the Senate or (as he believed since
the government was framed.
There was no legislative body IN the
world that had not some power to con-
troll debate some clOture rule or some
means by which the majority could pass
laws. If there was, he would like 10
know Il. The Senate, therefore, would
have to follow the example Of other
legislative bodies. IL would have to fol-
low the example recently set by the
House Of Commons, in England and
by the House Of Representatives in the
United States, and which prevailed I'm
France, and all countries having an or
ganized legislature.
Mr.. sherman called attention 20 the
important legislation which had to be
disposed of.
The Senate, he said. had been I'm ses-
sion over three months and not q sim
gle measure OF Importance had been pass
ed. The House Of Representatives had
performed its duty; but the Senate was
staggering along u-atle 70 have a SIM
gle vote on any important question.
The senate WI be MarL,d d.
"If this continues" Mr.. Sherman
added. "the Senate will be marked
bodv. IL wu no longer command the
respect Of an intelligent and active
people. We arc men Of action IN the
United states, ana the Senate ought
not 10 be a great log that weighs down
and obstructs legi Station. We must,
therefore. resort to some way by which
the power OF the majority may be eXer-
cised. The responsibility rests upon the
other side of the chamber. They say
they cannot agree. They must agree, or
else surrender their political power
Mr.. sherman delivered these sentences
with great force and animation. II IN
Senate Of the United States as u is
nov organized, cannot make laws without
this prolonged debate; II IL is unable 10
NEE. together and formulate some pro-
posltlon. the people Of the United states
wul take the Senate at its WORTH no
dorbt about that j have sat mere ihol'
Than a month without opening my NOUN
tr,ing 10 hear from the other side Whal
tbo neonle have hOnOred with a majority
in tbe bodv The President OF the uhlled
states has expressed his opinion
ON this side have not oDslIuc'eu
oninion OF the President We 90 Hol
Ueve IN him. We do not beHeFe in ~
nolicv. we are under no ooIlsa'lo, -
him And yet. we furnish nearly ~ ~,
thirds OF the vote 70 pass the peilil,ls pl.il..s
huI while the party which the ss'-.,i 80