The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-21
Made the Session Of the House Very
Interesting Yesterday.
The SENATORS STILL DALLYING.
The ssssion Was Lengthy. but Nothing
Was mplishsd-Ths Situation In
Congress IL Rapidly Becoming Dra-
matte ~ Well - Serious.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2l.-The federal
elections repeal bill has been reported and
has been placed upon the. calendar, but
this action was taken only after q severe
struggle, the Republicans seeking every
parliamentary device to betray enmity.
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 he 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
they violated all the precedents of 100
years, but had added new zest to the occa-
sion 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 IL could control the business of the
house without acts of violence. Instead
Of that the majority wanted violence In
each psrti6ilSf5 base. What spectacle,
the hoiise "representing the Democratic
party wss. going through the valley Of
humiliation.
Mr.. Catchings said that Il was hardly
worth while to say anything in vindica-
tion of the parliamentary rulings made
by espeaker-- 1t was cruel (sarcastically)
for the gentleman from Maine to advise
the Democrats that they were In a state Of
humiliation. he (Mr. Catchings) had NOT
discovered II himself He thought the
Democrats were getting along pretty well.
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 house
could do business
In the Senate.
The proposition for such change of the
rules Of the senate as would establish the
principle of closure was not made yester-
day. Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut, who
had given notice on Tuesday that he
would propose that change, declined to do
so, 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 II sesome future time.
Mr. 0sorge{ dt4ddgh he had his speech
prepared IN advance, delivered It with all
the impressiveness which he generally
gives to his Of hand speeches. He did
not seem to trouble himself as to whether
senators did or did not derive any instruo-
ton from his efforts, for once. When Mr..
Call of Florida indicated an intention of
calling thesnpticf f 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 ABB
sence of senator's became too evident, and
it required two rollcalls to get sufficient
number Of them into the chamber to COD
stitute a quorum. The quorum soon
melted away again, but Mr.. George took
no heed Of the fact, and he was allowed
to 60 ON with the reading of his speech
without further interruption. Mnch of it
was given to attacks upon the national
banks and u dennnciation of the circular
sent ont from New York to states whose
senator's were opposed to the bill, recon-
mending that pressure be applied to
them.n ~
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
q 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.
"that a suggestion should be made that
there Ia no quorum present"
Fun Continues.
The vice-president directed that the roll
be called. But Al senator's 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 TO compel the attendance Of absent
senator's; 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 senators,
and that there seemed to he.a very great
diversity Of opinion whether IL 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 SEN
ators came Into the cham Der. and asked that
their names be called, and they responded.
The number present was then announced
70 AZ. Mr.. Voorhees, withdrew bis motion
as to the sergeant-at-arms requiring the
attendance of senators After further de-
bate he admitted that the senate had done
N uood day'a work and xaid that he would