The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-19

preccdonts. Nothing coutl have bosn NOR
startling to tho old Senator'S o. moro dclioioui
e. the Intelligent auditors in the gallery thai
tile sentence with which senator Hill ende
his speech ycsterdaS.
"Oh" said hs. there is nothing in the wa,
OF settlement but Senate tradition"
He might as vol have said that the onll
thing In the way OF changing the Catholic
creed was the m ere Pope at Rome or that thu
only obstacle in the way OF making Baptists Of
the people OF Utah is tho Book OF Mormon
For lust as the authority OF tho Pope is hal
lowed by Catholics. AMI az the Book OF Nor
mon 10 sanctiied In the eyes OF the Latter -da,
Saints, 80 10 Senatorial tradition worshippod 10
the Senate.
The Senators exaggerated It beyond the
height and bulk OF Mount Washington. This
10 the fact. and II IL not mentioned to dispar-
age Senator Hill. All hall to him and Senator
Lodge. and to every man who ftrs and startles
the ancient chamber. More power to their el-
bows. May they shnke 1t into speedy action
By any means In their power
There are Senators who said to THr SUN re-
porter to-day that IL Nice-President Stevenson
should attempt to order vote in violation OF
Senatorial rules and traditions there are mon
in the Senate who would literally pull him out
OF his chair. The names OF three Senators to
whom this violent course is credited were men,
toned to this reporter.
I Tho abest parlamentarian Of the Senate Is
Mr.. Isham G.. Harris OF Tennessee. No man
has studied the rules more closely. or Is more
impregnat with the traditions that bind
them together as with sinews OF steel. To see
him. and interview him upon this subject was
TO 20 to the fountainhead OF news and wisdom.
The difficulty that was anticipated was that
he might like so many Southern Senators.
think 1t beneath his dignity to take the public
into his confidence anywhere except upon the
floor OF the Senate. Very many OF these South
ern gentlemen carry down from II past age a
pompous and absurd notion OF Senatorial i'm
portance that may have once been sanctioned.
but Is not In unison with the spirit Of this end
OF the century. Nearly all OF them house
themselves on Capitol Hill. and seldom go
west OF the Metropolitan Hotel in the city.
They live In and breathe an exclusive legisla-
tive atmosphere; and while no Americans
are more patriotic. it is also true that few are
more narrow and hdebound.
Senator Harris Ia not one OF these. at least
he emerged from that atmosphere to-day and
readily granted an interview upon this i'm
portant subject. The old war Governor OF
Tennessee. who leaped from the state House
into the saddle to fight for his people, was
seated like an emperor In magnificent ornate
chsmber-the celebrated committee room Of
the Committee on the District OF Columbia
REMARKABLE SCENE.
While your correspondent waited for him to
come in from the Senate he witnessed re-
markable scene across the hall. In an equally
large room were the clerks Of the official re-
porters taking down the speeches OF the Sena-
tors hot from their lips II Gen. Washington
should happen back In the flesh and stumble
into that room he would fancy that the Capitol
Al,
was one OF its wards. To get that fancy out OF
the old gentleman's head would require an
education in modern progress that would
bewilder him. The reason Is that these clerks
were using the most modern implements and
method. Some OF them were sitting before
typewriters with long rubber surpent-like
tubes stuck in their ears and others were
standing up and yelling like orators at an
outdoor mass meeting. They held sheets
OF paper In their hands and yelled out what
they read. These noisy clerks were reading
shorthand reports into graphophones The
one who was reading Senator Hills newly
perpetrated GRAFTON was unconsciously adopt
ing not only the Senator's exact tone. but
even the free swing OF Mr. Hills left arm.
The one who was reading or Senator
Mills's speech was doing it in a sharp
nasal key and with the sing-sone balance
and rhythm which all old Senators fall into.
The Queer-looklng clerks with the rubber
snakes In their ears were hearing other phono-
graphs talk other speeches to them and were
clicking out what they heard on the noisest
and most awkward Of modern inventions. the
typewriter. Presently the great champion Of
Senatorial traditions came in and most cour-
toously babe his visitor be seated. With even
moro courtesy he granted the interview that
will doubles be fully subscribed to by the ma
Gorlty Of the Federal Senators.
SENATOR HARRIS INTERVIEWED.
els oloture possibility in the Senate?" he
WAS asked.
IF you ask me II it is possible to adopt
closure as one OF the rules OF the Senate" said
Senator Harris. "Isay It may be possible some
other time as a question. although do not be-
lieve It ever will be done by itself II You ask
closure can be established in this
during this debate on the silver qnes-
tion, say It would be easier to pluck the sun
from the armament.
"The Force bill" he continued. was not
voted down by closure after that last period Of
hlibustering In tho Senate. The issue was re-
moved by the Introduction Of another matter.
First Mr.. Aldrich moved n resolution to take
up his closure resolution That became a sub
ject Of discussion in place OF the Force bill.
and afterward Mr.. Wocott called up the Cen
sus Apportionment bill. That still newer mat
ter was then discussed and voted upon. and
the Force bill Issue was dropped"
WAS any one imposed upon or deceived by
the introduction of these measures"
No. air; no. indeed" said Senator Harris.
g No one was fooled in taking up those other
matters. All the Senators knew what they
were doing. They knew tho fight had come
to its natural end. and that the majority was
1t is not easy to fool men who
sit here day after day taking part in these
discussions. Pains arc taken that they shall
hear too many explanations OF what the effect
OF their votes ia. They voted on these extra
neous matters because they wanted to dis
place the Force bill
After Mr.. Harris had given in detail the
history OF the Force bill and it's downfall. he
was asked this very leading question:
Would you at any time favor closure In the
Senator"
No. sir" said hs emphatcally. II would
not do not believe II Is suitable or neces-
aa In ha ba nd lv