New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-13

to throw the burden of the physical test on
the shoulders Of the repeal men by Keeping
them constantly in the chamber The anu
repealers have rested in relays. and nave
therefore suffered little or no inconvenience.
whereas most of the repeal Senators are no"
completely tagged out The chief speeches.
made to kill the leaden- weighted hours since
6 D. NJ yesterday were those of Mr.. Allen
who talked over fourteen hours: Mr. Martih'
who occupied seven; Mr.. Teller. who spoke lor
three or four, and Mr. Stewart who threatens
to talk till the lantern on the top OF the Gap
itol no longer holds out to burn
The most interesting incident of the day was
An attempt made by the Senate TO compel one
of tic p,emhers TO vote AS might have been
foreseen. the attempt proved failure II all
occurred in the early morning hours. Mr.. Allen.
NJ Nebraska hereafter to be considered the long
distance talker of the most august delibera-
tive body on earth" had just finished his Ie-
marks The hands of the clock pointed to
few minutes before o'clock The rays OF the
carly morning sun had begun to chase 'he
shadows of the chamber. and there was
mild suggestion of freshness in the ar MI
Voorhees, with new strength gathered from
nap on one of the lounges in the cIoaK-rooih'
was in his seat. the only interested spectator
apparently, of the proceedings. Scarcely had
Mr. Allen taken his seat when Mr.. voorhees,
moved to lay the pending amendment-one OF
several offered by Mr. PETER and embodying
practically provisions for the free and UNI
limited coinage of silver-upon the table lhe
vote disclosed the absence of a quorum. call
OF the house ordered and another attempt
was made to obtain vote.
RULES WHICH CANNOT BE ENFORCED.
In the course of this ro-call and others
lad u'QS
Dubois. of Idaho remained in his seat, but did
not vote 1t attracted at once the attention OF
the friends of repeal, who thought this good
opportunity to determine the question whether
n Senator can or cannot be compelled To vote.
The rules of the Senate. strangely enough, re-
Guire a Senator to vote and TO explain MS laii-
uye to do but they do not provide means 10
enforce this rule, nor do they suggest PUNISH
ment for what is manifestly contempt OF
court" The rules. indeed. are on this one point
delightfully."- indefinite. and while severe In many
respects-punishing. for instance. Senator VINO
violates the secrets of the executive session py
expulson-permit a Senator, as MI DUBOIS oid
to-day openly. to defy the authority Of the Sen
ate as expressed by majority OF It's members
The Senate with ludicrous solemnity to-day
after formal vote decided that the excuse
furnished by Mr.. Dubois for not voting and
not answering in the ro-call when his name
was reached was not good one 1t failed abso-
luteIy. however to give effect to its decision-a
decision which practically admitted that the
authority Of the Senate had been contemptu-
ousiy tramped under foot The friends OF
SILVER anticipated an occurrence like this OF To-
dA several weeks ago, when MI Ielier re-
se&teh the action Of the Vice-fresldent III
dlecting his name to be called twice by the
Clerk after he had indicated by his silence that
he did not desire to vote. II was not the III
sp,ration Of the moment, consequently, which
made Mr.. Dubois aci ,se part he did to-day
hut the result Of a deliberate plan on the par:
of the silver men to test the power OF the
Senate through its presiding officer TO determine
the nature of a quorum. In other words, the
Senate found itself face to face to-day with the
nrohler, which confronted the last Republican
House of Representatives and which the ma
iority In that body solved with courage and
decision.
The Democratic majority OF the Senate torn
as II is by personal dissensions and connecting
interests. and impatient as it always mas oeeh
and always will be under leadership Is not
likely to solve the problem now or at any other
time It certainly will not do 1t under the gud-
ancc Of 50 weak and nerveless "A hand as that
of Senator Voorhees, Even NJ. Villas. who, so
far as this incident of to-day is cooserned, as
capable Of any sustained effort or OF pursuing
advantages gained in the course OF TINS par
liamentary struggle. Al most ne may oe sa,u
to have succeeded in drawing attention 10
the antiquated and wholly impracticaole rules
which still govern the conduct OIL business III
the United States Senate Nobody certainly
will construe his dramatic insistence upon hav-
Ing the refusal of Mr.. Dubois to vote entered
on the journal of the Senate as being in any
way an adequate punishment bsnttlng the
"crime' Of the Idaho Senator
Nh voorurrs,S PREMATURE EXILTATION
The other notable incident of the day was
the defeat Of Mr. PETERS free-conagc amend
nent by a vote of 80 to II. 1t followed closely
tho Dubois incident and may have served to
some extent to relieve the tension under which
tho Senate labored while Mr.. Villas was try
ing to make the most of the recalcitrancy OF
the young Idaho statesman. Mr.. voorhees, Is
reported as feeling greatly elated over the de-
feat of this amendment. though 1t Is dincuit
to see why he should feel wildly hilarious 1t
certainly brings the Senate no nearer SOU
tion az the targle in which 1t finds itself To-
day II does not touch the vital issue-the
ability of the majority to assert its right TO as
sumo the responsibility for conducting business
The author Of the defeated amendment him
eaiS showed his utter contempt for the vote
~ the Senate by reintroducing 1t in slightly
altered form five minutes after it had been
Restdcs other amendments may be intro
duced at any time and in any number 10 sut
the necessities Of the situation, ana me SILVER
men have 80 far given no indication that they
are lacking in the power of drafting amend
nents designed to obstruct The JOY. therefore,
OF Mr. Voorhees, is premature. TO say The
least II is much more likely to prove the
dawn Of new SORROWS.
4 NEW WAY TO iILIBUsTEE
A little excitement was occasloned during the
eyening session by what looked like an attempt
10 cut off some of the obstructive parliamentary
privileges which the minority were employ
ing to ietard business. The point Of no quorum
having been raised two or three tines within
twenty minutes Mr.. Voorhees, made an angry
,,ro,.st against this abuse as he called it. Of
the Senate rules lie then asked whether some
limitation could MOI be put upon the prvi-
leee OF calling for quorum. MI Frye, who
was then i'm the chair replied that under the
rules there could not be- Mr. Quay. shortly
aPtor protestcd against this ruling. and