The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-17
THE MINORITY STILL ROLES,
Debate tho Proposition to Give the NJ II
jority II Show.

Debate on tho Proposition to Give tho Ma
jority IL Show.
WASHINGTON. Oct 16.-The eleventh week OF
the session and the eighth week Of the silver
debate opened this morning with a large at
tendance OF Senators. all the leaders OF the
forces on each side OF the silver fight being in
their places and holding conferences. The
taking up Of the Silver Purchase Repeal bill
was delayed by action on a House Joint resolu-
ton as to suffrage at the first municipal
elections in Oklahoma Territory. 1t was
amended. on motion Of Mr.. Hoar. by a pro-
vision that no one shall be authorized to vote
or hold office who is not a citizen of the
United States An amendment to strike out
the word male" so as to allow the right of
suffrage to women. was voted down-yeas. 9:
nays. 40 Subsequently the clause to which
the Hoar amendment was attached was struck
out, and the Joint resolution was passed.
Mr. Henderson REP. Neb.) suggested an
amendment which he would offer to Mr. Hills
resolution TO amend the rules. by counting
Senators who are present and paired. 30 as to
make a quorum. The addition proposed by
Mr. Henderson is: And il. on recapituation
OF the vote. 1t shall appear that majority OF q
constitutional quorum has voted. the question
shall be determined and the result ann ounced.
the same as II quorum really had voted"
tions for an amendment OF tho rulesIa plan to
close debate and come to vote and a pro-
hibition against written speeches). and ad-
dressed tho Senate upon them. He said that
ono great objection that was made to any form
OF closure In the Senate was that 1t violated all
the Senate traditions. The proposition which
he offered went back to the old and sound
traditions OF the Senate. The reading OF
speeches was comparatively modern innova-
ton. The history Of the Senate would show
that in all the early days tho practice OF read
ing long written speeches did not exist The
greatest speech ever made he thought In any
parliamentary body-Mr. Webster's reply to
Hayne-was made in the Senate chamber. with
nothing to go upon but q sheet OF note paper
with u few written notes upon 1t The speech was
taken down by Mr.. Gale and revised and ap-
peared in its present form. That was certainly
tho practice Of the Senate at that time. On
general principles he thought there could
be no doubt that the practice OF reading
speeches amounted to killing OF true debate.
1t would devastate the ranks of any audience
He thought. therefore. that In the interest Of
business and in tho interest OF the highest
form of debate. tho sooner the Senate got rid
OF the custom OF allowing the road.
ing OF speeches. or OF long extracts.
the better for the dignity OF the SEN
ate and the better for the quickness Of action.
He then went to argue in favor
Of the adoption OF the House method
OF counting quorum, on which pOint
he said he agreed with the Senator
from Louisiana lMr Whitel except ms to the
penalty OF expelling Senator who refused 10
vote. u would. however. have such senator
counted as present. II was u trayesty OF every
form OF rule that tho Senate should have to sit
helpless and do nothing The amendment to
the rules offered by the senator from New
York Nj. Hill to count senators present and
Haired was precisely IN the same line ana
rested on the same Drincipa.
VI r. stewart ltep.. Nev.l regretted that Mr.
Lodge had not given mis- attention to the de-
bate. If ne had sat in his seat and listened To
the speeches. while that might have been irk .
some TO hi m. he would have learned something
OF the suhJect,hnder consideration. This de-
bate would go down to history as the most I'M
portant and the most instructive of any that
had been conducted in any legislative body nd
any time In the history OF the world.
MIR. Vest Dem: Mo. reverted to Mr. Lodges
statement as to Mr.. Webster's famous speech
He said that Mr.. Webster did not give that
speech to the public as 1t now stood for more
than month after the time of Its delivery
And 1t was To-day question Of very great and
reasonable doubt whether the speech as it
came down to posterity, was the same speech
ct least IN yerbiags-that was delivered.
Mr.. Hoar Req. Mass said that he would
ster's speech. The Massachusetts, Representa-
tlves in the House wsre very much disturbed
on the evening OF the day when Mr. Hayne
SPOKE lest Mr. Webster might treat 1t as a
light or uniinpOrtant matter and one OF them
INT LeYerett SaltOnbtallI- called on Mr. Yah