Evening star., 1894-04-12
A Sc NATE E AGREEME MENT
1t Binds Senators Whether They Are
Present or Not.
Mr. PETER Gives His Views on the
Tarin-Mr. Quay Makes n Mis-
take and Nithdraws.

The session OF the Senate yesterday after.
noon was not without its little furry of
interest which seems destined to break
INTO the deadly dullness Of the tariff de-
bate despite all agreements TO the con-
tGry between the opposing sides. When
MI PETER began the second installment Of
MS speech there was fair attendance Of
Senator'S on both sides of the chamber but
they gradually melted away and at one
time there was only one democrat, one re-
publican and one populst visible on the
floor
At that point Mr.. Quay raised the ques-
ton Of no quorum, when MIR. Harris re-
marked that he regarded that suggestion
as a violation of the agreement reached On
Tuesday that the tariff bill should be con-
sidereG between l and : O'Clock each day
without any dilatory motions. Mr. Man
derson agreed with Mr.. Harris in his IN
derstanding of the agreement, but re-
marked that one Senator from the ma
jority and three from the minority could
hardly be called the Senate Of the United
States.
Mr.: Quay explained that he did not un-
derstand that there had been any agree
ment and asked leave TO withdraw his sug-
gestion, but the ball had been started roll
ing and could not be so easily checked.
Mr.. Wolcott said he did not understand
that agreement between Senators Harris
and AldrIch bound the rest of the Senate
and he for one should not hesitate TO move
an adjournment an executive session or TO
obtain a quorum. Senators Manderson and
Harris explained that according to The
universal custom of the Senate an agree
ment made by unanimous consent bound
all Senator's, whether or not they were
present when the agreement was reached,
and Mr.. Wolcott subscribed TO this tradi-
uonal doctrine Senator Dolph made the
point of order that the question of a quo
rum having been raised could not be with
a rrpGintnp Tr
sustained the point in spite OF the protests
of Mr.. Quay. who apologized for uninten-
tonally violating :he agreement.
Enough Senators came in during the roll
call to make a quorum, but before MIR.
PETER was allowed to resume his speech an
attempt was made to insert some eXtrane-
Gus matters, which Mr.. Harris objected to-
will the Senator allow me to present a
petition?" asked Mr.. Chandler.
Il will not" said Mr.. Harris. decidedly.
Il am very sorry replied Mr.. Chandler.
''for had none to present" Whereat there
was laugh at the expense OF Mr.. Harris.
in which the Senator from Tennessee him
self Joined
Mr.. PETER then resumed his speech, in the
course. of which he said that the bill dis
eliminated against the farmer and that
the only thing the agricultural classes ask
ed was thSt they should receive protection
as the manufacturers did.
He said IL was out Of order TO cali the
Wilson bill a tariff reform measure and be
er was not benefited nor was any one else
The pending bill was not bin for proter-
uon nor for revenue and the democracy
could take no pride i'm it's passage
At O'Clock the tariff bin was suspended.
Mr.. Villas asked to be relieved as chairman
Of the committee on the quadro-centennial
and Mr.. Walsh, the new Senator. was ap-
pointed to the vacated craftsmanship and
was also made a member Of the following
additional committees: Post Offices and post
roads, relations with Canada, national
banks and private land claims. and Mr.
Villas was made chairman Of the committee
on post offices and post roads.
The Senate then took up the further ur-
gent deficiency bill which was dscussed
without action until o O'Clock when ths
Senate went into executive session, during
which the following nominations were con-
nrmed; Henry b. Lowering Of Lynn. Mass,
TO be pension agent at Boston. Hirsch Har-
rls OF Nevada, melter and reflner at the
mint, Carson, Nevada. TO succeed f. b.
Zabr1ske, resigned. James A Munday os
vancouver, Washington, to be receiver OF
public moneys at Vancouver. Washington,
vice Scott Swetland, term expired: also n
number of postmasters.