The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-16
A DOZEN SPEECHES
LikeIyto Consume the Time Of
the Senate This Week.
HOUSE WILL GET DOWN TO WORK.
New Rules Will Have A Good Effect
Upon Members After They Arc
Adopted But Struggle win Take
Place Over Their Adoption.


WAsHINeToN, April lo--The senate ad-
yourned soon after the hour for meeting
today out Of respect for the memory of
Senator Vance.
With the exception of the Chinese
treaty. which is to be considered tomor-
row, and the routine morning business of
each day, the remainder OF the week
promises nothing but continuation OF
the tariff debate. There is little doubt
that the senate will accept the agreement
reached between Senators Harris and
Aldrich providing that general debate
on the tariff shall continue each day from
to o'clock, and tina. il shall not be in
terrupted by rollcalls or other business.
This will probably preclude all parlia-
mentary contests and pave the way for
10 or 12 prepared tariff speeches.
Senator Smith had given notice of a
speech for today. but it was postponed.
Senator McLaurin will speak on Wednes-
day. Later in the week Senator'S Turpie
and Palmer and possibly other Demo
cratic senators will speak. On the Re-
publican side. Senators Dolph, Morrill,,
Perkins, Higgins. Gallinger. Hosr.
Cullom, Cameron and Washburn will
probably address the senate in the order
named. if time is permitted all of them,
and il there should at any time be any
lack of speakers, Senator Quay will con-
tinue the speech begun by himself on
Saturday, the delivery of which, ID is
understood, will consume several days
time.
The Quorum Question.
The struggle over the adoption of the
9ew quorum counting rule, decided upon
Hy the Democratic caucus, wilr be tne
feature of this week in the house.
Inasmuch as about one-third OF the
Democrats are violently opposed to any
quorum counting rule, as indicated by the
vote in the caucus. il will be impossible
for the Demo- rats alone, should the Re
publican decline TO vote, and the Demo
cratic opposition sustain their opinions to
che extent of declining TO vote, TO make
quorum 10 adopt such rule.
In other words, unless the DEM
ecratic committee on rules should frame
rule satisfactory TO the Repu ublicans.
the latter could, IL they chose. pre-
vent its adoption. The Republicans
will, however. shortly acquiesce in
the adoption OF any rule that contains
the essential principle of recording a
quorum present but not voting those
members who decline to respond to
their names.
This is the parliamentary principle
which Mr.. Reed has been contesting ever
snce the end of the Fifty-irst congress.
1t must be embodied in any rules sub
pitted to the house, or it cannot be
adopted. IL is expected that when the
rule il presented, Mr.. Reed will make one
of the greatest speeches of his life.
A Day or
Owing TO the death of Senator Vance
the house adjourned immediately today
and the fight over the new rule was post
poned until tomorrow. IL is probable
that but little time will be allowed for
debate, and the chance is that when the
house adjourns tomorrow evening the
quorum counting rule will have been
adopted, and filibustering of the kind
which has characterized the proceedings
of the house for the past three years will
be thing of the past.
The resolution adopted by the caucus
instructing the sergeant-at-arms To en-
sorce section 40 of the revised statutes
fning absent members, save On account
OF sickness, it is believed, will have the
effect of securing a very full attendance
IN the house hereafter.
As soon as the new order of things has
been inaugurated in the house the con-
sideration of the appropriation bills will
be resumed. and will consume the re-
mainder of the week. After the postoffice
appropriation bill, which is under discus
sion, is completed, it will be followed by
the consular and diplomatic and army
bills.