Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-07
THE VANISHING QUORUM
Enables Mr. Aldrioh to Manage the Bust
ness of the Senate.
Mr.. Harris Takes the Chances on
Holding q Quorum and IL Left
Several Breezy Episodes.


tain innocent game that is played with
ffty-two bits of pasteboard. made bad
bluff in the Senate yesterday afternoon
and when he showed down his hand Ii held
only an ace high, to continue the pictur-
esque vernacular of the green table. The
Senate had done a good deal of talking
during the day about live STOCK and had
made little or no progress upon the tariff
bill other than the exhaustion Of the talking
material of the republicans. Canadian horses
had proved to be the most irritating kind
OF topic. and 1t famed the flame of parti-
san feeling for several hours. Mr.. Harris
was not in the best of humor In the first
place. the delay irritated him, as delays ON
the tariff bill always do. and then his sensi-
bilities had received a shock during the
afternoon that was not calculated to restore
his equanimity.
Two republican amendments to the live
stock paragraph had been rejected, and Mr.
Pettigrew had offered an amendment TO the
bread stuffs item, which was ruled out by
the chair under the agreement that the
committee amendments should first be con-
sidered. Mr.. Harris was out of the cham
Der when this happened. When he returned
little later Mr.. Plat had occupied the
fcor for some time. and at last Mr.. Harris
lost his patience and moved to table the
pending amendment under the impression
that IL had come from member of the OBJ
position. 1t was Mr.. Aldrich who called at
tention to the fact that Mr.. Harris was try
ing to table the proposition OF his own side
and the chair supported the Rhode Island
leader in this contention. When the situa-
ton was explained to Mr.. Harris he with
drew his motion with more or less grace
but the episode left his stock of good ma
ture considerably reduced. The debate drib-
bled along on the bread stuffs paragraph
until, shortly before Z O'Clock. Mr. Perfer
announced that he desired to submit some
thoughts to the Senate upon this schedule"
and he would like 10 take little time, say
twenty or thirty minutes"
Mr.. Hoar's Unkind Question
Il shall not exceed thirty minutes" he
went on, "and l want to do this carefully.
because regard the subject as one of very
great Importance; but do not wish to de-
tain the Senate tonight, unless Senators
wish to remain. 1t is now nearly O'Clock
but shall proceed IL that be the desire Of
the Senate"
This was asking too much of the venera-
bic Tennesseean. In his firmest tones he
said: This is the sixty-fourth day that this
bill has been under consideration by the
Senate, and we are on page AZ. Proceeding
at the same ratio of progression, think we
shall get this bill out of committee of the
whole about Christmas come a year. / de-
sire TO oblige the Senator from kansas and
but had hoped that both sides of the SEN
ate would consent to stay here until Z or $
O'Clock. not an unreasonable hour. and try
to make some progress today"
Mr. Hale called attention 10 the hour and
Mr. Harris. after answering him. said: Il
want to be amiable. and 1 intend to be
So"
''when?" suddenly asked Mr.. Hoar. inter-
rupting
Now, and always hereafter" responded
Mr.. Harris. but Ii costs me an effort under
existing circumstances"
Mr.. Aldrich and Mr. Hale suggested that
he l1 -,
ment than by continuous session and Mr.
Aldrich was inclined to complain that Mr.
Harris he'd not consulted him about the
hours. Had the Senator called upon me
earlier in the day." Mr. Aldrich continued.
Il should perhaps have been willing TO
have consulted with him."
Mr.. President. il is about the same dis
lance from the Senator's seat to mine that
1t is from mine &c his" Mr.. Harris made
this familiar proposition with the utmost
gravity, yet the Senate yelled with laugh
ter. He continued, Il should have been
glad to receive a visit from him.
Mr.. Aldrfch's Point.
Both sides were somewhat irritated and
Mr.. Aldrich. seeing that Mr.. Harris was OBJ
durate. moved an executive session. This
stirred the Ere of the democratic manager
to its depths and ii was then he made his
unsuccessful bluff. II am sorry the Sena-
tor has taken that course" he said Il do
not propose ID resort to any arbitrary meth
DDS; l want ID conform to the wishes Of
the Senate; but IL the Senator from Rhode
Island proposes to take charge of the bus
ness of the Senate We shall see whether he
will coltrol II or not"
Mr.. Gray, who was in the chair stopped
the debate AMI was putting the question
when Mr.. Aldrich made ribs proposition
He would withdraw the motion until d
O'Clock, but at o'clock, unless Mr. Harris
made the motion or moved TO adjourn, he
should renew ii.
Il consent to do nothing under threat"
retorted Mr.. Harris. whereupon Mr.. AID
rich renewed his motion.
Very well. let the Senator make the mo-
ton If he chooses" was Mr. Harris sar-
castle response, and the roll was then call
ed. The republicans generally refrained
from voting, and the result was yeas. .
nays, SO; three less than q quorum The
four yeas were cast by Senators Dubois
Perkins. Pettgrew and Washburn. A roll
call showed the presence of forty-six Sena-
tors and the vote was again taken, result
in yeas and 81 nays, @ less than a quorum
Senators Dubois and Pettigrew this time
voted in the affirmative.
Mr.. Harris then saw the impossibility of
obtaining voting quorum. and at q O'Clock
upon his motion, the Senate adjourned un-
til 10 this morning. Mr.. Aldrich had con-
trolied the business of the Senate