Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-22
THE SEWER BOND BILL
Lack of Quorum at the Senate Night
Session for Its Consideration.
Senator Harris Makes n Statement as
to the Urgency of the Measure
why Mr.. Kyle Objected.

The Senate had a night session for the
purpose Of considering the sewer bond bill
after all Mr.. Aliens diatribes against the
District of Columbia and bonds and other
such things that rise to trouble him. Mr.
Harris carried out the program he laid
down in the morning with precise prompt
ness. Exactly at $50 he arose and moved
that the Senate take a recess until eight
o'clock.
The opponents of the bill, however, re-
serted to dilatory tactics, but in vain. They
first, through the medium of Mr.. McLau-
rim, moved to adjourn, which was lost-l9
to 3S. Then Mr.. Allen suggested the lack
of quorum, in the face of the fact that
the roll call, just finished about thirty sec
onds before, showed the presence of fifty
seven Senators, or twelve more than
quorum. This suggestion was ruled out of
order as there had been no business in
tervening since the roll call. 1t was MIR.
Faulkner who made the point against Mr..
Allen, but the latter was not to be baked,
and he moved that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of executive business.
This motion was also loSt-13 to Al. Then
Mr.. Harris got in with his motion for re-
cess, which was carried-43 to Il.
The Night Session.
At o'clock there was just a handful of
Senators in their seats, thirteen in all. and
scarcely had Mr.. Harris called up the sew
err bill before Mr.. McLaurin resorted to
filibustering tactics and called for a quo
rum. This instantly blocked the entire pro-
ceedings, and thenceforth nothing was done
for an hour and ten minutes.
The Senators who We're on hand at the
first were MeSsrs. Allen, Berry, Carey,
Chandler, Dubois, Hansbrough, Kyle, Me
Laurin, Mitchell of Oregon, PETER, Teller,
Walsh and Wilson of Washington.
IWenty-One responded to their names
the first call, as follows: Messrs. Allen,
Bate, Berry, Chandler, Cockrell, Dubois,
Arkansas, Kyle, McLaurin, Martin, Mitch
ell of Wisconsin. Palmer, Pasco. PETER,
Quay, Sherman and Wolcott.
Mr.. Martin caused some establishment by
announcing that his friend, Mr.. George of
Mississippi, had been obliged to deny him
self the pleasure of attending the night
session. He was ill. There was that in
the tone of Mr.. Martin that left the Sen
ate to imagine that the grief of not being
able to contribute to the quorum had driv
en- Mr.. George to his bed.
Still No Quorum.
In the language Of the Congressional
Record, after some delay Mr.. Hunton, Mr..
Roach, Mr.. Proctor, Mr.. Perkins, Mr.. Tur-
pin, Mr. Pettigrew, Mr.. Hawley, Mr.. Tel
Ter, Mr.. White, Mr.. Butler. Mr.. Vest, Mr..
Platt, Mr.. Allison, Mr.. Aldrich, Mr.. Nc
MILAN, Mr.. Squire and Mr.. Brice entered
the chamber and responded to their names.
The Record does not state the fact that
Messrs. Mcmillan and Brice entered the
chamber in all the glory of evening dress,
and that their appearance was dazzlingly
beautiful They had just come from the
grand opera. Mr.. Brice was, if anything,
a shade more beautiful than MIR. Mcmillan,
for he wore ravishing vest of white silk.
But all of the radiance of these Senators
could not save the Senate from the lack
of a quorum. Mr.. Brice only made the
thirty-eighth on the floor, and the Senate
was still seven short. Those seven Sena-
tors never came. The sergeant-at-arms
the orders of the Senate, with his depu
ties, and there was mighty slow picking.
Mr. Harris Statement
So, at 0 o'clock, Mr.. Harris arose and
made a speech, brimful of soul distress.
Mr.. President, 1 asked for this nights
session to consider bill, upon the passage
of which largely depends the sanitary con-
dition and the health of the people Of this
city and District, bill than which no
measure is more important to this locality.
In view of the fact that We are the legis-
lative department for 100000 people who
have no voice in the government, and who
rely upon the Congress of the United States
and upon the Congress only for such legis-
lation as may be necessary for their We'll
being, the protection of their health, their
lives and their property, regret more than
l can find words to express that there is
so little interest felt as that an occasion
such as this should meet with the ex-
perience we are having tonight. l feel,
however, Mr.. President, that l have tried
to do my duty in the premises; and at this
late day of the session, important as the
measure that l asked the Senate to come
here to consider tonight is. in view of the
fact that majority of the great appro-
priation bills have not yet been considered
in this body, and that we nave barely
week within which to consider them and
such other matters as will be forced upon
our consideration; as we have patiently
waited here for one hour ana five minutes,
and still we are ten short of quorum L
shall not take the responsibility OF asking
those Senators who have kindly come here
from a sense of duty to remain here longer
ting a quorum here that can perform their
duties and transact the public business OF
the country. l move that the Senate DO
now adjourn.
MIR. Kyle States His Position.
Then Mr. Kyle, in few words, told why
he was fighting the bill. He said: Il 90
not wish to place myself in the attitude
of seeming to block the progress OF the
sewer bond bill. l realize the Importance
of the measure fully as much as does the
Senator from Tennessee. believe we ought
to have good sewers in every part of The
CITY of Washington. l realize that there
are now many diseases prevalent in various
parts Of the city in consequence of the
fact that we do not have here proper
sewerage system. 1 believe also that We
should extend the streets at the same time,
as the expense of the work will be less
If the two projects are carried on at one
time than If done separately.
THE only difference between those of us
who so believe and the element represent
ed by the Senator from Tennessee is with
reference to paying the bills. The Senator