Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1893 — THE EXTRA SESSION. [ARTICLE]

THE EXTRA SESSION.

In the Senate, Tuesday, Senator Voorhees vigorously defended bis tn conducting the fignt for repeal. “1 am arraigned for not terminating this debate,” he said. “I might as well be arraigned for not checking the flow of the tides. Since 1806 to the present time, the Senate has proceeded upon the rules of American manhood, self-respect and high propriety, as well as a sense of duty to the public and of deceficy to itself. It is a mighty tribute to this body. There Is a prevailing belief yet that no Senator will abuse patience in this debate.” He alluded to the Fdrce bill and declared that it was not debated to death, though the consideration of it lasted fifty days and the debate thirty-one days. It was killed by the power of thought and reason, slain by tfee Yaw ot the majority, voted to death. “If there is power here to talk this bill to death,” he said, alluding to the Wilson bill, ?I am ready to embrace its fate and minp with it.” Senator Dolph spoko against repeal and did not disguise the purpose of .the silver men to filibuster. Mr. Voorhees then gave notice that on Wednesday he would move for longer sessions. Mr. Teller ispoke against repeal and stated that when the sessions were extended Into the night that the advocates of repeal as well as its opponents would have to be present. Mr. Hill asked Mr. Teller if be was not satisfied that there was a majority for repeal, to which Mr. Teller replied that Mr. Hill had no right to ask such a question at this time and declined to answer. Mr. Mills then took the floor in a set speech in favor of repeal, and stated in the course of his remarks that the President wanted bi-metallism, not the monometallism of silver.

In the House, Tuesday, Mr. Flinn, delegate from Oklahoma, created a sensation by asking for immediate investigation of outrages by troops at the opening of the Cherokee Strip. He sent to the clerk's desk and had read the accounts of the alleged depredations of the troops and then, in a passionate way, he declared that all the regulations, under which the Strip has been opened, were a disgrace to modern civilization. “The capstone of the whole infamous' business,” he shouted, -‘‘came when settlers, who had stood for hours in the line famishing for the want of water* were heartlessly shot down by the military. Col. Oats, of Alabama, objected to the present consideration of the resolution and thereupon the struggle to prevent the report of the Tucker bill repealing the federal election laws was resumed.

In the Senate, Wednesday, the Senators from the silver States absented themselves from the chamber at roll call. The situation became embarrassing to the friends of repeal. Mr. Voorhees moved that the repeal bill be taken up. Mr. Platt was recognized, but Mr. Voorhees refused to yield the floor. He said that Mr. Platt had not asked him to yield, and as he had arranged with Mr. George, of Mississippi, to speak, Mr. Platt finally asKed Mr. Voorhees’consent to proceed, which was given. Mr. Platt thqn proceeded with a speech in discussion of certain rules to which he proposed to offer an amendment at a future time. The repeal bill was then taken up, and Mr. George addressed the Senate in opposition to the measure. Mr. Voorhees moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms be directed to enforce the attendance of absentees. Mr. Cockrell moved that the roll of the absentees be called which was done. Mr. Teller sat in his seat, .but did not answer when his name was called. Forty-seven Senators responded. The absentees were Messrs. Allen, Carey, Coke, Colquitt, Davis, Aldrich, Dixon, Gordon, Hansbrough, Hunton,lrby, Jones of Nevada, Kyle, Lindsay, McMillan, Manderson, Mills, Mitchell of Oregon, Mitchell of Wisconsin, Morrill, Palmer, Pasco, Pettigrew, Power, Proctor, Pugh, Ransom, Sherman, Shoup, Squire, Stewart, Teller, Turpie, White of California, White of Wilson and Wolcott. Mr. Teller obtained the floor when it was announced that a quorum was present, and This action in not answering to his name. He said that he did not answer when his name was called, because It occurred to him that if he did so he would be recognizing a rule never recognized in the Senate—that the presiding officer had a right to call a Senator on a roll eall unless the Senator addressed the Chair. The Vice-President assured the Senator from Colorado that he had not been counted.

In the House, Wednesday, the battle to secure the report on the Tucker bill, repealing the federal election laws, which began five days ago, was won by the vigorous application of the party lash, supplemented by an order from the committee on rules. Even then it required six hours of hard fighting before the stubborn minority could be defeated. Every’ expedient that skillful parliamentary maneuvering could devise was resorted to by ex-Bpeaker Reed, who stood in the breach all day directing the movements of the minority. The task was hopeless, however, as long as the Democratic quoum, which appeared for the first time today, held. Once only did the quorum breakdown. But on the next roll call it reappeared, and the ground that bad been lost wasquickly regained. Gradually, by roll call after roll call, the minority was hemmed in. The Speaker’s rulings enraged the minority, and the excitement rose to fever pitch, but there were no wild scenes as characterized the Fifty-first Congress. At one time during the fight Mr. Reed said: "If it is the purpose of the majority to have a rule artificially drawn, seized upon by the Speaker of the House by main strength in order to rob the minority of its rights, we want the country to understand what has been done. If you want to push this through," ho added, sneeringly, "we shall see what we snail see." An extended and bitter debate continued for the entire afternoon. The report of the committee on rules was then agreed to—yeas, ITC; bays, apd the Speaker proceeded to call the cpaqqittees for reports. Mr. TuckesfrcjJbrfM t|»e federal election bill and it was placed on tho House calendar. The House then, at 5:45 p. m.. adjourned.