The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON. April %.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. Anthony presented remon-
STRANGE signed by the Admiral and
other officers of the navy against the
transfer of officers from the retired to
the active list without the recommends
tion of the department, and also
against the advancement OF officers by
the Legislature without such recon-
mendation.
Mr.. Sawyer presented remonstrance
against the repeal OF the eight hour
law.
Mr.. Scott moved to take up his reso-
luton to limit the debate on the appro-
priation bills to five minutes for each
Senator on each amendment
Messrs. Casserly and Trumbull op-
posed the resolution.
Mr.. Anthony advocated the resolu-
ton as a means of improving the char
acter Of debates and expeditiug busi-
ness.
Mr.. Vickers offered an amendment
restricting the five minute rule to debate
on amendments german to the bill.
Lost
Mr.. Trumbull said that the vote on
this amendment showed the real des' gn
of the majority in offering the pending
resolution, namely, to get gag law by
which they could force any measure,
however important, through h the Senate
as an amendment to an appropriation
without discussion.
At the expiration Of the morning
hour Mr.. Scott moved to lay the un-
finished business over informally so as to
dispose OF the pending resolution, but
Mr.. Trumbull objected
Mr.. Scott then moved to lay the un.
finished business on the table. Agreed
to; yeas 2S, noes IA.
The Senate then resumed the dis
cussion OF the resolution.
Mr.. Casserly-l agree with the Sen
ator from Illinois (TrumbulD that the
vote that has just been taken reveals
the design of the majority in offering
this resolution. When / came up here
this morning l heard rumors OF one
OF those dark assemblies unknown to
law and the Constitution.
Mr.. Conkling-In violation Of both
| suppose.
Mr.. Casserly-I did not say that, sir
but did say they are a standing
menace to the Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof; they
are a standing menace against all free
dom Of opinion and action on the part
of members of this body. Yes, sir, |
heard this morning that the majority
had held a caucus and the vote
that has just been taken confirms
that rumor. The majority have the
power to force this rule upon us, but
certainly they have no provocation TO
do 30, because no body will say that
the minority here have factiousy op-
posed or delayed any Of the business
before the Senate This resolution is
unjust to us. 1t is unjust to yourselves,
gentlemen. 1t is unjust to the great in
terests tn at are committed TO us all here.
There are Senators listening to me,
and who favor this resolution, who re-
member the time when they were in the
minority in the Senate, and ask them
if any such gag as this was ever put in
their mouths. II | were member OF
the majority | would never consent TO
a proposition like this, and no cause OF
INV party could bring me to support
what regard as violation Of the con'
stitutiona1 right Of this body in spirit if
not in letter. If you can limit the
debate on this class Of bills you can
limit it on all bills. You can establish
general gag which will kill statesman,
ship and reduce this body TO mere
congregation OF voters.
Mr.. Scott. sesolution was finally
adopted in the following shape, by a
vote of ayes SO to noes l3, Messrs Al.
corn, Boremau, Sumner and Trumbull
all voting in the negative:
Resolved, That during the present
session it shall be iu order at any time
10 move a recess; and pending an ap.
preparation bill to move to coptine de-
bate on an amendment thereto to five
minutes by any Senator on tine pending
motion, and such motion shall be de-
cided without debate, and no amend.
ment to any such bill making legisla-
lative provisions other than such as
directly relate to appropriations in the
bill shall be received.
Mr.. Scott then offered an order that
hereafter the daily time of the meeting
of the Senate shall be II A. N. 1t went
over without objection and will come
up tomorrow.
Mr.. Vickere offered resolution in-
structing the Committee on Rules to
consider the expediency OF so amending
the thirtieth rule as to exclude all
amendments to appropriation bills
which are not german and pertinent
thereto.
The Senate then, at ) P. NJ, ad-
,o,.na3