The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-11
By Nj. Phelps of Conn.,, for the improve
nent of Milford harbor and Saybroek, Connec-

Other bills were introduced as follows:
For improvement of Bridgeport and South
port harbors; to change the port of entry at
Fairfield, CT; for public building at Hart
ford, Ct; to repeal in part the act of Jan. 10.
1875, providing for the resumption of specie
payments, and to facilitate the resumption of
specie payments without contraction of the
currency; to repeal the stamp duty on checks
Mr. Randall of Pa, moved to suspend the
rules in order to proceed to the consideration
of the amnesty bill.
Mr. Blaine of Maine, suggested that the GEN.
tennial appropriation bill be first considered
but Mr. Randall insisted on his motion, and
the rules were suspended by the requisite two
thirds VOTE
Mr. Randall then demanded the previous
question on tue passage of the bill.
Mr.. Blane-Does the gentleman desire to
cut off the amendment
Mr. Randall desire to have the previous
question seconded, and then | will allow half
of the hour which the rules give me, to discus
sion, to the other side of the House.
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman proposes not to
allow any amendments.
Mr. Randall will listen to any amendment
Mr. Blaine-The gentleman knows very we Il
that the previous question cuts off amend
mentS.
Randall am quite aware of the effect of
it. have for twelve years learned its effect in
adversely under your directions and that of
your side of the House. Applause on the Dem
ocratc side)
The previous question was seconded 159 to SO.
MIR. Randall-As have one hour for debate
propose
Mr. Garfield (interrupting)- Under what rule?
This bill is not report from committee. and
therefore there is no debate allowed after the
previous question is seconded.
Mr. Blaine insisted on the same point and
said that the rule as to allowing one hour for
debate after the previous question applied only
to reports from committees. The previous
question in this case cuts off absolutely every
moment of debate.
Randall-Does that side of the House object
to debate.
Blaine-It does not, nor does this side of the
House desire any unreasonable time for debate,
although, as Congress has been in session FIVE
weeks, and as the sessions of the House have
averaged only about two days per week, it
might be considered that an hour or two of de-
bate would not be too much to allow bill of
this kind.
Randall (persistently)-I want to know if
anybody on that side OF the House objects to
debate?
Hale of Maine-No, sir; but we want debate
and amendment both.
Garfeid-We want consideration of the sub
ject, which means debate and amendment,
Mr. Randall propose that we give an
hours consideration to it.
Mr.. Garfield, (sneeringly)-Aye, considers
ton, without amendment
Mr.. Blaine-I told the gentleman (RandalD
in good faith that it was absolutely impossible
lol ILL W pass LIS Ulll uuutr Gu6G kluu OIL
tactics. The vote on the previous question las
revealed the fact that considerably more than
one-third of the House object to the bill going
through uuder gag.
Mr.. Randall do not propose to put it
through till after debate. If that side of the
House objects to debate, it will be itself re-
sponsible for there being no debate. 1t is for
that side OF the House to say whether there
shall be debate or not.
MI. Blaine-The gentleman from Pennsyl-
Vania knovyo that Mr. loft
the saying, THE very essence of legislative
power is amendment" and the gentleman from
from Pennsylvania confesses the weakness of
his cause when he attempts to deprive the mi
nority of the House of the parliamentary Tight
to offer amendments.
MIR. Randall, (tauntingly)-I am glad that
you see light for during many years you were
blind to such considerations. daughter on the
Democratic side and in the gallores.)
Mr.. Blaine, (defantly) 1.-The gentleman will
search the Globe for the last - years IN vain
for case where bill of this magnitude was
attempted to be put through without discussion
and amendment. Never, sir! l defy him to
give an instance.
last year under the previous question on a re-
port from the Committee on Rules, of which
you were member?
Blaine-And to which L objected.
Randall-Never, either in or out of the COM
mittee did you object to it.
Blaine-Being in the chair and unable to OBJ
ject myself, got several gentlemen to object
daughter at the expense of the last speaker.)
asked the gentleman from South Carolina,
(Rainey) to object to it, but he with a delicacy
which did honor to his position and his race,
said that be would be misunderstood if he did
SO, although he thought the bill ought not to go
through.
Randall say this bill is almost identical
with the bill reported at the last session from
the committee on rules without any objection
on your part.
Blaine-I differ with the gentleman on that
point. did object to it, although the gentle
man does not observe the parliamentary rules
when he refers to what took place in the COM
mittee.
Randall repeat that precisely similar
bill came up last session from the committee
on rules and that neither as member of the
committee, nor as member of the House, nor
as presiding 0thcer did you object to 1t. On
the contrary, as far as you were able, you fa-
cilitated the passage of that bill.
Garfield make the point of order that the
rules require the gentleman to address the
Chair, ard not to address the gentleman from
Maine as "You."
Randall, (contemptuously)-T gentleman
from Ohio is getting very particular. laugh
ter on the Democratic side and in the CALLER
ies.)
Mr.. Banks of Massachusetts, demanded the
yeas and nays on ordering the main question.
and the yeas and nays were ordered.
Blaine-I desire it distinctly understood that
the effect of ordering the question is to cut off
all debate whatever
Randall desire to have it equally under
stood that it is not the purpose of this side of
the House to prevent debate and if the debate
is cut off, it will be the fault of the other side
of the house. This side will accord to the 9TH
er side of the House all the time 1t wants for
discussion.
Burchard of Ilinois-I ask whether under
the rules the minority can have that privilege?
Randall-It can by unanimous consent
(sneers on the Republican side of the House,)
and the objection, if it comes at all, it must
come from that side.
The main question was ordered-yeas 1863,
nays SO, strict party vote.
Randall now ask the unanimous consent
for one hours debate prior to vote on the final
passage.
Garfield join with the gentlemen anil add
to it the request that by unanimous consent
amendments may be offered.
Randall have not heard anybody object to
my suggestion.
speaker-Is there any objection to the re.
Garfeld-with the privilege of Offering
amendments understand.
Randall-The gentleman does not understand
any such thing.
ject.
BIaine-I did not say single word
Mr.. Randall-You may have thirty minutes
if you like
MT. Blalne-Ine INDICATIONS OF Cne vote are
plain. The bill in its present shape cannot
pass. If it fails to pass L shall Immediately, if
the Speaker will recognize me for that purpose,
move that the rules be suspended and the bill
brought before the House for consideration. 1
shall then move as substitute the amendment
which L enieavored to offer and the House can
choose between them. 1t is only to have a fair
vote There is no disposition on this side to
dodge the'queston or to evade it, but we must
have an opportunity to make a record on this
question. The gentleman must evidently see
that he would save time and probably create
better feeling and more harmony by allowing
that course, because this side has the power to
enforce that course.
Randall-This Bill is exactly thes anne word
for word almost, as thel one one which the last
Republican House passed without even the
yeas and nays Twice have the Republican
Houses passed this bill and twice has it been
strangled in the Senate. l do not know what
has "come over the spirit of the drecm' of the
Republican party or of the gentleman from
Maine.
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman will not allow
me to state it.
Randall asked unanimous consent and OBJ.
lection was made on that side. l do not know
why the gentleman should want to change
this bill in any particular from what it was a