The Republican journal., 1876-01-13
CONGREGATIONAL Sharp Shooting.

SHOWS Tie dDlllty anu TedullleSS Vi ha1l-
dali and Blame, who were the prominent
participators. 1t arose in a motion by Ran
dali for a suspension OF the rules in order
to consider the amnesty bill
Mr.. Blaine, OF Maine, suggested that
the Centennial 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 pre-
vlous question on the passage OF the bill.
Mr.. Blaine-Does the gentleman desire
to cut off the amendment
MIR. Randall desire to have the previ-
Gus question seconded, and then will al
low half of the hour winch the rules give
me for discussion to the other side of the
House.
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman proposes
not to allow any amendments
Mr.. Randall will listen to any amend
ment
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman knows very
we'll that the previous question cuts of
amendments
Mr.. Randall am quite aware of the
effect OF it, | have for II years learned
its effect in adversely under your direction
and that Of your side OF the House. Gap
plause on the Democratic side) The pre-
| viOus question was seconded 100 to 80.
Mr.. Randall-As have one hour for de-
bate | propose
what rule ? This bill is not a report from
a Committee and therefore there is no de-
bate allowed after the previous question
being seconded.
Mr. Blaine insisted on the same point
and said the rule as to allowing one hour
for debate after the previous question, APP
piled only to reports from Committees
The previous question in this case cuts Off
absolutely every moment OF debate.
Mr. Randall-Does that side of the
House object to debate?
Mr. Blaine-lt does not, nor does this
side of the House desire any unreasonable
| time tor debate, although as Congress has
been in session five weeks, and as the SEES
sions of the House have averaged only
two days per week, it mi ght be consider
ed that al hour or two Of debate would
not be too much to allow on a bill of this
kind
| Mr.. Randall (persstentlv)-l want to
know if anybody on that side OF the House
| objects TO debate.
Mr.. Hale, of Memo sir. But we want
| debate and amendment both?
| Mr. Gariield-We want consideration Of
| the subject, which means debate and
amendment
Mr. Randall propose that we give an
hours consideration to It,
| Mr.. Garfield (sneeringly)-Aye consid-
| GRAFTON without amendment!
Mr. Blaine told the gentleman Gram
daily in good faith, that it was absolutely
| impossible for him to pass his bill under
| that kind of tactics The vote OF the pre-
vious question has revealed the fact that
| considerably more than one-third of the
House objects to the bill going through
| under u gag.
Mr.. Randall do not propose to put it
| through 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 OF not.
| Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman from Penn
| sylvania knows that MIR. Benton left on
record the saying The very essence of
| Legislative power is amendment" and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania contesses
| the weakness OF his cause, when he at
| tempts to deprive the minority of the
House of the parliamentary right to offer
amendments.
Mr.. Randall-( tauntingly) | am glad
| you see light, for during many years you
We're blind to such considerations (augh-
| ter on the Democratic side and in the
galleries.)
Mr.. Blaine (defiantly)- gentleman
will search the Globe Tor the last II years
| in vain for a case where a bill Of this mag
nitude was attempted to be put through
without discussion and amendment Nev-
| er Sir. | defy you to give an instance.
| Mr.. Randall-Was not this very bill
| passed last year under the previous ques-
| ton on report from the Committee on
| Rules of which You were member?
Mr.. Blaine-And to which objected
Mr. Randall-Never, either in OF out of
the Committee did you object to it.
Mr.. Blainc-Being in the chair and I'M
able to object myself, got several gen.
from S. G. (Rainey) to object to it, but
his position and his race, said he would
| be misunderstood if he did so. although
he thought the bill ought not to 90
| through.
Mr.. Randall say this bill is almost
| identical with the bill reported last SEES
| sion from the Committee on Rules with
out any objection on your part
Mr. Blaine-I differ with the gentle
man on that point did object to it, al
though the gentleman does not observe
| the parliamentary rules when he refers to
what took place in the Committee
| Alter further replies and reioinders Mr.
| Banks of Mass, demanded the yeas and
| nays on ordering the main question, and
| they were ordered.
| Mr.. Blaine-l desire it distinctly under
stood that the effect of ordering the ques-
ton is to cut off all debate whatever.
| Mr. Randall-And | desire to have it
| equally understood that it is not the pul-
pose 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. This side
will accord to the other side of the House
all the time it wants for discussion
Mr.. Burchard-I ask whether under the
rules the minority can have that privilege?
Mr.. Randall-lt can by unanimous con-
sent; (sneers on the Republican side) and
! the objection if it comes at all, must come
| from that side
The main question was ordered Yeas,
1868; nays 90; strict party vote.
Mr. Randall now ask the unanimous
consent for one hours debate prior to a
vote on the final passage.
| Mr.. Garfield join with the gentle
man and add to it the request that by
unanimous consent the amendment NAV
be offered.
Mr. Randall have not heard any
body object to my suggestion.
The Speaker-Is there any objection to
the request?
Mr.. Garfield-With the privilege Of Of
iering amendments understand?
Mr. Randall-The gentleman does not
understand any such thing
Mr. Garfied-Then without that priv-
lege | object.
MI. Blaine-I desire to say single
word
Mr. Randall-You may have 80 minutes
if you like.
Mr.. Blaine-The indications of the vote
are plain. The bill in its present shape