New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-17
TUE DEAD LOCK IN THE HOUSE.

situation. are given below.
THE DEAD LOCK IN THE HOUSE.
-, ,c,xs PROPOSE TO GO on WITH TIE
Inn ~ prslyEss, BUT THE REvoLuTIoNIsTs
,,,,,s,-srEPHENs HOOTED DOWN.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEJ
~ Nav 16.-The Republicans score
w.. o,,inst their Democratic opponents every
1or durinc which the contest III the house cou'in
u'' H. they made the latter go upon the record
a., ro.1 obstructonlsts of the public business, as
they are. TO-, -
,..aa'Oe apparent to everybody that no progress
o6nId Inc made with the Potter resolution to-day,
,,,o sn0gestions we're offered by the Republicans
The first was submitted by Mr.. Fort, of Illinois,
vbo proposed that the House should proceed to the
consideration of the pension bills, public and private,
nd that today aud tomorrow should be devoted to
legislative business The Democrats knew as well
az the Republicans did that they could not by any
instability obtain vote on their resolution to-day
They had therefore, the choice of two courses,
either to adjourn the House and let the day be
wasted or TO spend the time during which they are
waiting for q quorum in the transaction of other
business. If the latter plan had been adopted inc
Potter resolution would not have lost It's standing
before the House. The Speaker has decided that IL
; ouesion of the highest privilege and may, there
all other business Nor did the refusal of the DEM
ocrats to allow the House to proceed
with the consideration of other business
bring il any nearer to vote upon the Potter resou'
ton. Nobody is becoming fatigued by attending
unusually protracted sessions, and the Republicans
could not employ the interval between this morning
and Saturday in strengthening their position On
the contrary if the Democrats had manifested dis
position to act with moderation, it would certainly
have had favorable effect, not only upon those OF
their own number who are at heart opposed to TINS
whole movement, but upon the country at large.
But Mr. Potter refused to entertain this proposition
and he, and the Democratic majority which
stands behind him, manifested willingness to
waste the time of Congress, even when such awaste
is not of the slightest advantage to their party ana
does not promote their schemes.
The second proposition which the Democrats re-
,ected was that made by General Banks, and was
substantially the same as that submitted by MT
Fort. General Banks suggested that this question
should be laid aside until the Democrats obtained
quorum of their own number (since they could not
possibly proceed with it until that time and that
the House take up pending appropriation bills and
dispose of them. This Mr.. Potter also refused to
agree to- and said that he was acting under instruc
TONS and would permit business to be transacted
until the resolution he had offered had been dis
posed of.
HUNGRY INDIANS KEPT WAITING
The urgency of some of the appropriation bills is
well known to the leading Democrats The bill
providing for the Indian Service has already passed
both Houses Of Congress- but cannot become law
until some small differences between the Senate and
House of Representatives settled in the commit
tee of conference. The Democratic obstructonists
even refuse to allow this committee of conference
to be appointed, although it might be done at any
time in two minutes and the committee could be at
work.
In the meantime, thousands Of Indians are cOngre-
gated at Fort Peck. where they are entirely desti-
tnte of provisions, aud are growing daily more and
more diseontented. They are reported to be in COM
munication with Sitting Bull, and there is great
danger that unless immediate provision is made for
them they will Join with the Sioux warriors and be-
gin their depredatons upon the frontier settlements.
The Indian Appropriation Bill grants 5000 for
feeding these Indians, which is made Immediately
available but which cannot, Of course be used
until the bill becomes law.
In addition to the danger Of an Indian war, which
this Democratic obstruction of the public business
is causing to increase daily there other reasons
why the Indian Appropriation Bill should be passed
immediately. The law requires that all contracts
made by the Indian Bureau shall be advertised at
least three weeks before they are closed. One of
the largest items of expense to the Indian Bureau is
that of transportation on the Missouri River
The goods and supplies for the Indians at
the Upper Missouri agencies ought to be sent to
their destination during the June foods. Other
wise long hauls over land may be made necessary,
and the expense to the Government enormously in
creased. But no contracts can be advertised for
I'll the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs knows that
Congress has made an appropriation, and that he
Will be authorized to make contracts. Every DAVIS
delay therefore with the Indian Appropriation Bill
will probably increase the expense Of the Indian Ser
wee many thousands OF dollars.
THE FIGHT FOR POLITICAL STABILITY.
The attitude which the Republicans have assumed
regard to the Potter resolution commends itself
more strongly to the good judgment of the ex-
perienced party leaders the more they consider the
present political situation. The Potter resolution
means reopening Of the Presidential controversy
ofls76'77. On no other ground has it any standing
whatever in the House of Representatives. The
speaker in ruling that it a privileged question
based his decision upon its effect the Presidents
little. The Democrats by moving this resolution
therefore propose to raise a question which has
never been raised before in the history of American
Politics, and which it the intention of the
trainers Of our form of government never should be
raised
When President has once been inaugurated,
every political and material interest of the country
Demands that all questions about his title to bis
once shall be put to rest forever This feature
vi our form Of government distinguishes it from
.nose Oh Mexico and the South American Republics.
tneAmeriean Presidents, when they 60 into Office,
are expected to remain at the head Of the Govern
Ment for the terms for which they were elected,
unless they shall be proved guilty Of high crimes
and misdemeanorss for which they are impeacbed.
IN Mexico and the South American Republics.
Residents only hold Office until the party In oppo.
ston gains strength enough to turn them out.
u tho Democrats succeed In their present
movement, q precedent will haYa been es4ah