Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-23
Scnnein1h House.

Yesterday evening, the qnestioo b.lDg upon
suspension Of the rules and the passage Of the
River aud llarbor bill, Mr.. Cox, ofN. Y. raised
the point of order that the clause 10 the Const'
tuition which authorized Congress to regulate
commerce did not empower it to pass such
bill as this Besides appropriated S. 900. 900.
and should be FIRST considered 10 the Commit.
tee of the Whole.
The Speaker said majority of the House
had light 10 determine the matter.
| MIR. Cox insisted upon being heard.
Mr.. Kenna called him TO order, and demand
cd the regular order.
MIR, Cox demanded the reading of the bill in
full.
| The bill having been read through,
| MIR. Cox, n. T., again rose to p0lnt OF or
der, aud said that under the Constitution,
which authorizHs Congress to regulate com
| mcrcc between the States, there was no au.
thority to regulate il between Congressional
| districts
The Speaker said that was question for
each member 10 determine for himself.
| Mr.. Reagan aud MIR. Kenua objected to de-
bate.
Mr. Ccx persisted 10 being heard on the
point that this bill was unconstitutional. There
was not enough water in the bill to give it q
commercial feature.
The House resouDied with calls to order.
MIR. Reagan said whether there was Was any
water 10 the bill or not. it seemed clear, from
the way the gentleman was opposing the bill,
that there was some other flld at work.
Mr.. Southland wanted to make point OF or
der that the amount Of appropriation was re-
quired to be stated
Calls of Order Order y
The Speaker said that the rule prevailed
only as to regular appropriation bills.
MIR. Reagan said the I'LL dii state the
amount
Mir. Rice moved TO adj ouru, AID upon that
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The motion was reiected-yeas 50. nays POI.
Mr.. Mitchell Inquired if it was DOT in order
to ak for separate vote on the items OF the
bill. He protested that the bill had not beeo
printed as it was proposed to pass it. lie read
the rule permitting division.
The Speaker said that was one CT The very
rules which it was proposed to suspend,
Mr. Mitchell (amid loud calls of order from
all parts of the haI) called attention TO the
other rule, which required that the amount of
money appropriated should be set forth 10 the
bill.
The Speaker said that referred only to
bills from the regular Appropriations Commit
tee.
Mr.. Mitchell rose to another point of order.
Cries of "Order Order j"
Mr.. Mil chc said they might call to order,
but be bad rights Oh this e jor, hls c)nStltu
ents bad rights, and be did not propose to be
cried down. He protested against the bill as
40 omnibus, log rolling measure. 1t was on
the principle Of You help me and LII help
you ~
lie was again called to order.
Mr.. Cox. of N. Y. rose, and was again met
With calls to ORDER but be was heard to protest
against the passage the bill.
The question was put, and lbe bill was passed
ty vote of lG7 yeas to Sc nays.
10 announcing that he was paired, MIR. Tur-
ncr Of KY, sad be would have voted DO b.
cause there was nothing for his State 10 the
bill ADD never had been.
After the result bad been announced, Mr..
Cox. cf n. Y, rose and said that be bad pro.
test, signed Ly large number Of members,
protesting against the passage Of the bill as an
unconstitutional measure, and be desired to
have it read.
Mr.. Hooker and Mr.. Harris, of Va. moved
TO a6jouro, while demauds for the regular or
der resoundcd through the ball.
Mr.. Mills. DO the rules permit minority
Of this House 10 protest formally against the
action Of the msjority?
The Speaker replied that there was pre-.
cedent fer ia notable case, which occurred
10 the Thirty ninth Congress, when the Demo.
cratic side had protest e0terad against the act
Of the majority.
At t1is point there was much confusion in
the hall. Members we're gathering about the
Speakers d@>k, aud a score or more Of gentle
men were loudly appealing to be heard
Mr.. Buchard. Will this protest have any
more effect than negative vote =?
The Speaker. 1t will not.
Several N fm bers t1lired if it would not re-
quire unanimous consent to iotr0du &C the pro-
test.
The Speaker thought not. The gentleman
could have the paper, as we'll as the prt ,dent
set in the Thirty.nlDth Congress, read as part
OF his remarks.
Mr.. Keuna insisted that remarks were not
in order peodlug a motion to adjourn.
The speaker said the geutleman had risen to
question Of privilege. and be proposed to
have the papers read as pat of his remarks.
Mr. Garfield rose to higher question of
privilege, and moved that the House adjourn.
York has the flor, and declines to yield for
that purpose.
Mr. Cox, Of N. Y. ask that the paper be
read.
Mr.. Mills. Aud object. I want to know
ifit is question of privilege for the minority
Of this House to protest against the action of
the majority.
The confusion 90 the floor was revived, and
the speaker had difficulty 10 preserving order
The Speaker said the gentleman had risen to
question of privilege and sent up the paper 10
be read, He could not determine whether it
was question of privilege or not ultl it was
read.
Mr.. Garfield suggested that it was the duty
of the Chair to inspect the paper to determine
whether 1t was question of privilege.
Mr.. Reagan rose to q question of ORDER
When the gentleman from New York was
recognized be said be rose to present protest
against the action of tbs House. That pro-
test could not be received, and it could not now
be converted into question of privilege.
~ L t.. NJ