The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-16
kLVth Congress-ReguIar Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. May IS.
AIr. Christiancy from the committee revision of
laws reDorted back the petition of Robert G. Inger
soil and others asking the repeal or modification of
certain provisions of the RevisedtStatutes f0rbiddng
through mails of certain matter, pictures, &C.. and
moved ITS Iefe ence to the judiciary committee. So
ordered. This is the petition fayoIng the rep cal of
the law forbdding transportation OF obscene htera-
ture through the mails.
Mr.. Ferry from the post office committee reported
bill regulating compensation for transportation Of
mails on rail- Dads. Calendared.
Mr. Eustis introduced bill to provide for the es-
Enlistment of mail steamship service between the
United States and Brazil Referred to the post office
committee The provisions of the bill are the same
as those of the amendment submitted by Mr.. Maxey
yesterday, and ruled tupon point OF order raised
byHMr. Edmunds ~
Mr. Mogan called up the resolution touching the
relations between the United States and Mexico, and
spoke at length in favor thereof. The resolution was
then referred to the committee on foreign relations
Mr.. Voorhees, presented petition OF tne business
men of Boston lavorng the immediate and uucondi-
tional repeal of the specie resumption act Lal1 on
the table, the bill now beng before the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the Senate Dill TO provide
freproof building for the use of the bureau OF ems
craving and printing the mechanical and other de-
partments
that no plan for such building was agreed upon.
Besides it was question whether the government
would save money by undertaking to do the kind OF
work contemplated on this building.
Pending this discussion the morning hour exp ired
and the bill was laid aside.
Mr.. Beck introduced bill to authorize the Post
master General to place the mail service any pub
lie highway, river or railroad whenever the public
service requires it. Referred to the commi ttee on
post offices.
Mr.. Anthony from the committee printing re-
ported favorably on Senate bill authorizing the pub
lcation for sale OF an edition of the narrative of
the Polaris expedition. Passed.
The Senate at 220 p. M, on motion Of Mr.. Sargent
went into executive session.
At 40 the doors were reopened and the Senate
adjourned.
AT the opening OF the House there was an unusual
ly small attendance.
Mr.. Wood inqui ed whether the Senate resolution
for final adjournment was not question of higher
privilege than the pending question of Potters reso
tion
Mr.. Hale suggested that the matter b. decided by
the House.
The Speaker gave it as his opinion that thu ques-
ton OF final adjournment was question of priv
lese between the two houses somewhat analogous to
report OF a conference committee which had been
always held to be question Of the highest privi-
In this instance the Of that resolution
Hae-As OF the highest privilege?
Speaker-As of the higher privilege between these
two questions.
Mr.. Wood then called up the Senate concurrent
resolution for final adjournment and moved its con-
sderation be postpone till Wednesday, May 29th
Mr. Garfield hoped MIR. Wood would state the
reasons Tor postpOnemeDt.
Mr. Wood said if the House desired it and if there
was no objection he would state his reasons very
briefly. Cries OF Irregular order" from the Demo-
cratic side.) Then, said Mr. Wood, must insist on
the previous question.
Garheld-The gentleman has right to make his
statement before he moves the previous question
Speaker-The gentleman from New York demands
the previous question
The previous question was then seconded-s4 to Ct
1870, nays 1O6
Mr.. Bridges asked unanimous consent to offer
resolution calling tor Information in regard to the
claim of Carl B1tterfeld against the government of
Denmark bu' the demand for the regular order was
promptly lrterpoSed by Backburn, and tn regular
order was announced by the Speaker to be on Sec
0nulng toe previous question on the resolution of
fered by Mr., Potter Monday last.
Speaker, put the question to a standing vote and
announced ayes appeared to have it, lis IN the af-
nrmatve, whereupon call for division was made
by Hale and that gentleman aud Potter were ap-
Telers reported ayes 12l, NAYS l. (Hales own vote)
and then objection was made that there was no
quorum
Then motion for call of the House was made by
Hale and ordered. Call proved the presence of 260
members Further proceedings under the call were
then dispensed with.
Hale-Will the gentleman from New York potter
listen to me for a moment?
kenna-I demand the regular or der.
Question occurred on secOnding the demand for the
previous question and the Republicans retraning
from voting and the Democi ats being unable to mus
aquorum.
Mr.. Caldwell rising to question of order directed
the Speakers attention to rule 81 of the House.
speaker directed the rule be read II provides
That every member who shall be in the House when
question put shall give his vote unless the House
snail excuse him.
Caldwell-The language of that rule is imperative.
1t says that every member present shall vote,
FortTI suggest that we are all paired this side
Caldwell-I call attention to the fact that Cannon
cused.
Speaker-This is not a new difficulty. The Chair
mas caused the rule to be read which the extent he
thinks OF his power in that direction In other
words he knows IF no physical way, even by means
OF the Sergeant-at-arms, or through any persuasive
power which he possesses QaughterC to compel gen.
tlemen to vote but if the gentleman from Tennessee
fhaN hoir
to be followed.
CALDWELL suggest that the Chair can order the
gard the rule and carry him between the telleIs,
derisVe Laughter and cries OF suppose you let him
try 1C from the Republican side)
Mr. Mills called attention to Speaker Baine's rul-
ing IN the 41st Congress when the Democrats were
nhbusting against the civil rights bill that
Go lou; bring horse to water, but you couldn't
10 Beebemt desire to ask my colleague Potter why
members under the call instead of moving to dispense
WILD an iurther proceedings under the call?
totter-l VIII answer my colleague that we have
To-Day and we passed yesterday joint resolution for
adJournment OF the houses tomorrow at O'Clock, by
virtue OF which al proceedings under call would
terminate at that ii ne without there being an OPP
portun1ty to bring in absent members.
beeoe-Then l hope that when we meet tomorrow
that order Will be issued to bring in absentees on
pom SIDES SO as to put an end to PAIRS, (cries of
ms Is not quorum from the Republican sde.'')
anotner call OF the House was ordered and showed
presence OF Z63 members, and on motion of Mr.. Cox
with,
Cox-NoW move that the House adjourn in order
to give our Republican friends chance TO get back
to their seats. Rejected.
e another vote was taken secondng the demand
Ior the previous question: which resulted 1O5 TO and
tne point OF no quorum was gain made by Mr.. Hale.
Mr ,o WOOD moved to adjourn. Defeated yeas 49,,
nay ~, tne Republicans voting soLdly against it
anu being reinforced by number of Democrats.
AFTER another Intellectual attempt to secure quo
rum. the House on motion of Potter at l. 80 D. m.
adjourned without division.
MT Clark gave notice of Republican caucus to be
ne'd Immediately. THIS announcement was receiv-
ed WITH laughter aud capping of hands on the Demo-
cratlc SIDE aud with demonstrations of triumph and
Sehance ON the Republican side. There was for a
rev minutes great excitement but gradually the
publlcans in possession of the Ia rnhe - =