The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-15
CONG RE SSTO NAL
SENATE.

ported back the petition of Robt. Ingersoll
and others asking the repeal or modi6ca-
ton of certain provisions of the revised
statutes, forbidding transportation through
mails of certain matter, pictures, etc., and
moved its reference to the committee on
judiciary. So ordered. This is a petition
favoring repeal of law forbiddiug the
transportation of obscene literature
through the mails.
,ChristsDcy said petitioners'd did not ask for
correction of any error in law but for
change thereof. and that the subject did
not belong to the committee on revision of
laws. the committee therefore asked that
it be referred to the judiciary committee.
Ferry, from the committee on postofices,
reported bill regulating compensation for
transportation of mails on railroads,
providing for classification of mail matter,
and for other purposes. Calendar.
Eustis introduced a bill to provide for
establishment of Brazil steamship service.
Referred.
Morgan called up his resolutisn touching
Mexico, and spoke at length in favor
thereof : The resolution was then referred
to the committee on foreign relations. The
sen ate then went into executive sessisn.
HOUSE
WASHINGTON, May l5.-At opeuiug OF
house this morning there was an unusually
small attendance of members indicating
that the expected marshalling of demo-
cratic forces was not yet complete.
Wood inquired whether senate resolu
tiOn for fnal adjournment was not a ques-
ton of higher privilege than pending ques.
tion of Potter's resolution.
Hale suggested that was matter to be
decided by house.
Speaker expressed opinion that question
of Gnal adjournment was a question oil
privilege between two houses somewhat
analogous to report of conference com
mittee, which had been always held to be
question of highest privilege taking prece
dence even of motion to adjourn. In this
instance consideration OF that question had
been postponed till to day and it now
came up.
Hale-As question of the highest privil,
ege?
| Speaker-As of the highest privilege
| between these two questions.
! Wood ihereupon called up the
senate concurrent resolution for fna
adjournment, and moved that its consider.
alton be postponed till Wednesday, May
29th; he also moyed the previous question
Woods motion agreed to yeas 100; nays
/ LOG. The division on the second previous
question on Potter's resolution showed the
presence of only llS democrats. 20 les,
than quorum.
After the house, by vote of 81 to 81
had seconded the previous question, an(
by vote of l30 to lO6, had adopted tn,
resolution to postpone consideration of the
adjournment resolution, all other business
/ was dropped.
| Regular order was announced by tht
speaker to be on seconding the previou
Iquestion on the resolution offered by Potte
Ion Monday last. The speaker put th,
tuuestion to a standing vote and announced
: that the ayes appeared to have it, ll8 il
the affirmative. Thereupon call for ;
division was made by Hale, and tha
gentleman and Potter were appointed
tellers. The tellers reported ayes l2l
tnayes /, lHales own votel and thel
objection, no quorum Mr.. Speaker
: came from Hale and was recognized by th
chair. Then a motion for call of tn
lhouse was made by Hale and an orderet
call proved the presence of 260 members
Further proceedings under call were the
dispensed with,
Hale Will the gentleman from Nei
York, Mr.. Potter, listen to me for
moment?
KenHa--I demand the regular order.
!, Question recurred on seconding deman
. for previous question and the republican
Z refraining from voting, and the democrat
beipg unable to muster more than 100 th
: house was again left without quorum.
Caldwell, rising to question of order an
directed the speakers attention to rule 3
s of the house.
The speaker directed the rule to b
Tread It provides that every member VIII
shall be 10 the house when a question
nut shall give his vote unless the hous
excuse him.
CaIdwell-The language of that rule |
l;mperative, it says that every membe
!. present shall vote. ~
: Fort-Is suggest that We aresll paired 0
this side Of the house. &c.
, Galdyell-I call attention to the fact tbs
cannon is present and has failed 10 vet,
and has not been excused, Mr., Speaker.
Il Speaker .s41e.r
This is not q new difficulty, the cha
hos caused the rule to be read which is til
D evfent. he thinks, of bis power in th.
. 5;rectiou, In other words. he knows of \
: ohysical way. even by means of sergeal
~ arms or through any pursuasive pows
Y rh;cb he Possesses (laughterl to comp
- he n,