The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-09
FREEDOM or DEBaTR
Gag Law by No Mean. Proposed In the Leg
tsIntlvo Bill Debate.


WAsHINGToN, April s.-Whcn Mr.. Atkins.
Chairman of the House Committee on Appro-
prlations. arose this afternoon to move to go
into Committee Of the Whole for the considcrn-
ton Of tho Iicgislative. Judicial. and Execu-
two Appropriation bill. Mr.. McLnnc Dem.. MIL
moved that the Chairman OF the Committee Of
the Whole bo instructed to award the floor in
accordance with the rules of the House. and not
be bound by any lst on the Speakers table.
Mr.. Hooker tDem.. 'Mss.l. In support Of the
motion. said that session after session no had
seen the power Of tho House centralized In u
few great committees. and he was tired OF IL.
Mr.. Kelley tRep.. Pal said that II WINS evident
that the majority on both sides were determined
that there should be no Monday to initiate leg
islation. In fact that Legislation wns to be con-
1ned to tho two appropriation bills Now let
the House fight II out and lot the country know
how thoroughly Pickwickian the cry OF revolu-
ton and revolt was. tApplause on the Domo-
crntic sidel
The subject having been rcforrod to the Com
mittee on Rules. tho House wont into Commit
tee OF tue Whole on the Legislative bill. Mr..
Atkins explained that he had introduced the
bill on tho basis Of the conference report Mt the
tiTe money 5ort6n ri %sF oF the bd Xii Ind not been
agreed to Oy the Conference Committee. but
very nearly all OF Il had. In regard TO those
parts upon which the Committee on Confer
encc had not agreed, the present bill conformed
to the bill ~ IL had passed the House Mt tho
last Cungress. He should not attempt To- apply
the gag TO the House in the matter OF debate,
but he would suggest that the money portion Of
the bill should be ,considercd under the ,nve
minutes rule aud that the general debate
should be reserved for the political portions Of
the bill.
This suggestlon WINS ngreed to. Mr. Black
burn, the Chairman. said that he was informed
that there WIS at the desk list Of seventy odd
members who desired to sneak upon the pend
ing bill. He desired to be fair IN rocOgnizng
gentlemen. and he therefore would not recOg-
nize any list except such rs was made up nfter
no had assumed the duties Of presiding officer.
The Clerks desk was Immediately surrounded
by members who desired TO place thor names
upon the list Of speakers. After order had been
restored. tho bill was read 10y sections fOr
amendments.
The bill as It stands approprntes tls 100000
An important amendment was adopted to- day,
which requires thntthe Public Printer shall fur
nish annually an itcmized statement OF his ex-
pendituros. He has not been required TO do
this before. md his accounts have been found
in great confusion. and have left him open to
the charge OF corruption. The House will
scarcely reach political portions OF the bill to-
morrow.
The Senate passed Mr.. Bayard's resolution
calling upon John sherman to communicate To-
the senate the amount Of all moneys paid to
John |. Davenport IN 1870 and subsequent yoars.
Mr. Bayard Dem, Deli Introduced bill to
repeal the net passed in 1852 providing test
oaths and disqualification of jurors in courts OF
the United States He asked for its imnrd lato
passage. The effect of this act. he said, WIS to
exclude persons OF character and Intelligence
from Jury service. In the Southern States par
ticularly. The Senate had already passed such
a bill as the one he now introduced. He did not
desire to debate the bill. but offered it for the
sake Of justice and the promotion OF good feel
ing among all his countrymen.
Mr.. Edmunds rep. VII said he was not
aware that the Senate had passed a bill 10 re-
peal section S21. II the Senator's bill should 20
to n committee, "a substitute for that section
might be framed satisfactory to everybody. thus
escaping the evils which the Senator thought
might arise should the law stand. Section $50.
however. was repealed by both Houses in 1876
but somehow 1t Atterwnrd found Its way into
the Revised Statutes The Senate had. since
that time. passed an act 10 repeal that section.
but IL was not acted upon by the House.
The bill was referred TO the Committee on the
Judiciary. the objection OF Mr. Edmunds having
prevented its Immediate consideration.
The Senate then resumed tho consideration
OF the New HAMPSHIRE Senatorial election.
Mr.. Carpenter tRep WIS., congratulated the
Senate that this question WIS to be decided on
It's merits. and not on partisan grounds. IL,
then gave his views on tho pending question
arguing against the admission OF MIR. Bell
there being no such vacancy 10 the Governor
could I'LL The vacancy caused by the eNpra-
ton Ot Mr.. MHdeigh = term OF service must bg
filed hy the Legislature.
Mr.. Groomc tDcm.. Md briefly gave the rea.
sons why he should vote 10 sent Mr. Bell. taking
the ground that IL tho Legislature was not IN
default the vacancy could be- filed by the Gov
crnor whether by reason ot the expiration Of a
senatorial torn, or by resignation or otherwise.
Mr.. Herman tDem.. y. N.Iuil loscd the admis-
sion of MIR. Bell deur thut the Constitution
conferred on any G,, ,npr the power To mp
point Senator TO beg U new term Oi siA years