The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-20

bers. The newspaper business was pri-
vate one. and the Government had no right
to meddIe With it at all. Men connected
with the press had the same rights as any
other citizens. and no more; but they
claimed that when they. bad built up sys-
tenn OF obtaibing news. employing agents
everywhere, they had right to the news as
property. = 4Ij1 '5t!-t|Gi>~iHG)"A
Forty-fifth CONFERENCE.-THE Session.
~. - ;WAsH1NGroN,, February 10, 1879.
t ..n.. 49,! - SENATE. Y. - !;
The Senate passed House bill to fix the
pay OF letter-carrers, and Senate bill to in
corporate the United States Railway Mail
Service Mutual BENEFIT Association.
The Senate, then resumed the considera-
ton OF the post-otlice appropriation bill.
j When the Brazilian steamship subsidy
section was reached the point Of order was
i made th2t il was not german to the bill.
but the Senate decided that it was in order,
and considerable discussion ensued, pend
ing which the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
| The House, in Committee of the Whole,
ageed-127 to S5--to the amendment offered
by Mr. Herbert, of Alabama, to the legis-
lative appropriation bill, fixing the pay and
regulating the manner of selecting jurors,
and repeating the jurors tcst-oalh.
The question then arose upon an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Southland repeating
! the sections which authorize the appoint
ment OF supervisors of election. A long
and interesting debate followed. Messrs.
Hale, OF Maine, and GarfieId-both speaking
for the Republican party in the House-de-
clared they would use every parliamentary
device TO defeat the proposed amendment.
The discussion became Of an excited char
actcr, and members OH both sides earnestly
declared they proposed to stand firm in
| their views, either for or against the mea-
sure. Tie proposed amendment was pend
ing when the House adjourned, and as the
Democrats insis; upon iSs adoption, the in
dcat;ons are that the bill will fail. This
will nccessitate an extra session.
| During the debate, Mr.. Wood. OF New
York, recited the history Of the laws which
we're proposed to be repealed. They were
but Il portion OF 4 series Of laws passed in
order to keep the southern States as stipen-
diaries OF the Republican party; that it had
been intended for the South, but it was
now applied to the North. The gentleman
from Maine (Mr. Frye assumed to speak
for his party when ne said that he would
resist by every means in his power the re-
peal OF these laws. He OR. Wood could
not speak for his party, but he could speak
for one man when he said he did not care
what became OF the appropriation bills. He
believed that this was a higher question
than that Of appropriating money. He could
stay in the House rs long as any gentleman.
The Democratic party could resist as long
as the Republican party, and he would not
consent to vote for dollar until this
amendment should be engrafted on the bill.
Mr.. Garfield, OF Ohio, said he had not
spoken on the points OF order, because he
did not regard the question as one being
considered deliberately. Ordinarily, this
was hall OF deliberution, but now they
were called on merely to register the edict
OF party caucus under the rule Of per-
son who was uuder orders to decide that
amendment came under the rule.
This remark caused an Immediate eX-
pIosion OF anger on the Democratic side
and more calls to order, and a demand that
clerks desk, but Chairman Blackburn, OF
Kentucky, expressed wish that no Point
Of order should be made, but that he
(Blackburn) should be permitted to respond,
and that wish was acceded to. ..
Mr.. Garfield proceeded with his speech,
exhibiting in its delivery much feeling and
determination. He said: "The Chair will
perfectly understand that meant no reflec-
ton on him personally. [Derisivc laughter
on the Democratic side.] What 1 mean to
say is that where party CAUCUS resolve
against the will Of its own minority that
the whole party must act as a man here,
without regard to its opponents within its
own party, then it ceases to be free deiib-
Grafton and becomes dictatIon from out
side, and not deliberation OF statesmen"
Mr.. Blackburn, having left the chair,
came on the floor, and, reading thc obicc-
tionable extract from Garfield's speech,
asked the latter il he still stood by that.
Mi. Garfield replied that the extract did
not show ais full meaning. All ne said or
meant to say was that the Democratic side
Of the House, including the chairman, was
acting under the moral turess OF caucus
dictation, and that In saying SO he meant
nothing personal. -t.s..:- .a;-.r -
| Mr.. Black burn then said that he accented
the explanation freely and ungrudginglv.
| He denied, however, that he was acting
under any Instructions from caucus, and
stated that he had never seen or heard read
| the amendments until they were presented
in committee, and no member was bound
| by the action OF cauGiis. = Il" ,s-~.ar r. .~.
| There was good deal OF excitement
throughout the discussion, and Mr.. Black
burn was frequently applauded on the De-
| mocratic side, as Mr. Garfield had been on
the Republican side. Before the actual
opening OF the Hibustering proceedings
! (Which appeared now to be ineyitable1e the
committee rose without action on the
amen dment, and'the House adjourned.
l