The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-10
FoRTY-srXTH CONGRESS.
The senate sill Discussing Belts Ad.
missIOn-ChaHges In the Rules OF the
House.

| SuLblu6tuLluu WIS IeeuIuGu VI tlIG Neh
Hampshire Senatorial case.
Mr.. Davis opposed the admission Of Mr..
Bell, arguing that there was no such va
cancy as could be filled by the Governor.
Mr.. Mcdonald said that he believed the
appointment Of Bell came within the
spirit and letter Of the Constitution, and
therefore Bell was entitled to admission.
Mr.. Jones (Fla,) spoke in favor Of ad.
hitting Bell.
After further debate the Senate went
into executive session, and when the doors
were re-opened IL adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Stephens, from Committee on Rules,
reported q resolution for the reappoint-
ment OF the following select committees:
Pensions; reform OF civil service; law 70.
specting the ascertainment and deGlara.
ton Of Presidential elections; prevention
OF epidemic diseases; ventilation Of hall;
cause OF depression OF labor. Also, to in
crease committee memberships as follows:
Enrolled Bills, to Z; Coinage, to II; Ways
and Means, to l3; Agriculture, Judiciary,
Elections, Commerce, Appropriations, to
10 each. Also, new rule providing that
a motion to suspend the rules and pass
general appropriation bill shall require a
three.fourths majority, instead Of, as now,
two.thirds.
Mr.. Kenna opposed the proposed rule
which he characterized as an attempt 10
kill the river and harbor bill by the rules
OF the House, and he submitted an amend
ment providing that the rule should apply
only to the bills reported by the Commit.
tee on Appropriations.
Mr.. Blackburn opposed the amendment,
He was heartily In favor Of the proposed
rule. It was not intended to kill the river
and harbor bill, but it meant to say that II
the Committee on Commerce endeavored
TO gag the House and pass the bill without
discussion or amendment It would have to
obtain three-fourths vote.
Mr.. Conger opposed the report; it
seemed plain to him that the object OF the
new rule was not aimed at the river and
harbor bill. 1t might be that the House
would be called on to provide an approp-
ration for the next fiscal year, by the pas.
sage Of joint resolution under the sus-
pension Of rules. When that time came
there would be one-quarter OF the menl-
bers who would oppose 1t, but there
would not be two.thir1s. The real
motive that prompted the report
Of this rule was to prevent the two
thirds OF the sober men OF the House,
OF men willing to prevent the revolution
from passing an appropriation bill without
political clauses. Where had the Repub-
liCan members ofthe Committee on Rules
been when they had assented to such
proposition.
Mr.. Garfield moved as an amendment
the following:
"Nor shall any provision in any appro-
priation bill changing the existing law, be
in order"
Hespoke in favor OF the amendment,
and assured the House that it was not
offered in view ofthe pending legislation
at all, in fact, he proposed that ii should
not apply to the army or legislative appro-
prlations OF this session. In regard to the
proposition requiring two-thirds majori-
ty in case Of the passage Of an appropria-
tion bill, under the suspension rules, he
assured the gentleman from Michigan
(Conger) THAT no such idea as he sug.
gested had entered into its consideration.
For himself, he did not care about that
feature Of the report, and was willing to
have the rule stand as at present, requir-
ing only two-thirtls majority.
Mr.. Randall having left the Speakers
chair and come on the floor, spoke in op.
position to Mr.. Garfield's amendment,
dwelling on the importance Of maintain
ing the rule as It stands at present, in re-
gard to requiring amendments to be not
only germane to the bill, but 10 be in the
interest Of economy.
The first proposition recommended by
the report for the re-appointment Of GER
tain select committees was then agreed to
without amendment. The second pro-
position OF increasing the membership OF
certain committees, was agreed to without
amendment. The third proposition in
regard to the new rule having been reach
ed, Mr.. Kenna withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Reagan moved to strike out the pro-
posed rule and insert the following:
THAT hereafter the Committe on Com
merce shall have the same privilege to re.
port bills making appropriations for the
improvement Of rivers and harbors that
is accorded to the Committee on Appro-
priations in reporting general appropri-
alton bills" Agreed to; yeas l47, nays OF.
The question was then taken on the
amendment offered by Mr.. fairfield and it
was rejected; yeas ll6, nays 100.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Springer,
forbidding the reprinting Of bills OF one
Congress when introduced into another
Congress was agreed to.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Mills,
abolishing the Committeeof Elections and
requiring each contested election case to
he referred to a select committee which
should report within thirty days, was re-
jected.
Another amendment was offered by Mr..
Mills, giving to the Co mmittees on Bank.
ing and Currency, Coinage, and Ways and
Means leave to report at any time, and
authorizing the majority TO fix day for
the consideration OF any public bill re.
ported by oneofthese committees. Agreed
10, yeas 1870, nays 100.
amendment was offered by Mr.. Fort,
providing that the morning hour shall not
be dispensed with on any day for any pCr.
pose except by two-thirds' vote. Agreed
to.
On motion oi Mr.. Stephens the Com.
mittee on Rules was authorized to inCor.
porate the several propositions agreed to
at the proper place on the existing rules.
Mr.. Garfield, from the Committee on
hules, suDulltteu IePOIL RECOMMENDING
that the rules regulating the awarding Of
the floor OF the House and the Committee
OF the Whole benot changed. 1t also states
that the practice OF making lists OF
those members desirous to speak is
proper, In order to enable the presid.
ing officer to remember the wishes
OF members, but that inrecognizing mem.
bers he shall not be bound absolutely by
his list, but shall exercise wise and Just
discretion. In conclusion the committee
asked to be discharged from the further
consideration Of the subject,
The report agreed to and the House
adjourned.
SPRING ELECTIONS.
; VIEW Jersey.