The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-20
HOT DEBATE IN CONGRESS.
sU8sIDY GRABS IN THE SENATE AND
Election Laws IN THE HOUSE.

FRICTION LAWS IN HE hOIbh.
vo,e Favorable to John Roaeh-Ritter |
T.tk over the Aboiishmsnt OF Supervisors |
If Election Republicans Trying 60 Delay |
a Vote-Dcmocrats Determined ON Work. |
wAsu1NGToN, Feb. 19.-The Democratic |
majority OF the House began to-day the effort |
10 add to the Legislative Appropriation bill two
amendments determined upon by the Demo-
crati, caucus. one changing the method Of
drawing Federal jurors and repeating the sec
lions Of the Revised Statutes requiring Jurors
totnkc tho test oath. the other repeating the
Federal election laws. Tho first of these was
added to the bill after sharp contest in which
authc votes were party votes except One that
presented the naked issue OF the repeal OF the
sections requiring a test oath. and seven Re-
publicans here voted with the Democrats
Pending the consideration OF the second
amendment. the House suddenly. and to the
great surprise OF many Democrats adjourned
nearly twenty Democratic members voting with
the Republicans. The debate will be continued
tomorrow.
From beginning to end the debate was one
long wrangle 1t began at 1917 O'Clock over tho
first amendment proposed 10y Herbert of Ala
bama. A point Of order against its consdera-
ton was raised by Mr.. Hale. that the rules Of
the House prohibit amendments to approprla-
ton bills changing existing law unless they are
In the interest OF economy and germanc. Mr.
Blackburn. who was in the chair. decided the
point Of order not we'll taken. 1t was Incl
dcntaly shown in the debate that some Of the
laws 1t was now proposed to repeal in this way
had been originally passed in the same way.
For the rest OF the afternoon points Of order
were raised by Hale or some other Republican
at every turn. and enough diatory motions
were made to delay business. Before the House
n..I hos. I.l, A.
endeavorng to defeat the adoption OF the
amendment repeating the election laws. every
means to delay action would be exhausted.
THIS means extended hlibustering and an ex-
ira session. II the Democrats stand firm. To-
day 8 debate gave no clear sign whether they
Will or not
Several successive votes were taken upon the
amendment in relation To jurors. The entire
amendment was adopted by n vote OF l2I to 50.
vote; but before this vote n division was had
on an amendment proposed by ConRer, when
made a naked issue on the repeal Of the test
following named Republicans voting with the
Democrats: Chittenden. Kelley, Cole. Metcafe
Robinson tMass.l and Grape.
No vote was reached on the amendment pro-
posed by Southland late in the afternoon for the
repeal of the Federal election laws but the de-
bate had ITS striking passages. without being in
general OF any special interest Garfield made
some severe structures on Blackburn ruling
In tho chair. presiding over the Committee OF
the Whole. In admitting the amendment as
ruling made suhse rvient to the demands OF n
party caucus. Blackburn quit the chair and
defended himself with some vigor. and then
Garfield explained that he didn't mean pre-
somewhat different. Fernando Wood took
the floor at one stage OF the debate
To say, with great vehemence, that he
would never. never, never vote dollar OF
money until the amendment repeating the
election laws had been added 10 the appro-
pration laws and Frye. who had Just been in
New York TO look into John /. Davenports do
ings. read statement OF some length in regard
10 the alleged naturalization frauds in New
York in 1868. The debate closed unexpectedly.
There had been all day much talk OF night
session, and many Democrats had announced
their intention of sitting II out. but as dinner
time approached about twenty Democrats voted
with the Republicans and the House adjourned.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-The Senate passed,
% to l6, House on regulating the pay OF letter
pay OF 81 900, $3.50. and $500 res pectiyeY.
The Post ohice Appropriation bill was then
fuel and light 500. 900 was added. The amend
ment providing that the Postmaster General
shall not make any deficiency in the appro-
priation for the current fiscal year by placing
postal cars upon any route was stricken out.
An amendment increasing the Appropriation
10 80 100000. OF which sum 100000 may bs eN
pended to maintain and secure from railroads
necessary and special facilities for the postal
service and fl6.9ss to pay the balance due for
salaries and expenses OF the special commits
sion on railway mail transportation. and an
amendment increasing the appropriation Tor
postal clerks, route agents. local agents. and
hth3elHtIo AAAA NAsoJ|s''h ~ 80 tNsvy's NtAf
agreed TO.
The brazilian mail steamship subsidy amend
ment was then reached.
Mr.. Beck dem. ky.l raised the point Of order
that the amendment WAS not germane 10 the
bill that II was new legislation. and not an ap-
preparation to carry out existing law. The
question as 10 whether the amendment was in
order was submitted 10 the Senate. and 1t WAS
decided by Il vote OF yeas 80. nays 23 that the
amendment was in order. The vote was rs fol-
lows. Republicans In italic:
YEAs-Messrs AsfAosy, Barnum, Hiiins B7r, Byrnsti,
Butler. ia Coke fluiil tuuuNer. DAVIS w
v hie.s D.r.ss. Eaon Eust,, lsy. Gordon, Grover,
Nasgy WIFI. iiaiisI fais, A Pisj Ra1.a Ro5'.
S''ylt Smada', Siouoa, shields Sporer Hi@oo'. aud
NAYs-Nes.rs Bailey, Bayard. Beck. MN. Davis Ind
kandoph salisbury TaLr, VOORHEES,, Wilssk. and
Mc''r. Jo9e, Neyl. chsaee. and johnston, who would
Ns,'rs Ai.oni Thurman. aud Mecreery. who would
Mr. Edmunds Rep. VT raised the point Of
order that under the Goth rule the amendment
could not be- considered because II proposed
general legislation 10 "a general appropriation
A long debate was had upon this point Of
order. IN which Mr.. Conkliug Rep. n. Y j said
he thought IL demonstrable that the amendment
was Eermane. THIS was bill apprOpriatIng
money for the postal service and Il was proper
10 appropriate money 10 carry mails from the
cilyot New York 10 the city OF Rio de- Janero.
The question being upon the point Of order
could not be considered. because II proposed
general legislation, the Senate. by vote Of yeas
~
Mr.. Eaton Dem, Conn., submitted an amend
meht 10 the Brazilian subsidy amendment. 30
a. io provide that the contract for such service
snail Doe for four years instead Of ten years. as
proposed by the Committee.
Mr Bailey DEM, Tenn) argued TINT this was
hlil Tor the benefit Of John Roach. 1t was well
Understood that there was no other man IN the
country who could take the contract in accord
Rncr with the bill. Roach was now under a
contract with the Emperor OF Brazil 10 take the
mails between New York and Rio. He argued
mat tue New Orleans line would never be cstab.
NHhed. Merchants in the city OF Baltimore had
already established trade with Hlo. aud had
twenty or thirty vessels now running. The effect
'ni this bill would De 10 divert the Rio trade from
Baltimore to New York.
Mr. Cpnkling REP, N.Y. said there had been
something SAID about violation OF contract
and what should be- done then He was not one
g. propose COMPROMISES; but why not amend
the bill 80 as 10 provide that the service shall De
performed 10y a Chinese company. and then
Congress could end the contract whenever II
should choose To- do 50.
Mr. Blaine ttep., Mel said the United States
Steamship Irhncbsee was recently on "A cruls'
OF thlrty-iour months. The Government palt
Tor that cruise t2.J 10000. Congress at this Vrrl
session had apprD prlAted thousands Of dollar
Tor this South Atlantic squadron 10 protect !
Dfpff afsVf4n 1t4ft a 81 rtf.fa .t