National Republican., 1880-03-24
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
A Day Almost Wasted In Congress
Yesterday.
Some Debate In the senate--A Days Fruit
less Wrangie in the Houso-Prospect
of ITS Renewal To-day-Tho Min
nesota Vote Conspiraoy-The
Hot Springs Senate Eill--
New Pension Bills.
The Two Houses OF G onGress.

After the prese ntatiOn Of the usual number
Of petitions and the introduction and refer.
ence Of several bills, tho Senate during tho
remainder Of the morning hour, proceeded
with tho consideration OF tho bills on the cal.
endar.
The hill to incorporate the National Eduoa.
tional Association in the District of, Columbia
gave rise TO n constitutional debate, which
continued to the close of the morning hour,
and the bill went over without action.
The bill proposes 10 incorporate tho various
State superintcndents of education as a bod Y
corporate, with power to hold by purchase,
grant gift or otherwise real or personal estate
not exceeding $4,000, but does not define the
objects of the association. 1t Is given power
to meet when and where the association may
decide, after it's first meeting, which is re-
quircd to be held in the District Of Columbia.
1t was the general character of the bill that
gave rise 10 the discussion. whether Congress
had the power to grant charter operative in
any of the States.
The Geneva Award hill was taken up n the
expiration of the morning honr, and discussed
by Senators Garland and Dawes, aud Mt $3.50
p. m. the Senate went into an extended ex-
ecutlve session, after which an adjournment
was had.
The House spent its entire session over q
motion to amoud the rules, and djourncd at
$50 p. M, without getting so far back rs to
reach the point from which tho start was
taken.
On Monday, under the call of the States,
Mr.. TOwnshcnd, of Illinois, introduced and
had referred to the Committee on Revision o.
the Laws u bill reducing the duty on certain
imports This was done by giving the title to
The bill to amend u certain section of tho Re-
vised Statutes without specifying its nature.
In the hurry of business the bill was referred
without any one not in tho secret knowing
its character. A careful examination of the
Cong essionGi Record OF yesterday disclosed the
cat in tho meal and after the reading of the
Journal, General Garfield moved to amend
the Journal by changing the reference of the
bill to the Ways and Means Committee, where,
under the rules, it should CO.
A motion was made by the free.traders to
lay tho motion OH the table, which WAS agreed
to-yeas, llS; nays, III.
Mr.. Townshend. elated at the vote, moved
to reconsider aud lay on the table This, with
tho bare majority shown. proved serious
bunder, for Mr.. Congcr demanded tho yeas
and nays, which was seconded, before the
wiser frce.trade men could induce Mr.. Towns
hend to withdraw his motion. vote was
then taken, and the House refused to lay the
motion to reconsider OH the tai &c, ucxt voted
to reconsider and then reversed Its vote to lay
the original motion on the table, bringing the
question back to Mr. Garaeld's original mo-
tiOn.
Az tnlS point Mr.. MclJaue rose TO question
of privilege, and insisted that as high ques.
tlon of privilege touching the business of the
House he could move to direct the Committee
on Revision Of Laws TO at once report tho bill
back that it might be referred TO the proper
committee on the rules.
The Chair submitted the question to the
House, which decided that it was question of
privilege.
During tho debate Mr.. Garfield intimated
that it was u trick intended to deceive tho
House in introducing the bill in the form that
1t was.
Mr.. Townshcnd declared the gentleman "a
willlul and malicious falsifer,"
Mr.. Garfield replied that after this indecent
exposure of person and mind he had nothing
further to say.
Pending n vote on Mr.. McLnne's motion,
Mr.. Knott suggested, as the question was be-
coming complicated, the House adjourn to
consider the subject more deliberately. This
motion was agreed to, aud at $50 the House
adjourned The motion will lie the first thing
before tho House this morning.