The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-18
Last Nights Dispatches.
XLVT CONGRESS.
HOUSE.

notes provided for in the bill shall bear
three and a half per cent permanent inter
est the same as 20 40 bonds.
The regular order was a motion to lay
on the table the motion to reconsider the
vote by which the House yesterday order
the main question on the bill prohibiting
the publication of lottery schemes in the
District of Columbia. The motion was
defeated, III to III. The motion to re-
consider was agreed to.
Mr.. Knott moved TO lay the bill on the
table. Rejected. The bill goes over un~
til next District day,
The bill regulating the removal of eau
ses from state to federal courts was then
taken up in the morning hour.
Mr.. Knott supported it. He instaDced
the great power of corporations. one of
which, like the enormous octopus, stretch
ed it's moDstrous fentacles into eleven
states and controlled GOO miles of rail-
road. and its financial operations were
second to the government itself Congress
could not disturb these parasites on the
body poiitic, but they ought TO deprive
them OF such extraordinary privileges as
this bill contemplates aud which they had
10 contraveution to the constitution. He
crltIcized the courts decisions which re-
garded corporations as citizens, The log
lcal conclusion from the decision was that
it might become the President or General of
the army, but it had no soul and could not
take an oath or be damned The bill went
over.
The house then recommended revision
OF Mr.. Warner amended substitute to
Mr.. Speer's amendment to rule 81, pro-
viding that it should be in order to reduce
the nf mn nr0yTsHod hry rho
existing Law and to that extent only, to
change the Law. Rejected, 80 to 50.
The next amendment was Mr.. loves
prohibiting partisan legislation upon ap-
preparation bills,
Mr.. Price submitted an amendment
thot when an amendment is offered TO ap
appropriation bill changing the law, the
retrenchment proposed shall not be by
inference, but shall expressly specify the
amount Of money thereby saved
Mr.. Hurd spoke against preventing leg
isiati0n on appropriation bills. History
indicated that the provisions of the consti-
tuition which gave representation to the
people might control purses and compel
redress Of grievances and The adoption Of
healthful legislation. 1t was perhaps
check on the president. Messrs Speer
and Warner proposed to surrender this
power, but they could Only do so by a
amendment. He reviewed :
the advantages which mad accrued to the
Democracy and to the nation through u.s.
ing this Iowcr during the extra session.
Impartial jurjes, an army shorn of lis dan
garoua power. and row in the midst Of
victory it was proposed to surrender and
quit tbs contest for the liberties OF the
people.
Mr.. Warner repudiated this as uudem-
ocratic doctrine; that the House by with
holding legitimate appropriations, had
right to coerce the Senate or the Execu-
tive. Our Presidents never had that
power which was taken from King John
He did not propose to recognize that
doctrine, All power in this country
originates with the people. They re-
dressed their own grievances, not the exc
cutive,
Mr. Speer offered n substitute fer Mr..
loves amendment that il shall be in
order TO strike oct any amount and insert
a less amount.
Tie Speaker sustained Mr., Black burns
poiDt that this had already been voted
down and was out of order.
Mr.. Garfield took appeal and the chair
was sustained. I29 to 100
Several like amendments were voted
down by the Democrats and the house
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. I7,-Mr. Salisbury
stated that during he recent investigation
caused before the Committee on Elections.
the question arose to what extent teie-
grams could properly be used in evidence
The committee instructed hIm 10 repor;
the following:
ResotUed. That teleerapbic messages
and copies cf record of the same 10 pos
session Of telegraph companies. iheir offi-
cars or servants, are not privileged by law
from production aud examination in proper
process before q committee authorized to
send for persons and papers.
Resolued, That the order for the pro-
duction OF such documents ought to be so
regulated by sound discretion as to protect
the privacy Of communications not related
to the matter under investigation, and
especially that the authority making such
order ought first to be satisfied that the
message sought is, if obtained. likely to be
material to the pending investigation, and
ought to describe the message sought.
Mr.. Beck said the commissioner of penr
sions had no right TO anticipate the action
Of congress as he had done in employing
extra clerks.
Mr.. Wallace stated that the appropria-
ton bad not yet been exceeded and the
Law was not violated.
Mr. Kirk9o asserted that 200, 900
claims are now pending and every member
of Congress is overwhelmed with protests
from his constituents against the unreason-
able delay.
Mr.. Salisbury pleaded economy, and
Mr. Voorhees, thoughtit misplaced economy
where hundreds of people to whom pen
sions were justly due were waiting aud
dying without settlement because Congress
was stingy The Land Office was in the
same condition.
Others followed in the same vein. and
Mr. w Wallace hoped this bill, which did
what the Commissioner asked, would pass.
Mr. Beck paid compliment to Secre-
tary Thompson who. be said. was the only
executive officer who did not violate the
law The bill finally passed.
after executive session. adjourned.