Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-16
At THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
A BREEZE IN THE HOUSE.
BUSINESS IN THE SENATE.
MEETINGS OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
--
Senate To-day.

Mr.. Anthony presented and had read in the Sen
ate to-day memorial from 300 officers, line and
staff, Of the navy representing all grades OF rank,
from rear admiral down, protesting against the
restoration OF officers who have been dismissed
for drunkenness, been forcibly retired, or who
mortal was ordered printed in the Record.
Mr.. EdInunds asked that the names Of the petit
TONERS also appear there SO ordered.
RELIEF OF FLOOD SUFFERERS.
On motion of Mr.. Harrison, tie House amend
ments to the Senate joint resolution making
further appropriation to relieve the sufferers by
the Mississippi overflow, were taken up, and the
first, increasing the appropriation by $4,000, was
COncurred in.
Mr.. Harrison asked n-concurrence in the other,
which directs the use OF portion OF the
appropriation for the hire Of laborer5 to strength
en threatened leveeS.
House of Representatives.
MR.. M'LANEs QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE
Immediately after the reading OF the journal,
Mr.. McLane rose to question of privilege. The
question he made was that the Speaker, In the
language addressed to the gentleman from Mis-
sssppi, has invaded the privileges Of the House
and subsequently had entertained motion to ad-
Journ before he had responded to the question of
privilege raised by him (McLane).
The Speaker replied that the gentleman was in
error At the time the House adjourned last night
the whole matter had been suspended and the
chair had made such answer as he desired.
Mr. MclIane said that he would not declare that
the chair had eyaded a reply to his question. The
chair had not concluded his answer, and would
recognize the fact that he was under an obligation
to submit the question TO the House.
The Speaker.-The chair does not understand
that the gentleman rises to new question.
Mr.. McLane.-I do rise to a new question OF
privilege. ] am avoiding disrespectful express
evaded the point at issue. The question rise to
is that the chair failed in its obligation to sub
NIT the question to the House.
The Speaker.-Thc gentleman will give atten-
tiOn.
Mr.: McLane-I am entitled to be heard by the
Speaker, and have that respect for the chair and
for my brother members that am sure that l will
be permitted to state my case.
The Speaker.-The chair desires to state, II he
1t was the duty OF the chair to submit the ques-
tion Of privilege to the House, that that is wholly
Mr.McLane appealed from the decision, but SUBJ
sequently withdrew his appeal, and Mr.. Kenna,
rising to question OF privilege. offered the fol-
Rescued, That the rights and duties Of the
Speaker @ OF this House are defined by the rules of
and under said law the Speaker enjoys privilege
to reprimand and censure member except by ac-
tonS.
Resolred, That any attempt to exercise such
power is breach OF the privileges OF the House,
Is hereby expressly condemned, and will be
promptly resisted, and otherwise dealt with the
rights, dignity and duties OF this House may re-
Quire.
Mr.. Kenna in Offering this resolution said: l
am prompted by a feeling OF no character other
than disposition to assert the prerogatives OF
this House and its membership. In my Judgment,
as in the Judgment OF the House, the proposition
asserted by the Speaker yesterday is an untenable
one, and this side OF the House, at least, is desr-
Gus OF going on the record in reputation OF 1t.
That is all have to say.
The Speaker-The chair desires to state that 1T
is OF opinion that the gentleman from West Vir-
ginla is mistaken in regard to all that took place
yesterday as to this matter.
Mr. kenna-1 trust the whole House is in pre-
c1Sely the same attitude.
THE SPEAKER EXPLAINS.
The Speaker.-After all that has been said there
should be no misunderstanding, because the chair
never has proposed to assume the power OF the
House in furnishing member for past disorderly
conduct, but he only his right as presiding
officer, to preserve order and to do all that is
cessary, within parliamentary law, to that end.
The duty IS settled not only by long parliamentary
usage, but by the positive terms of our rules The
chair used the word ''reprimand" in It's ordinary
and proper sense, and not in it's technical sense
''To reprimand" is to check and to repress a mem
Der who is out of order Beyond this presiding
officer should not go gOin.administering reprimand
his duty to the House. The Chair never assumes
to reprimand member for what he has
done, done; that is for the House. The Chair
should check, repress or repr1mand any
member for persisting in proceeding out OF order.
The chair desires to repeat that in all that took
dertook to reprimand member foreany past act,
but II to call to order is to reprimand, the chair
simply did what the rules required him to do. The
highest parliamentary repr1mand known to thepar-
lament OF England, is to mention members name
which puts them in parliamentary disgrace. This
was not done yesterday, nor was any person repr1-
manded beyond calling him to order. The Speaker
further stated that the Record this morning did
him an Injustice In not showing that the gentle
TO order by the chair.
Continuing, he said There is nothing in this
proposed resolution that the chair would not, him
SELL subscribe to on the floor and vote for, If any
body assumed the duties and powers of the House
In the manner OF administering reprimand.
Mr. kenna-If had SO understood the Speaker
yesterday, and If this side had SO understood him,
the resolution l sent would not have been pre-
sented, and ask permission to Withdraw it.
Leave was granted, amid applause, and the mat
ter dropped.
THE CHINESE BILL
The House then resumed the consideration OF
the Chinese bill and was addressed by Mr.. Willis,
who congratulated the people of California and
the people of the whole country, that they were
at last to receive substantial, il not entire re-
lief from the evils OF Chinese immigration.
The District I'm Congress-.
The Senate to-day passed the bill to regulate the
use OF the Capitol grounds.
THE PROPOSED HALL OF RECORDS.
The bill to erect in this city building to be
known as the hall OF records for the preservation
of the public papers OF the government was re-
ported favorably to-day by the House committee
on public buildings and grounds, and it was re-
ferred to the committee OF the whole on the state
OF the Union.
MEETING OF THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
At a regular meeting OF the Senate District COM
mittee to-day Mr.. Vance was authorized to report
favorably upon the bills for the relief OF Thomas
Evans and Albert T. Whiting. He was directed to
incorporate both bills In one. These bills are to
authorize the reissuance OF certificates and their
conversion into 365 bonds In the place OF two that
have been lost. The committee considered the
water bill and the question OF enlarging the water
works, and while no formal action was taken It Is
said the sentiment was decidedly In favor OF the
extension Of the works proposed In Senator Harris
bill
MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTs BEFORE THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE.
Owing to the snarl into which the District mu-
ncipal code has been thrown by the Haskell
amendment for mixed schools its passage will not
be pressed by the District committee. To cover
the more important features OF the CODE however.
Mr.. Neal compiled from 1t several chapters, which
he introduced as separate bill. One chapter Is
devoted to taxation; one to the mode OF assessing
real estate; one to the listing of personal prop
erty; another to the mode OF the collection OF
taxes, the time OF their payment, how delinquent
sales shall be conducted, &C.; another chapter is
devoted TO forfeited lands; another to license
taxes. and a final chapter to collateral Inherit
anceS. distribution, shares and legacies. At to-
day. meeting or the House District committee the
bill was considered by the committee and a good
deal OF progress was made 1t Will be reported to
the House ut the earliest day possible.
DISTRICT DAYS.
At the republican caucus last night ther, WAS