Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-30

not suppress the testimony which was OBJ
iected to In this contested election case.
Mr.. Haskell. of Kansas, made an argu-
ment on the Republican side Of the ques-
tion.
Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky, followed on
the Democratic side. He insisted that,
while asserting and granting the right of
the House to change It's rules, the change
must be made according to the terms and
conditions which the rules themselves i'm
posed. He showed the Inconsistency OF re-
curing the Speaker to exclude dilatory
motions on a question of amending the
rules, while allowing for the last ten days
such motions on a question OF the highest
privilege, the right of member TO his seat.
1t required two thirds to suspend any rule
for an hour, but now the claim was that on
one davis notice a msiority of one could
change or abrogate all the rules In fuuVe.
The precedent now sought to be set would
not be allowed or restricted to contested
election cases. The same process might be
resOrted to in order to abrogate the rule that
protects the Treasury from "riders' on ap
preparation bills. lie pleaded with the
Speaker to weigh well the consequences
OF what he was asked to do, and
TO consider the power which such a
decision would give to an unbridled ma
jority to act outside of the rules. 1t would
be the entering wedge for the abolition of
all parliamentary government, and would
open the Treasury to robbers and plunder-
ers.
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Robson. of New Jersey, Cox, of New
York, Hooker, OF Mississippi, Reagan, OF
Texas, McLane, of Maryland, Hazelton, of
Wisconsin. Robinson, of Massachusetts,,
and Randall, OF Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, closed the debate.
The Speaker rendered decision sustain
ing Mr.. Reeds point Of order. that dilatory
motions cannot be made to prevent change
of rules.
Mr. Randall appealed from the decision
of the Chair, and Mr.. Reed moved to lay the
appeal on the table. The appeal was laid
on the table-yeas $50, nays none.
After the announcement of the vote, Mr..
Cox, of New York, presented a protest
| signed by over one hundred Democratic
members against the ruling Of the Speaker.
| The protest was not received to go upon the
journal, but was read as part of Mr.. COx's
remarks so as to be printed In the Congress
SiO1lGl Record.
was adopted-yess $50, nays2.
At 6:45 the House determined to resume
| consideration of the contested election case.
Mr.. Miller, of Pennsylvania, took the
floor IN open the debate.
At o'clock the House adjourned until
| tomorrow.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, an order was adopted for
an adjournment from to-day until Wednes
day In honor of Decoration day.
Mr.. Hoar introduced bill to establish a
uniform system of bankruptcy. He explain
ed that it was based on the Lowell bill, but
that while containing many of the pro-
visions of that measure, 1t reserved
all exemptions under State laws, and varied
from it In some material particulars. He
asked that 1t be printed and tabled, the Ju
tod tha
subject. SO ordered.
On motion of Mr.. Slater the Senate bill to
reimburse the Creek Indian orphan fund
was again considered. At the expiration Of
the morning hour the bill was laid aside
without action.
Mr.. Rollins c,lled up tie bill for the sale
of the old post Cffice site at New York, and
it was passed.
The Japanese indemnity fund bill came
up as the regular order, but after debate,
was laid aside without action. After a short
executive session the Senate adjourned
until Wednesday.
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
In the Criminal Court to day. after argu
ment, Judge Wylie overruled the motion to
qdash the indictments against Turner, and
Mr.. Wilson noted an exception. Mr.. Cole
then offered an affidavit of Reerdell, alleging
that he absolutely knew of misconduct of
the grand jury, and 1t was read. Judge
Wyle manifested the greatest indignation
as the reading proceeded and interrupted
Mr.. Cole to say to his own knowledge it was
wholly untrue.
at that paper is fled, give you warning
/ will direct Mr.. Reerdell to be prosecuted |
for perjury said the court.
Mr.. Cole endesvored to explain that 1t
was, perhaps. bis fault, inasmuch as he
drew up the affidavit and Reerdt II had signed |
It in a hurry. Perhaps, he thought he was
swearing to his belief, not his knowledge, |
said Mr.. Cole, but the paper had already |
been fled and the court refused to allow its |
withdrawal, leaving the defendants coun- |
sci much disturbed.
The court then asked IL there were anv |
further motions, "because," said he, 'if |
there are l overrule them" The court |
then paid high compliment to the grand |
jury, and Mr.. Merrick asked that the de-
PENDANTS be called upon to plead, and the |
court. ordered them to stand up in body |
aud plead. Pleas of not guilty were en-
tered by the defendants. number of |
other motions were made and OVerruled, |
and the court set Thursday as the day for |
the trials to begin.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations |
TO day concluded its consideration of the |
House army appropriation bill, and the |
measure as amended and finally agreed upon |
On Wednesday. The aggregate amount of ap- |
propriatiOns provided for In the House bill |
was reduced several hundred thousand dol |
lars by the Senate Committee, and the retire |
ment clause of the House bill has been |
changed materially. Tnis portion of the |
bill, as finally agreed upon to day, provides |
that Gfter the first day of December, 1882, |
when an officer has served sixty |
years, either as an officer or soldier, |
in the regular or volunteer service, or both, |
he shall, If he make application therefor to |
the President, be relieved from active ser |
vice and placed on the retired list, and |
when an officer is siXty-twO years of age he |
shall be relieved from active service and |
placed on the retired list, provided the |
General of the army shall be retired on
full pay, and no act now in force |
shall be so construed as to limit or restrict |
the retirement of officers as herein provided |
for. The committee also agreed to strike |
out that clause In the House bill which pro-
vides that 10 computing the length OF ser
vice for additional pay the time of service |
on the retired list shsll in no case be com
puted, and which allows additional pay for |
such service.
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
The Democratic members of the House |
held conference this morning, and after a
general discussion of the present situation,
it was proposed that managing committee |
ofive members be appointed to conduct the
contest on the part of the minority. This
proposition was met with the suggestion
that gentlemen who have been act
ing as leaders of the minority be
requested to continue in that capacity. 1t
was then unanimously agreed that Messrs.
Randall, Blackburn, Carlisle, Kenna and
AthertOn should manage the contest. A
further agreement was reached to the effect
that, If the Speaker should make an srbi
trary ruling for the purpose Of forcing the
minority to submit to the will of the ma
jori'y in the pending contest, that another
conference should be held to determine the
course to be pursued by the Democratic
members.
NOMINATIONS AND COMBINATIONS.
The President to-day sent to the Senate
the name of Pay Inspector Joseph A. Smith
for the Chief of the Bureau of Provisions
and Clothing and PaYmaster General of the
Navy, with the rank OF Commodore.
The Senate, In executive session, confirmed
the nomination of Leland G. Bacon to be
Consul at Ssmana.