Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-22

rules reported resolution that hereafter,
the committee on postofioes, and post
roads, consist OF fifteen members, the COM
mittee on banking, currency, foreign
affairs, military affairs, territories, pub
lilo buildings, and District of Columbia,
consist of thirteen members. He stated
the increased membership fully met the
| views of the speaker. The resolution was
adopted.
| Mr.. Blackburn called up the report sub
mitted yesterday for the appointment Of a
DOM mittee On rivers and harbors, to con-
| sist of fifteen members.
Mr.. Horr opposed the resolution. Why
was the committee on commerce singled
| out? Why had not the the overworked
committee on ways and means been divi-
! ded into two commit ees, one on ways, the
other on means? There could be given
one committee all bills to build up home
| industry, and the other all to tear it down,
thereby both wings Of the Democratic
party could have committee. Qasghter,}
The committee on foreign affairs might be
divided, and 10 the ney committee could
BE- referred the whole of the Irish quss-
ton. This also relieves the speaker the
trouble, which, according to the press, he
experiences in appointing heads of CON-
mittees.
Mr.. Robinson, of New York, said, what
he com planned of was not that congress
did not pay attention to its Irish citizens,
but shamefuily neglected its American
citizens and If there has not been energy
and patriotism enough TO condemn that
thoroughly, ii should have been done, but,
no doubt, it is owing to the fact that the
committee on foreign affairs had no time
to devote to the consideration of this
great question.
Mr. Springer offered amendments for
referring to committee the Mississippi
levee bills making an appropriation for
the Improvement of the Mississippi. He
considered the improvement of this great
highway a question Of sufficient impor-
lance, and worthy of special committee.
At present the Mississippi appropriation
is used as pack-mule to carry through
the appropriations for other streams. The
Mississippi river should stand on its own
merits as a great national highway and
have all the fostering care congress could
give it. The amendment was rejected and
the original resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Keifer called up the resolution re-
ported yesterday for the appointment of
committee On woman's suffrage.
Mr.. Reagan placed his opposition to the
resolution on social and constitutional
grounds, and argued the committee could |
not report in measure which any court |
could not enforce, or which would not be
unconstitutional. He protested against |
the kicking about the constitution which |
had been so long forgotten. Granting
right of suffrage to women would tend to
degrade them, and congress should not
try to over drag their social status in the
world.
Mr.. Belford asserted that it was compe-
tent for congress to pass law prohibiting
state from depriving women of partici-
pating in its government. If there were
more of female influence in the political
management OF the country, even the
morals Of the house of representatives
might be improved.
Mr.. Keifer spoke in favor of the ap-
pointment of special committee to which
would be referred all petitions and meas
ures pertaining to the subject of women
suffrage. If We are to grant the right of
suffrage by law, it was competent for con-
gress to amend the co astitution and SO en-
franchise women, and the progress of
events points towards that advanced step
in civilization. The resolution was re-
jected by yeas, So; nays, 124.
MIR. Hohlitz, from the special commit
tee he ving the matter in cha rge, reported
a joint resolution requesting the president
to issue his proclamation, recommending
the people either by appropriate exercises
in connection with religious services on
the 23d inst. or by such
public observance as they will deem
proper on tie oath, to commemorate the
surrender by Wash n ston of commission
as commander in chief of the army. The
president was also requested to order the
national salute from the various forts in
the country on the 24th. The joint reso,
lation passed.
Mr.. Henley asked leave TO introduce q
bill to amend the acts and to execute GER
tain treaty stipnlations with the Chinese.
MIR. Weller objected, but subsequently
withdrew his objection when it was re-
newed by Skinner of New York.
Adjourned until Monday.