National Republican., 1883-03-02
THE SENATE AND House.
New Senate Conferees on the Tariff Bill
Appointed.
Consideration and Passage Of the Sundy
Civil Appropriation Bill
Tho House Passes Tho Fertilization Bill and After
Long Debate
The River and Herbor Appropriation
Hill IL Passed.
THE SENATE.

from the conference committee on the TAX
bill. After reading the resolution adopted by
the senate yesterday directing its conferecs to
withdraw, If tlicy found that q full and free
conference could not be obtained, he said that
his colleague and he had been unable, under
the information brought before the commit
tee by the house conforcCs, TO come TO any
other conclusion than that IL was not full
and fair conference. The house conferces
were bound by the action Of the body which
had selected them and could not confer fully
and fairly with the senate. IL was from a
profound sense of what was due TO the senate ;
10 was from an equal sense of what was due
30 coordinate branch of this government
that he and his colleague had obeycd what
! they believed was the clear intent and clear
and positive instructions of the senate. Tho
privilege and constitutional power of the
senate to possess and exercise coordinate
share of the legislative powers of the
government should never be, and could never
be, subjected to tho individual judgment of
tho members of the house or of the house
itself When the house had declared that tho
senate had not the power TO engrait tariff
legislation on an internal revenue bill tho
eonfcrces could not change at their will the
formal, emphatic, clear expression of the
house. The senate conIeroes could not act on
such u tentative and caprcious proceeding as
this, and 1t was their duty TO have submitted
the matter to the senate.
Mr.. Sherman interrupted and protested
against Mr. Bayard arTaigning tho conference
committee i'll violation of the rules of the sem
ate.
Mr.. Bayard replied that he was not talking
Of what was the duty of the committee. He
was speaking of what was the right and the
duty of the minority. His associate and he
had felt IL their obvious duty under the reso-
I,tft a1. l.1 l.Ft hn afD Na.l.a "a.
refer The matter back to the senate Under
lhc action of the house there was an unfair
md fettcred conference. IL was fair and un-
ettered on the part of the senate, and IL was
IOr the senate TO determine whether IL was
equally fair on the part of the house. He had
been earnest in his cndeavOTs TO obtain some
reduction of taxation but, acting under the
direction of the senate, il would have been u
breach of duty on his part had he remained
to consider with the house committee the
question whether the senate had or not power
to engraft tariff legislation ON the internal
revenue bill.
Mr.. Morrill, expressed profound regret that
Messrs. Beck and Bayard should have felt it
10 be their duty to raise this technical OBJ
lection, because, whether so intended or not,
it tended TO defeat any reduction of taxation
mt the present session. Tho senate was
bound to consider only what the house had
sent TO 1t, and that was merely resolution
nOncOnCuTflnB Ill inc selule amendments 10
the internal revenue bill, and asking for q
conference, the committee on the part of the
house to consist of five members. What did
it matter in this case what the opinions of
the house might be ON constitutional ques-
tions or ON theological questions? 1t ap-
peared that the house had adopted a resolu-
tiOn encumbcred with great many hypothet-
ical "if's, but whatever opinion 1t might
have held or expressed at that time, its later
action was TO nonconcur and ask for con-
ference on the disagreeing votes of the two
houses. Under these circumstances the sem
ate could have no knowledge of any limita-
tion placed by the house upon its conferees,
and so far as the committee of conference
was concerned no obstruction had been en-
eountered, but on the contrary IL was rs free
rs any committee of conference of which he
had ever been n member.
Mr.. Bayard said he had brought the matter
up because he wished to take his full share of
responsibility, and in order that the senate, If
Il disapproved his action, might have an op-
portunity 20 appoint somebody else to carry
on the conference. He could not consent TO
stultify himself by acting as conferee undor
such conditions.
Mr.. Beck declared that he would not have
left the committee of conference on any
merely technical objection, but he thought
The reasons set forth by Mr.. Bayard were sub
stantial and not technical. The senator from
Vermont (Mr. MorrilD was wrong in saying
that the only thing the house had sent to the
senate was notice of disagreement and q re-
quest for q conference. The house had sent
also (by adopting the resolution instructing
It's conferees) its protest against the constitu-
tiOnal right of the senate to take the action IL
had taken on the bill. The house had pre-
Bented no bill of its own, but had disagreed to
The senate bill, presumably upon the ground
that the senate's action was without cOnstitu-
tiOnal authority. The house conferees had
NO bill, no Notwithstanding that the SEN
ate conferees could agree to if they were will
ing. There was nothing left for the senate
eonfcrees to do but to abandon the senate bill
and agree to such tariff bill as four or five
gentlemen might demand. In that case the
constitutional objection might be waived. He
did not regard this as a conference at all. He
could no longer be party to II, and there
fore he asked to be excused,
Mr. Bayard repeated his request to be ex.
cused.
Mr.. Morrill,. hope the senators will not
ask that. They very well understand that
they are the proper senators to be appointed
from that side of the chamber and | should be
very glad if they would reconsider their opin'
ion on this matter and continue to serve
Mr.. Beck. We understand, Mr. President
that we are the proper senator's but We un-
dorstand also that we are not in free con
ference.
Mr.. Garland remarked that this question OF
eXcuslng TWO members oil Il committee OF CON
ference was one of high privilege, and hC
offered as substitute the following;
Resolved, That the confelees on the part of the
senate on house bill 5633 be aud they are hereby
Instructed TO withdraw from the conference here
t0iore agreed upon touching said bill.
Mr. Allison objected to the present consid-
eration Of the resolution.
The president ruled that this objection
would send the resolution over until to-mOr-
row.
Mr.. Garland appealed from the decision
and was making some remarks when Mr.
Hoar raised the point of order that the ap
peal was not debatable.
Mr.. Garland stated that he had only n few
words moro to say.
Mr.. Hoar thereupOn withdrew the point o
order and Mr.. Garland withdrew his appeal.
Tho question being on excusing Messrs
Beck and Bayard from further service on tn,
committee of conference
Mr.. Beck asked the chair whether he (AIr
Beek) would have right TO vote upon It.
The president said that was question
which every gentleman must decide for him
self
Mr.. Beck said he had asked for information
ss to his parliamentary right-not upon
question Of taste.
The president said the senator certanl,
had the right to vote,
The two senators were excused by vote o
40 ayes to o noes the latter being Messrs
kdmunds, Hawley, Miller (Cal,), Morrill,
Platt, aud Window,
Messrs Bayard und Beck both voted to ex
cuse themselves.
The president thea appointed Messrs. Yoor
hees and Mcpherson.
NJ