The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-19
THE HOUSE.
A Family Quarrel Among the Members of
the Missouri Delegation.

A Family Quarrel Among the Members of
the Missouri Delegation.
WASHINGTON, May IA bill passed granting
the consent of Congress for the construction of
a dam across the Mississippi at st. Cloud
The Senate amendments to the Indian appro-
priation bill were non-concurred IN.
A bill passed extending until December 81
1885, the duration of the court of commissioners
on the Alabama claims.
The bill passed to change the Eastern and
Northern judicial districts of Texas and to at
tach part of the Indian Territory to those dis
tricts.
On motion of Mr. Cassidy the bill passed to
relieve settlers in the Buck valley Indian reser-
vaton, Elko county, Nevada
The bill also passed for the appointment of
two additional associate justices of the Supreme
Court of Dakota.
The next bill called up stirred up family
quarrel in the Missouri delegation. 1t was bill
to amend the act dividing the State of Missouri
into two judicial districts and to divide the East
ern and Western districts thereof into divisions,
and to prescribe times and places of holding
court therein. Mr.. Broadhead, who reported the
BILL said there was a division of sentiment
among the Missouri delegation with regard to
the propriety of the bill, and moved to recon-
nit This aroused Mr. Hatch, of Missouri who
protested vigorously against this action and de-
clared that the bill was favored by majority of
the delegation. The opposition he asserted,
came from the influences of hash-houses and
other similar institutions.
Mr.. Alexander controverted the statement that
a majority of the delegation was in favor of the
bill. He had paper signed by eight members
who were opposed to it. All of them were pres
ent except two-Buckner and Clardy-and could
speak for themselves
Mr.. Hatch declared this was the first time in
his experience that paper signed by absent
members had been brought in to influence the
vote of the House. He appealed to the House to
repudiate this action. He not afraid to meet
any man in fair fight. 1t was only the assassin
he feared; the man who stabbed in the dark and
in the back.
Mr. Alexander said that he had only referred
to the paper because his colleague had said that
a majority was in favor of the bill
Mr.. Hatch-And / reassert it.
Mr.. Alexander-The statement / have was
signed for the information of the gentleman from
Missouri, member Of the judiciary committee
(Nfr. Broadhead), and when the gentleman un-
dertakes to say that we are stabbing him in the
back he either misunderstands the object of the
paper Or
Mr.. Hatch-Was that paper intended for the
gentleman's personal information9
Mr.. AleXander-It was.
Mr.. Hatch-Then what authority have you to
bring it forward in the House?
Mr.. Alexander-To meet your statement that
a majority of the Missouri delegation is in favor
of the bill.
Messrs Burres and Bland then spoke, the
former in favor and the latter in opposition to
the bill
The motion to reconsider was lost-46 to 48.
Then arose a nice point of parliamentary
law.
Mr.. McCoid offered as substitute for the bill
a bill previously introduced by Mr.. Burnes on
the same subject.
This was ruled out on point of order on the
ground that no amendment was in order which
contained the substance of any bill pending be-
fore the House
Mr.. McCoid then proceeded to secure his OBJ
ject by moving his substitute piece-meal sec
ton by section, for the bill under considera-
ton.
This proved successful as far as the first
section was concerned, but when a substitute
was offered to the second section, Mr.. Alex
ander raised the point that it could not do
indirectly what it could not accomplish directly.
The Speaker said it was a matter of serious
doubt whether amendments of that character
could be admitted under the rule, but at the
same time it was the opinion of the Chair that
when there was room for doubt the safer course
was to let the amendments come and be voted
on oy the House.
On the amendment no quorum voted, and this
point was raised by MIR. Alexander.
Adjourned