Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-12

sressional Microscope on Them-Ths
S25O,0oO Neutrality Clause Exciting
SuspieiOn-A Vote on an Amendment
Made Void by Lack OF Quorum.
WASHINGTON, June 11.--In the Senate
to-day Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee
on Library, reported favorabIy the House
bill authorizing the National Academy oi
Sciences to receive and hold trust funds
for the promotion of science. The bill
was read the third time and passed. II
authorizes the academy to receive be-
quests and gifts and hold and use them
for the promotion of science.
On disposing Of the morning business the
Senate, at O'Clock, on motion OF Mr. Allison,
WeAt into secret session on the item Of the
consular and diplomatic appropriation bill
appropriating s25O,OO0 for the expenses neees-
sary to be incurred in executing the pro-
visions of the neutrality act.
Mr.. Dawes offered a resolution, which was
agreed to, directing the Committee on Indian
Affairs to inquire into the condition Of the
several tribes and bands of Indians in the
Indlan Territory, the tenure by which the
lands in the several reservations in that ter
rttory are held. and the character of their ac-
tual occupation, and the use, condition and
rights OF freedmen among the Indians, the re-
latlon OF such Indian tribes to the United
states and TO each other, and the needs Of any
legislation in respect thereto.
The Senate insisted upon its amendments
70 the District OF Columbia appropriation bill,
and conference committee was ordered.
Mr.. Lapham offered a resolution. which was
agreed to, ordering the reprinting of the testi-
monY aud the majority and minority reports
or the Danvllle investigation for the use of the
senate. The Senate then went into secret
legislative session on the item in the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill, appropri-
atlng Szoo,OUO TO cover the necessary expenses
attendant upon the execution of the neutrali-
ty act, the supposed Nicaragua canal conces-
sion item.
FRYING INTO THE NEW YORK BANKS,
AT 4:30 O'Clock the doors were reopsned.
when Mr.. Butler offered the following reso-
luton. which. under objection. went over one
day:
Res0y0ed, That for the purpose OF ascertain
ing whether further legislation is necessary
concerning national banks there be appointed
committee, consisting of five members
whose duty it shall be forthwith to
examine into the condition of the
national banks of the CITY of New York:
that said committee be authorized to
send Tor persons and papers, to examine wit
nesses under oath, and, if necessary to visit
tie city OF New York for the purpose of such
examination, that they be required to ascer-
tain the amount of circulation of said banks
on the 3lst day of May, A. d. 1884. the amount
OF certified checks and loan certificates issued
by sald banks and outstanding on said day,
whether SAID banks, or either of them, have
Issued certified checks or loan certificates, or
other evidences OF Indebtedness, upon pledge
or security of personal or real property Of any
kind or otherwise, what amount of certif-
Gates of Indebtedness or certificates of
deposit had been issued by said bank and are
now outstanding, what amount of currency
and of gold and silver coin said banks had oi,
hand on said day, whether the accounts of
said banks with each other were on said 3Ist
day OF May, 1884, or now are settled through
the clearing house in the city of New York by
lawful money of the United States or certified
checks. n hnr avid OF
Indebtedness; whether on said daV said banks
had on hand the reserve required by law and
to examine fully intOsall matters which may be
necessarytO show the financial condition of said
banks, and also to ascertain the amount and
character OF the assets of said banks whether
they are able to meet their liabilities, whether
any OF the funds of said banks have been
illegally used by officers thereof. and also
whether they or any officers thereof have
violated in any respect the provisions of the
national banking law; that said committee be
IurIher authorized to employ one or more
special examiners to aid in such examma-
tion; that they also be authorized to employ a
stenOgrapher, and that they be required to re-
port as soon as practicable the result Of
such investigation TO the Senate, and
Tor the purpose of defraying the expenses Of
such investigation the sum of $4,000, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby
appropriated and made Immediately ayaila-
bic out of the contingent fund Of the Senate
THE NEUTRALITY APPROPRIATION.
The Chair then laid before the Senate the
consular and diplomatic bill, and a vote was
taken on the amendments agreed to in COM
mittee of the whole, reserving, however, for
separate vote the $250,C00 item already re-
ferred to. The other amendments were agreed
to substantially as reported by the Senate
Committee on Appropriations.
Messrs. Nest and Jonas desired a separate
vote on the $250,000 item. When the Chair
was about to put the question on this item
Mr.. Vest said that an examination of the
diplomatic and consular appropriation bills in
for r. = -.FN
develop the fact that antccedent to this time
the largest appropriation ever made to meet
expenditures to be made under the direction
OF the President in execution Of the neutrality
act has been $4,000. This appropriation
reaches the amount of $250,000. 1t was an
extraordinary appropriation, and it Is
fb8t due to tn the country and to the Senate
tions should state before the American
public why this enormous amount in propor-
tiOn and relatively is now asked for al the
hands OF the American people. undertake
to say IN my place in the Senate that for the
execution OF the neutrality act this amount
Is not appropriated as ii has been in former
appropriation bills. undertake to say that,
on the contrary, it is for an extraordinary
purpose, and it is due to the Senate that the
Chairman of the committee should state what
that purpose really and honestly is" After
pause: II call upon the Chairman of the
committee to make statement what the real
purpose of this appropriation is"
To this Mr.. Allison, Chairman of the Ap-
preparations Committee, made no response.
INTIMATING A JOB.
Mr.. Van Wyek offered the following amend
ment to the clause referred to! 6That no
portion Of SAID S25O,00 shall be paid directly
or through the Nicaraguan Government to the
owners of the concession granted to the Mari
time Canal Company, OF Nicaragua"
Mr.. Allison moved to lay the amendment on
the table.
Mr.. Van Wyck-NIr. President
Several Senators-The motion is not debat-
able.
MIR. Van Wyck thought himself entitled to
speak on his amendment, but Mr.. Ingalls, in
formed him that he MIR. Van Wyck) had
taken his seat. To this Mr.. Van Wyck re-
saw the Senator take his seat"
Mr.. Van WycK again said ''No, sir.'
The Chair stated that the Senator from
Iowa had been recognized, and had made his
motion. Mr.. Van Wyck asked Mr.. Nilsson to
withdraw the motion, which Mr. Allison de-
clined to do. The motion of Mr.. Allison was
agreed to, and the amendment was laid on the
table,
Mr.. Van Wyck thon announced that he had
voted in the afirmatiye,and now moved to re-
consider the vote. A this point Mr.. Allison
rising to question OF privilege, moved that
the m )tion to reconsider lie heard
under rule 35, in secret session. TINS motion
was agreed to and the doors were again closed
When they were reopened Mr.. VanWyck
asked the Chalr to state the question, which
the Chair did, saying that the amendment of
MIR. NanWyck 10 the amendment proposed by
the Senate Committee on Approximations had
been laid on the table, and that the Senator
had moved TO reconsider the vote by which
his amendment had been SO laid On the table.
ENDING THE TILT.
Mr. Van Wyek-Then, when we went into
secret session the amendment OF the commit
tee appropriating $250,0O0 was under consid-
Grafton.
Presiding Officer Harris-The amendment
of the committee had not been disposed of in
the Senate, but the pending question was to
reconsider the vote by which the amendment
Of the Senator from Nebraska was laid on the
table.
Mr.. Van Wyck-Then the proper matter for
the consideration OF the open Senate now. is
further consideration or a vote upon that
amendment.
The presiding ofIicer-The pending question
is, the bill having been read three times, shall
it pass?
Mr.. Van Wyck protested that the record
would not hereafter show any action on the
amendment in question to fill up the hiatus
which would be thus created. He thought
that he had right as a Senator to demand
that vote be taken IN open session on that
amendment.
Several senators--"The question" s.The
question"
The question, 'shan the bill pass?', was
put, and on this the yeas and nays were call
ed by Mr.. Vance. The result was "a yeas to
l nay.
Mfr. vance-There is no quorum voting.
Messrs. Vest, Jonas and Van Wyck were
pared Win absent senators. but announced
that If they had not been paired they would
have voted against the bill, the two last named
Senators because of the way in which the bill
was passed. The roll Of the Senate was then
called again but did not secure a quorum. and
on motion of Mr.. Allison, at 5:45 O'Clock, the
Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day. on motion of Mr.. Dor
sheimer, the senate bill was passed Extend
ing until August S. 1886, the time To com