The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-29
An Attempt TO Kill the Blair Bill.


Mr.. Hurd, of Ohio.a simon-pure DEM
ocrat, stirred up matters in the House on
Friday last, and alarmed not little the
advocates of the Blair Educational Bill.
AS privileged question he offered a pre-
amble, reciting the fact that certain APP
preparation bills had originated in the Sen
ate, including the Blair Educational bill !:
that these were on the Speakers table, and
were originated in the Senate, in violation
of the exclusive privilege of the House to
originate revenue bills and a resolution di-
recting the Judiciary Committee to re-
port whether the Senate has power to orig
mate such bills. Mr.. Hurd spoke with
earnestness against the assumption by the
Senate of the privilege of originating APP
preparation bills. The bills which were
local and personal were not Objectionable,
but the Education bill ,appropriating $780,
900, 900 for great public purpose, should
be examined to determine whether the
Senate possessed the power it was attempt
ing to exercise. He asserted that bills APP
propriating money were bills for raising
revenue, for until the appropriation had
been made it was not revenue to the gov
eminent. From 1918 until now. he as
serted, not an English commentator had
denied that the power to appropriate
money belonged exclusively to the House
of Commons. and since the beginning of
this Government the House had main
tanned its prerogative to originate general
appropriation bills, and had not surren-
dered it by passing Senate bills appropriate
ing money for specific purposes. l.. M.
Herbert, of Alabama, who interrupted to
ask whether any distinction could be
found IN the Constitution between the
power of the Senate to originate bills APP
propriating specific sums for specific pur-
poses, or specific sums for general pur-
poses. Mr.. Hurd answered that the Sen
ate had no power to originate either. To
adopt the doctrine contended for by the
Senate would be destructive Of the object
sought by the founders of the Government
the power given to the Representatives
over the peoples money.
When Mr.. Hammond, of Georgia, had
directed attention to the fact that SIM
liar task had been put upon the Judiciary
Committee of the Forty-sixth Congress.
and that it had decided by vote of 10
out Of Is, that the Senate had the power
to appropriate money to purchase addi-
tional ground for the Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing, Mr.. Reed spoke against
the motion and in condemnation of the
obstructive rules of the House, under the
operation of which it was becoming i'm
possible to transact any business. Mr.. His
cock, to whom Mr.. Willis yielded "a few
moments, occupied them in quoting Sew
ard and Sumner, speaking in the Senate,
as opposed to the assumption or exercise
by the Senate of the power to originate APP
preparation bills. Mr.. Willis, plainly an
noyed by the attempt of Mr.. Hurd to
shelve his pet bill, complained that Mr..
Hurd had waited until a very late day to
press his demand for an inquiry. Mr..
Hurd had only moment left to close the
debate. and he employed it simply to
queue UdTutlu DIS HdfluS Sdlu Ill lH6
House that it would be dark day for the
Republic when the House surrendered to
the Senate it's exclusive privilege of orig
mating appropriation bills.
With some asperity in his voice Mr.. Will
lis demanded that Mr.. Hurd's resolution
calling for an inquiry be laid upon the ia
Bile. The roll was called and 1o7 members
voted aye, and 1913 voted no. wo-thirds of
the affirmative votes were cast by Republic
cans, while only IL Republicans voted in
the negative. They were: Messrs. An
derson, of Kansas, Davis, Of Illinois, His
cock and Parker, of New York, Orchil-
tree, of Texas, Raney and Whiting, of
Massachusetts, Strait and Washburn, of
Minnesota, Weaver. of Nebraska, and
Wilson, of Iowa. Mr.. A. J. Warner moved
reconsideration of the vote, and Mr..
Willis promptly moved to lay that motion
on the table. Another roll-call was or
dered, and by a yea and nay vote the Hurd
resolution was effectually put out of the
way by vote of 141 to 113.