The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-16
THE HOUSE.

General Thomas's Widow Given a Pension
of $4,000 a Year-the Postofice Bill
WASHINGTON, Feb. H-When the House met
this morning, in continuation of Fridays session,
Mr.. Willis moved that the House go into com
mittee of the whole OH the river and harbor bill,
and pending that, moved that all debate be lin
tied to one hour and a half.
MIR. Turner, of Georgia, rising to point of
order, said that when the gentleman made the
latter motion, yesterday, the point was made
that it was not in order; the point had been
overruled, an appeal taken, and q motion
made to lay the appeal on the table. The an
nouncement had been made that on this motion
the yeas had it, whereas it appeared from the
Record this morning that tho vote stood yeas 81,
nays I03.
The Speaker pro tenn tMr. Blackburn stated
that the Record was in error. The journal,
which was the official organ Of the House,
showed that the appeal had been laid on the
table by a vote of yeas, III; nays, l04.
On motion of Mr.. Holman a session was or
dered for tonight for consideration of the iegis-
lative appropriation bill
The regular order having been demanded, the
Speaker announced the regular order to be con-
sideration of pension bills coming over from last
nights session.
Sir. Willis said it was the clear intention of
che House. yesterday. to devote this mornings
session to consideration of the river and harbor
bill, and asked unanimous consent that the reg
ular order be dispensed with, but.Mr. Reed OBJ
jeeted.
The first bill coming over was the one grant
ing a pension of s., 900 per annum to the widow
OF General George Fl. Thomas, and, after debate,
it was passed-yeas 143. nays o.
Mr.. Willis then renewed his motion, and Mr..
Reed made a point that the p~ostoffce appropria-
ton bill must be considered, the previous Ques-
ton having been ordered upon ii.
The Speaker overruled the point, on the ground
that it was understood that the bill should not
come up till after the reading of Fridays jour
mad, and held that this mornin IS session was but
a prolongation of last night S session.
Mr.. Kelley then made the point of order that,
lnder that railing, no business was in order but
consideration of pension bills.
The Speaker overruled the point of order. The
House had disposed of all business coming over
from last night, and it was now competent for it
10 proceed to other business.
Mr. Kelley appealed from the decision, and Mr..
Willis moved to lay the appeal on the table.
The latter motion was agreed to-132 to 81.
After half an hour had been consumed by the
Speaker in ruling 1pon points of order. answer
ing parliamentary inquiries, and endeayoring,
rather unsuccessfully, to suppress the disorder
and confusion on the floor, the question required
on Mr.. Willis's motion to limit debate on the
pending section of the river and harbor bill to
one and a half hour, and it was agreed to. The
House then went into committee of the whole,
Mr.. hammond in the chair, on the bill indicated.
After the reading of the pending section by
S0e Clcfk, u discussion arose as TO now the lOUr
and a half allowed for debate should be distrib-
uted, and the Chair asked the aid Of the com
mittee, to enable him to put a ''bushel into a
peck measure" Proposition after proposition
was made, and plan after plan suggested, but all
proved unsatisfactory, and no arrangement was
arrived at, and, finally, power of recognition was
left entirely with the Chair. Mr.. Turner, of
Georgia, raised q point of order against the
Hennepin canal paragraph. He contended that,
in reporting this clause to the House, the com
,asffaa an rivorS and harhopc had ovoaodnA ifc
jurisdiction, and infringed upon the jurisdiction
Of the committee on railways and canals.
Mr.. Henderson, of Illinois, argued that if there
was any force at all in the objection that the
diction over the subject, that objection was
waived by the House when it referred the bill to
the committee of the whole.
After further debate the Chair reserved decis-
ion on the point of order for the present The
committee then rose. The vote by which it was
ordered that the postofice appropriation bill
should not be considered until after the reading
of the Journal of Friday was reeonsidered, and
the bill was taken up, under the operation of the
previous question.
The first amendment on which a separate vote
was demanded was that increasing from 81, lOQ.-
900 TO 4 1885. 900 the appropriation for letter car
rier service, which was agreed to-yeas Isl, nays
jG
The amendment increasing by 500. 900 the APP
preparation for starroute service, was agreed to
yeas Loo, Gays 81.
The next amendment was that striking out the
clause granting additional compensation to
American steamships for carrying mails 1t was
agreed to-yeas 129, nays lib
Other amendments were agreed TO without
division, and tho bill was passed
Mr. Bingham offered a resolution, which was
appropriately referred. reciting that sundry
newspapers published notices, during the sum
mer Of 1884, concerning alleged frauds in the
supply OF official envelopes for the Postofice De-
parsnenf. and requesting the Postmaster-gener-
al 10 communicate to the committee on post
Offices and postroads I'll facts. with papers or