Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-18
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
HAMMERING AT HOUSE RULES.
rHE SENATE DISCUSSES DAKOTA.
CONGRESSMAN AND APPOINTMENTS.
MANY MATTERS OF DISTRICT INTEREST.
The Senate.

the Secretary of War, regarding the damage
done to Governors Island, New York harbor
by the storm of November %, 1885.
Mr. Frye presented petition OF certain citi-
zens OF Maine, protesting against any arrange
ment with Great Britain, by which Canadian
hsh might be admitted free of duty.
A PENSION TO MRS. GRANT.
Mr.. Mitchell, from the committee on pensions,
reported favorably the bill granting q pension
to the widow of General Grant,
The Dill was at once passed without debate
CONGRESSMAN AND THE OFFICES
Mr. Hampton introduced a bill making it IN
lawful for Senators or Representatives to recon-.
mend or solicit appointments to Office.
Mr.. Hawley inquired Of the chair whether
this Pill was retroactive in its operation.
[Laughterl
The chair replied that in his opinion it was
not. tRenewed laughterL
THE DAKOTA RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Butler called up his resolution of inquiry
relating to the alleged organization of the ter
ritory of Dakota into a state.
Mr.. Vest said the Senate by its record now
stood committed to the fact that there was such
a thing in existence AS a state of Dakota. The
papers heretofore presented by Mr.. Harrison,
estate of Dakota The body OF gentlemen
coming here representing Dakota style them
selves the executive committee Of the state OF
Dakota, the chairman of it being Hugh ].
Campbell, who was not unknown to fame since
the Hayes administration, and who had been
rewarded by that administration for Jealous
and not over scrupulous political assistance TO
that administration. That person, as Mr.. Vest
saw by the newspapers, was to receive an ova-
ton for having obtained the recognition of the
United States Senate for "the statehood OF the
state Of Dakota
Campbell a good deal of gratuitous advertis-
ing.
Mr.. Vest said Mr.. Campbell was welcome to
Oak ota organizssfon as revolutionary. He had
no doubt that xhe intent of the me1f.concerned
was was G 70 orgaNzs state government in case
niZing theiYso called state.
In reply TO remaak by Mr.. Vest, as to the
mitted to the Union, Mr.. Harrison said there
was no such thing as breaking into or break
ing out of, this Union.
MIR. Vest said We were not talking of "break-
Ing out" We had settled that That was res
judicdta.
Mr.. Harrrison-Then there could have been
no point to the Senator's remark.
Mr.. Vest-I am not leaving this matter to the
Senator from Indiana. Heaven help me if he
had the decision of this question.
Mr.. Vest argued the question Of admission
1roIn legal point of view, and insisted that
under the decisions of the United States
Supreme Court in former cases of admission
the recent action in Dakota was revolutionary
He cited Judge Cooley and other authorities to
the effect that an enabling act was necessary as
preliminary to the admission of a territory
as a state and asked what more outrageous in
suit could be offered to the sovereignty of the
CHItcu StdGeS IndQ Lne aCtlOn OF the men re-
sponsible for the recent developments in
Dakota.
He offered as independent of the resolution
OF Mr. Buffers, a resolution to the effect that
the memorial from persons calling themselves
the state executive committee Of Dakota be
CONSIDERED as coming only from private indi-
The resolution was laid over and ordered
printed.
MR.. LOGANs QUESTION.
Mr.. Logan inquired If 1t was revolutionary
for citizens of a territory to get together and
present their claims to be admitted as a state
they taking care to provide in their new consti-
tuition that they should not be state till Con-
gress should approve their constitution He
thought 1t unfair for Senators to regard the &C
ton in Dakota as revolutionary. Until they
should set up as state and undertake to per-
form the functions of a state and the powers OF
statehood they were not revoiutiOnistS.
Mr.. Butler said he had misapprehended what
constituted state if the election of Senators
and judges was not exercising statehood.
MIR. Logan replied that this was done SO as to
take effect when they should be admitted as a
state-as had been done before.
MIR. Butler remembered but one such in
stance.
Mr.. Logan could not undertake to correct the
Senator's recollection of history.
House Of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson CIV. VAL Senate
joint resolution was passed to provide for fill
ing vacancies in the board Of regents of The
Smithsonian institution.
NIX. SPRINGERS AMENDMENT THE REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
The consideration of the report of the COM
mittee on rules was then resumed, the pending
amendment being that offered by Mr.. Springer
GILL; to abolish the various committees on ex-
penditures In the different departments, and to
concentrate their duties in one committee con-
Sisting of fifteen members.
In advocating the amendment Mr.. Springer
OF these committees had been paid $3.50. 900
while, as far as he could remember, but two of
them had made reports-the committee on ex-
pendltures IN the War department in the
Forty Congress and the committee on ex-
penditures In the Department of Justice in the
Forty -eighth Congress.
had resulted rom the work done by these two
committees During the late campaign he had
speeches that the democratic party wanted to
see the books. Now that it had the opportunity
OF seeing the books he hoped it would not close
its eyes.
II hope you WON'T remarked Mr.. Browne
indl You gu. will have some books of your own
Mr.. Herbert (Ala.l opposed the amendment,
asserting that the House should always stand
ready to investigate abuses which had grown
He did not think that the republican members
could afford to vote to abolish these committees
Mr. Houk (Tenn) stated that the republicans
would not vote to abolish them. 1t was true
that when the republican party was in power
there was little necessity for them, but the pros
pe : was that they would be very useful in the
After further debate, the amendment was re-
jected.
OTHER AMENDMENTS OFFERED.
Mr.. Hammond (Ga.) offered as an amend
ment at this point the following rule: mo APP
preparation shall be reported in any general
appropriation bill, or be in order amend
ment thereto, for any expenditure not previ-
ously authorized by law. unless in continuation
or appropriations Tor such public works and OBJ
jects as are already in progress"
This Is the thru clause Of rule 81, as reported
by the committee on rules, except that it Omits
the clause land for the contingencies for carry
ing on the several departments Of the govern
meht."
Mr.. Hammond stated that his object in pre-
sentlng the amendment now was that 1t might
be discovered whether the House would retain
the power TO keep riders on appropriation bills.
II 1t did, ONE course OF conduct might be neces-
sary; II 1t did not, quite q different course
might be necessary.
should come up in It's proper order, and saw in
scure another question.
Mr.. Hammond appealed to those members
VINO knew MIN TO sustain him in the assertion
that he did nothing covertly. His purpose was
plain. HIS purpose was to find out in the be-
ginning, before the additional avenues to the
treasury should be opened, how lar the several
appropriation bills might carry legislation. He
| 1t might rise.
Mr.. HiscoSk-So tar as this side of the House
| Is concerned IT will be u unit -
Mhy not vote on it now?" interrupted Mr..
Mckinley tChioD
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