Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-09
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
NEW BILLS IN THE SENATE.
DISCUSSION In THE HOUSE.
The First SkirmiSh on the Question of
Revising the Rules.

cho iCiSITcu DIS IOllOWS:
by MI sewall: To amend section 1,661 of the
revised Statutes making an annual appropria-
ton to provide arms and ammunition for the
militia; also, to regulate the promotion of grad
yates of the United States military academy;
Also to authorize Col. George w. Getty, retired,
10 be placed on the retired list with rank and
pay OF brigadier general.
Atlantic coast.
by sii. Cullom: To reimburse the several
stites ,ir Interest paid on war loans.
manufacturers.
STEAM RAILROADS IN THE DISTRICT.
~ Mr.. Vance: To define the routes of steam
railroad companies in Washington, d. C.
by MIR: Jones, of Arkansas: To secure cheaper
telegraph correspondence
The bills were appropriately referred.
MR.. BROWN, OF MAINE.
Mr.. Hale offered the following resolution,
which was agreed to:
Whereas it is alleged that g 8 Brown q
cltlzen OF the state of Maine, has been instru-
mental IN procuring the removal OF certain
OF other persons to serve in their stead; and
whereas 1t Is further alleged that said Brown
has written to parties whose appointment he
has procured, as aforesaid, letters in form and
substance like the following, to wit:
WASHINGTON, ID. C., -, 1885.
Dear Str: l have secured your appointment
be sent in a day or two. II you teef like send
ing small sum to help defray the expenses of
dIIcuuluS 10 our Maine maCterS you may DO so.
My mail comes to the above address.
Respectfully yours, S. $. BROWN.
Therefore resolved, That the Postmaster Gene.
raj be- and is hereby, directed to furnish to the
Senate list of the post offices in Maine and the
names OF the persons removed and those APP
pointed postmasters at the same, where the said
>. >. Brown has favorably recommended the
same or endorsed the applications therefore.
THE CASE OF MR.. Kelly.
The following resolution n, offered by Mr.. Vest
was agreed to:
That the President be requested, if not in
compatible with the public interest, to transmit
to the Senate the correspondence had by the
government of the United States with the gov
ernments of Italy and Austria-Hungary in re-
OF A. NJ. Kelly as envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary, first to the govern
ment of Italy and then to that of Austria-Hun-
gary. And also any other correspondence or
Information which may be deemed by the
President of importance and pertinent to the
subject matter OF this resolution.
GOLD AND SILVER.
A resolution offered by MIR. Morrill, was
agreed to, requesting the President, if not in
compatible with the public interest, to trans
NIT TO the Senate any information or docu-
ments received from sOur consul general at
Paris, or from our special agent, sent to the
establishment OF such an international ratio of
gold and silver coinage as would permit of the
coinage OF both metals at the minis of those
countries and our own.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferrsas ~ Mn. Wiaset,.-Fo mail
ments and prescribing penalty for the VIOLA
ton of the same. BY Mr.. Palmetto prevent
the Introduction and diffusion OF contagious
ana infectious diseases in the United States.
By Mr.. Backburn-pToviding for the settle
ment and adjustment OF the claims of any
state for expenses incurred by it in defense Of
BY MIR. Teller-toprOvidef for the readjustment
OF tn. compensation Of postmasters at fourth
BY Mr.. Plumb-to forfeit the unearned lands
granted to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
company to aid in the construction OF rail-
road and telegraph line through the states of
Missouri and Arkansas to the Pacific coast, and
to restore the same to settlement.
BY Mr.. Van Wyck-To tax unpatented lands
owned by railroad companies. Also, for the
relief of settlers and purchasers of the public
domain In Nebraska and Kansas.
At lilo p. m, on motion of MIR. Ingalls,, the
Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.
After the reading and approval of the journal
the Speaker asked and received permission of
the House to appoint the committees on rules,
accounts and enrolled bills
REVISION OF THE RULES.
Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, offered resolution
for reference to the committee on rules, when
appointed, continuing in force the rules of the
Forty-eighth Congress, with certain modifica-
lions, among them being one for the distribu-
ton of the work of the appropriations commit
tee among the other standing committees OF the
House.
This committee is still left with Jurisdiction
over the legislative and sundry civil bills. The
well-known rule is proposed to be amended
by striking out the clause which provides that
no provision In any such bill general appropri-
ationl or amendment thereto, changing exist
ing law, shall be In order, except such as, being
germane to the subject matter of the bill, shall
reSsench expenditures by the reduction of the
number and salary Of the officers of the United
states, by the reduction of the compensation
Of any person paid out of the Treasury of the
hn ro@., H;c,~ 90 ~ ~<.
OF money covered by the bill.
The reference Of the resolution was ordered
MR.. sPRINGER's CODE OF RULES.
Mr.. Springer Gill; then presented for imme-
date action the code of rules prepared by him,
and which has been already published.
Mr.. Herbert (Ala.) raised point of order
against the proposition, but withdrew it for the
present, to enable MIR. Springer to explain his
proposed code.
Mr.. Hammond (Ga) offered resolution de-
claring that pending the consideration of the
proposed rules, and until the rules of the House
s shall be adopted this House be governed by
Representatives, SO far as applicable. and by
Jefierson's manual. He called attention to the
cedure while the subject Of amending the
rules was under consideration. He hau no in
tention by his resolution to obstruct action
upon the proposed rules. 1t was not his inn
preston the House would take any speedy &C
ton on the proposed notifications, and he
thought that until action was taken there
proceed to business.
Mr.. Herbert opposed Mr.. Hammond's propo-
sition, taking the ground that the House.
having once adopted the old rules, could not
change them without a two:thrds vote.
Mr.. HiscOck IN. ~ made the point of order
that until q code of rules was adopted the
House was governed by the rules of the pre-
ceding Congress; and that under those rules the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Springer must be
referred to the committee on rules.
Mr.. Springer argued against this as did Mr.
Herbert and Mr.. Reed. Mr.. Reed said that
such had been the ruling of previous Speakers
on several occasions, and that he did not think
the ruling had been right. He thought the old
House had no right to "lay dead hand upon
u.s.
Mr.. Randall spoke upon the point OF order
saying that the Speaker himself must be gov
erned by the general parliamentary law and
tnls being so, what better authority could be
found for this law than the rules of the proceed
Ing House. Therefore he held that it was not
necessary to adopt any resolution at this time.
Mr. Hiscock then spoke.
Mr.. SPRINGER EXPLAINS HIS POSITION
After further debate, Mr.. Hiscock waived his
point Of order 70 enable Mr.. Springer to take
the floor for brief explanation Of the objects
sought TO be obtained In his revision OF the
rules. The first Of these objects, according to
MI springer, was partial distribution OF the
iabors or The committee on appropriations and
ne argued In support Of the view that such
distribution would result in q more thorough
CONSIDERATION OF and more speedy action upon
the great moneyed bills which were brought
before Congress. He refuted the assertion that
TINS distribution would result in extravsgance