The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-10
PROCEEDINGS ~ CONGRESS-.
Redemption OF the Trade Dollar Further
Discussed A Lengthy Discussion
OF the Senate Rules.
The House Discuss the Poetoff1ce
Appropriation Bill In Commit
tee Of the Whole.
FoRrY.EIGHrH CONGRESS.
The Senate.


WAsHIS eToS, Feb 9.-The Chair laid before
the Senate the credentials OF the reelection
of Senator Voorhees,.
The Chair appointed Mr.. Slater on the
Committee on Commerce and Mr.. Butler on
the Committee on Transportation Route 10
the 6eaboard, both in place OF Mr.. Farley,
excused.
Mr.. Pendleton presented petition from q
number OF Ohio publishers and journalists
praying for reduction in postage rates on
second-class mail matter. Referred.
Mr.. Van Wyck received unanimous con
sent for the consideration of the House bill
TO prevent the unlawful enclosure of public
lands, better knewn as the Fencing bill ,
and amendments. The Senate Committee
concurred in.
at l o'clock the bill went over and the
unfinished business was laid before the
Senate. being the snti-SIlver Coinage bill
and Mr.. Beck proceeded to address the
Senate.
Mr.. Beck supported those provisions of
the bill calling for the REDEEM ption of the
trade dollar. but strongly opposed the sus
pension Of the coinage of the standard
dollar. The proposition. 10 suspend silver
coinsge had no necessary or proper conuec.
ton with the trade dollar bill, which he
aad sent over.
Mr.. Morgan presented the credentials of
the reelection of Senator Pugh.
The Pension Appropriation bill was then
taken up. A long discussion ensued regard
ing the Interpretation OF the Senate rule for
hiding the proposing Of general legislation
on APPROPRIATION bills.
Discussion srose on the point OF order
raised by Ingalls on the amendment pro-
posed by the Senate Appropriation COmmi.-
tee to this bill The point OF order was that
under the rules OF the Senate the propose d
amendment was not in order. The amend
ment proposed was to modify the proyision
of the House bill that was established in
favor of pension applicants, the presumD-
ton OF soundness at the time of enlistment
The modification would establish the pre-
sumption in favor of those only who had
served at least three months.
The presiding officer (Plattl held thar
ingalls, point of order was well taken and
therefore that the Senate committee's pro-
posed amendment was not admissible.
Mr.. ingalls,, for the purpose of obtaining
the opinion OF the Senate as to the spirit OF
the rule. appealed from the decision OF TIE
Chair. The action proposed by the Senate,
he said, was not proposing legislation al
ready proposed by the House. Mr.. ingalls,
admitted the present presiding officer had
correctly ruled according to the precedents
of the Senate, but he believed the preceding
rules had been wrong, and he wanted thu
Senate to now decide precedent that woalj
enable Senators to offer amendments TO such
general legislation as the House might nut
on an appropriation bill.
Mr., Edmunds, taking the Chair, said the
ruling of Mr.. Plat, while In the Chair, cor
rectly followed the presidents of the Senate,
and the effect of a successful appeal would
be that IL would be in order at any time 20
propose any amendment germane to the
subject of bills under consideration.
Mr.. Sherman thought II would be well to
pass now resolution expressing for the
present session, st least, the sense OF the
Senats to be that the true construction os
the rule was that amendments may be
made to general legislative measures found
by the Senate on appropriation bills.
After a lengthy debate on the subject, the
Chair was sustained by yeas 50. nays 90.
After al executive session the Senate ad.
lcurned.