National Republican., 1885-12-16
RECONSTRUCTTNG RULES.
THE SENATE AND HOUSE DEBATE THE
SUBJECT AT LENGTH.
Lively Discussions in Both Houses
Mr.. Randall Resents Personal Re-
mnrls-s Senatorial Cold Tea Under
Fire-Iho Ionr Diil Debated.


Yesterday the long pcnt.up oralorical ener-
eics Of the national legislature had free play
Mt both ends of the capitol, senators aud
representatives alike embracing tho oppor-
tunity to spread their eloquence before adj
miring and well.entertained audiences In
both branches the main feature was the dis
cusson Of rules proposed for tho government
CT the present Congress, tho Senate dealing
with the Joint rules reported by Mr., Frye
whilo the representatives discussed the re-
vision of the House rules presented In tho re-.
port of the committee on rules. Tho galleries
In both chambers were well iilled throughout,
the discussion In the House serving however,
as the chief magnet of attraction.
In the Senate, after the chair had laid before
the GSSd Letters Ul 1 shS % SSS5eing Ton 9 war
report of Capt. Bixby In regard TO scucolst
foTtincations in Europe, petitions of Largo
numbsr Of army Officers prSayinS S.I an e1ualiS
from the Washington monument commission,
Mr.. Edmunds reported iavorably bill from
the Judiciary committee removing the political
disabilities. Of Gen. Alexander 4. Lawton, OF
Georgia. Aiter some remarks by Senator Ed
munds IN relation 10 the bill, II was read three
times and promptly passed.
The Senate then took up the presidential sue
ccssion bill and was addressed at length by
Mr.. Hoar in explanation of its provisions aud
intent. In speaking of that portion OF tho
bill providing that the officer who should
succeed to the presidential duties should
continue to act during the torn for
which tho President should have boon
elected, and abrogating the provision OF law
providing for an election IN the interval, Mr
Hoar said that many excellent constitutional
lawyers are Of the opinion that Congress has
no constitutional authority TO order an election
idcptinl duties by the new officer aud the
expiration Of the presidential term. In
response vto,,S, to question by M GSnsSTr er
State performing the presidential duties should
himself die or become incapable wodld tho
person who had succeeded him as Secretary Of
State be entitled 20 succeed rs President or
not, Mr.. Iionr replied that there would bc no
new Secretary ofstatc, the duties Of both Sec
rotary Of State aud President would be per-
formed by the same officer, An Interesting
point made by Mr.. lIoar was that no president
pro tempore OF the Senate and but four of the
speakers of the House had ever become tho
presidential candidate of any considerable po-
litical organization, while six Presidents of
the United states had been Secretary of State
prior to their election to the presidency. Az
the conSnsii9n e OF NJ, T. Hoars remarks % the biil
sent. The bill fixing the salaries of United
States district judges was taken up, and at Mr..
Morgan's request laid over TO allow him to
prepare amendments which he desired TO Offer.
Mr. Frye then called up the code of joint
rules reported by him and entered Into aa eX-
pl0nati0n of them. All went very smoothly
c m Rc Mhch poydes ns Sa 70 no az aGaS Ts
liquors shall be sold in the capitol. Mr.. Frye
said the intention of the committee was to
amend the rule so that each House could regu-
late the matter for itself. Thereupon the grave
and reverend Senate became free debating
society, with the great moral question OF "cold
tea" or no cold tea" as the theme of discus.
sion. MIR, Riddleberger wanted to exclude
liquor from the capitol whether for sale" or
not, but could get no support and intimatcd
that the real place for reform was in the COM
wns voted down by 90 yeas to S6'nays. Mr..
Riddleborger then renewed his amendment
unayailingly, and one offered by Mr.. Brown OF
similar tenor was also rejected.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Morgan was
agreed to, combining the joint rules to so much
Of the capitol as was In the control of the two
houses of Congress, excluding that part con
trolled by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Cockrell offered an amendment TO tho
effect that any senator or member of Congress.
violating the rule should be liable to -expul
ators TO be passing rules for the purpose of In
1icting punishment oil committee clerks fol
"connlying' at the use of whisky in the capi
tol when II was notorious that distinguished
Intoxicating liquors in their committee rooms
lie had never any liquor in the capitol, but 4
was useless TO deny that 1t had been kept there
MIR. ingalls, said that by insisting on keeping
in rule l3 the senate was "straining Mt gna
and swallowing camel He sent to tht
cafe, nt which he supposed senators tool
lunch
"In a tcaeup instead of glass;" suggested
Mr.. Cockrcll.
MIR. ingalls, had seen II stated that the keeper
of this cafe was the only man in the country
who could conduct restaurant on strictly
Temperance basis.
Mr. Vest Inquired whether the senator had
heard from what state the Senate restaurant
Mr.. ingalls, had been informed that he camc
from Maine.
The clerk, at Mr.. Ingalls, request, read alouc
the wine list, with the prices of the dineren
brands much TO the amusement Of senators
Under the head of Madeira Wines he fount
"Blackbnrns reserve the reading of which
was greeted with shouts OF laughter, and som'
one was heard TO say soto vocc. Good TO
joe" When another brand was announced n
''boitled expressly for the United States Senate
cafe" the laughter was renewed, and on thu
conclusion ofthe reading Mr.. Butler expressed
his surprise that the clerk had not found "colC
The debate was participated in by Senator
Saulsbury, Cockrel, Manderson, Ftyc, Vest
Maxey Logan, Teller, and ingalls,, with the re
suit that Mr.. Cockrell's amendment was inall!
rejected bya vote OF ~ to 20. -
On motion Of Mr.. Edmunds, the clause pro
viding for the dismissal of clerks who shoulC
''conniye' at the use of liquors was strickcI
ont, in order TO make the rule harmonic witt
the sense of the Senate on Mr.. Cockrcll'
amendment. With that clause out the thir
tecnth rule was then adopted by viva VOC
vote
on the further motion of Mr.. Edmunds, tn
ninth rule was amended so rs to preserve I,
the Senate the power to appoint conference
committees. in order that Il Vice Preslden
might not have II In his power TO defea
the will of the Senate by a conference com
mittee.
After some further efforts at amendment, oi
motion of Mr.. Manderson the rules were lAi'
over TIL tomorrow, aud the Senate AT AZ
pan. went into executive session. At5D5 tn
doors were reopened, and the Senate I'D
journ1d.
Tho Unns, R,,tau n.hafa