, 1885-12-18

ASHlNUION, Dec. li.-hr. DlDble, oil
South Carolina, asked leave to introduce
a Joint res luton proposing a constitu.
tional amendment. 1t provides that in
case of the removal from Office by death,
resignation or constitutional inability both
OF the president and vice-president of the
United States, the office of president shall
devvlve upon a second vice president,
who shall be voted for in distinct ballots
at the same time and in like manner. and
for the same term as the president, and
be elected vice-presidcnt by the electors
appointed by the several states. The
second vice president shall preside over
the senate in the absence Ut the vice
president. or in case the office If presi-
dent shall devolve upon the vice presi-
dent.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, said he
had a like measure which he would Ike
to go with the proposition of the gentle
man from South Caralina.
Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, saw no reason
why the measures should have prece-
deuce, and be objected to their intro
duction.
The subject Of rules then came up for
discussion. Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois,
stating that he would try to close the gen
eral debate at 4 O'Clock to-day. Mr.. Long,
Of MaSuaohuoatta owraoJ ,r,,b H. u..,l.
man who demanded the largest parlia-
mentary freedom for representatives of
the people here. There was only one
way in which the house could have abso-
lutte liberty, and that was to abolish all
the rules and all the committees and all
restrictions on debate. and remand itself
to the condition of debating solely. Mr..
Randall, Of Pennsylvania, in closing the
debate in opposition to the majority re-
port, said he knew, and members who had
served upon appropriations committees
knew, that in the effort to resist un
due appropriation, they had been en-
gagged in a thankless task, but he had
never known that there would be those
in public station who would rise up and
condemn a man, or set of men who were
engaged in TIE laudable purpose of saw
ing the expenditure of public money.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, offered an
amendment for division of the committee
on railways and canals into two commit
tees, and this proposition was favored by
Messrs. Henderson, of Illinois. Murphy,
of Iowa, and other advocates of the Hen
nepin canal pruject, who contended that
the interests Of railways and canals were
SO ~antagonistic, one to the other, that
they should not be combined under the
jurisdiction Of one committee. The
house, however, refused to order a di'
vision by a vote of "a to 1888.
A proposition ts create a constitutions
amendment committee, presented by Mr..
Bayne, Of Pennsylvania, having been
defeated through the vigorous opposition
of Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, an amend
ment was offered by Mr.. Payne. OF New
York, to give the committee on r%eyisiot
of the laws jurisdiction over the proposed
amendments to the constitution. Tn,
amendment was lost.
The membership of the committee OF
accounts was increased to nine.
Mr.. Springer. of Illinois. made severa
attempts to abolish committees which l.,
deemed useless, declaring that some o
them did no business excent select clerks
but his efforts were unsuccessful. Pend
ing an effort OF his part u abolish thu
committees on public expenditures in va
rious departments, and To create one com
mittee on expenditures in the executive
department, the house adjourned.