Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-19
An Attempt to Take Up the Presidential
Succession Bill Fails.
Talks With Congressman, Meeting Of Com.
mittees, Proposed Legislation, Etc.
House OF Representatives.

On the election of President and Vice Presi-
dent OF the United States, to consist of Is men,
touching the election and tenure of office OF
President and Vice President, the count OF the
electoral vote and the succession to the office of
On reform in the civil service, to consist of 8
members. to which shall be referred all propo-
sitlons touching the civil service.
On shipbuilding and ship owning interests, to
consist OF 13 members, to which shall be re-
ferred all propositions relating to American
authority to Investigate the cause of the decline
of the American foreign carrying trade.
on alcoholic liquor traffic, to consist Of IL
members.
On ventilation and acoustics of the hall of the
mouse, 70 consist OF seven members.
An effort was made to strike out the clauses
relating to the committee Oh shipping and the
committee on alcoholic liquor traffic but it
proved unsuccessful, and the resolution was
adopted.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION BILL.
Mr.. Findlay Md asked unanimous consent
for the present consideration of the Senate
presidential succession bill, but Mr.. Peters
(Kan.l objected.
Mr.; Randall lPa.) suggested that Mr. Findlay
suspension of the rules. and Mr.. Findlay gave
notice that he would pursue that course.
subsequently MIR. Peters stated that if the bill
could be brought up and debated to-day and de-
Dated rs bill of that dignity merited he would
Withdraw his objection. He did not believe
that measure Of this character should be
passed without due consideration.
Mr. Findlay then renewed his request and
asked Mr TIM! rs he BIN be passed Immediately
now than at the last session.
MI Flndiay-It is just as important now as
Mr.. Goff-Your side of the House offered
1t then; now you make the appeal that it is i'm
pOrtant.
Mr.. Findlay-All I say is that IL the House
made a mistake then that is no reason why it
should make a mistake now.
NJ Mr GGonn,ClrcHmstances are changed.
wise men are governed by circumstances.
Mr. Reed (Me.l said that by the new rules op-
Portunlty was offered for the transaction of
business In regular order, and he could see no
reason for stampeding the House in favor of a
particular lili, even if it was bill which
party now, as it had in the past. There was no
public exigency that demanded such a vociter-
GUS display OF patriotism as now exhibited by
sion.
Mr: Ffndlay inquired as to the length of time
Wnich toe republicans wished for debate.
Mr. Reed said that the regular course was for
the bill to be referred to a committee
80 the bill did not come up.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Consent was asked, but refused, that there
might be call of states for Introduction of bills,
but objection was made.
Mr. Hammond (Ga.), however, introduced the
following bills: To require the payment of
$oo, 900 TO the state Of Georgia for moneys ex-
pended for the common defense in 1777. To
authorize the withdrawal from warehouses
without payment OF tax of alcohol and other
spirits for use In the manufacture of drugs and
chemicals.
Mr.. Browne Qnd.) introduced the following:
Referring to the President the controversy be-
tween the United States and Venezuela in re-
to the soldiers of the Mexican war; Increasing
the pensions of survivors OF the war of 1872;
ana granting arrears OF pension to persons PEN
MIR. Tucker Va. asked consent for the passage
OF bill authorizing the Attorney General 10
business relative to the French spoliation
Claims, but Mr.. Boutelle (Me.) objected.
The House then, at LIS, adjourned.
Capitol Topics.
THE VOTE ON REVISION OF THE HOUSE RULES
The House adopted the Morrison rules practi.
cally without change before adjourning yester-
day. The vote stood 226 to 20 in favor of the
majority report. This vote was taken by yeas
and nays on Mr.. Holman's proposition to allow
legislation upon appropriation bills when 1t re-
parties was as follows: For the revision of the
rules, 81 republicans and 12S democrats
: against the revision, ~ republicans and As
party was about as it stood on the tariff aues-
ton last year, Mr.. Randall holding about his
same following.
THE PENSION TO MRS. GRANT
The bill which unanimously passed the Sen.
ate yesterday allowing Gen. Grants widow a
pension OF $4,000 per annum was subsequently
passed in the House, only one vote being cast
against it-that OF Mr.. Pierce, Of Wisconsin.
LABOR INTERESTS IN CONGRESS-
Grand Master Powderly, of the Knights of
Labor, is in the city to look after labor matters
before Congress. Among other things he is
urging the designation of Mr.. Foran as chair.
man of the House committee on labor.
THE DEFEAT OF THE HOLMAN AMENDMENT
Among the many things that are said. now
that the fight concerning the change of the rules
of the House is over, is the following: That
80 81
Morrison system of rules upon the Conditions
that the repeal of the Holman amendment be
included In the scheme; There was an idea
plated q wholesale reduction OF the force of the
government departments, and the rejection of
the Holman amendment placed it out OF their
power to effect this.
THE SCIENCE OF SPELLING.
Representative Frank Lawler has q bill of
twelve pages ito test and try the science or
spelling" The bill provides that since the
government Appropriated $500, 600 for Fulton
Morse TO try the telegraph, that it now appro-
pirate q sum of money to enable Mr.. Charles
method OF spelling, which is described as sm en
Ter, shorter and easier to learn than the one at
present in use.
THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
A subcommittee OF the Senate judiciary
committee, consisting Of Senators Hoar Evarts
and Jackson, to whom the bankruptcy bill was
referred, held meeting to-day and carefully
examined the bill. 1t will be Submitted back
to the full committee with favorable report.
THE INVESTIGATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL SUR
vEY.
The Joint congressional committee on the
consolidation OF the scientific bureaus was
again in session to-day. The examination of
the books and methods of the geological survey
was continued at the meeting to-day.
THE NOMINATIONS OF CIVIL SERVICE CON-
MIssIoNRRs.
uooa<sn., NJ tho Sano<a x>ov, ~ .s,us,
service and retrenchment was called for this
morning to consider the nominations of Messrs
Edgerton Trenholm and Eaton as civil service
commissioners, but rs several members did not
attend an adjournment was taken until next
Monday.
COMMISSIONERS SPARKS AND THE LAND GRAB
BEERS.
Representative Payson, OF Illinois (rep.l says
there will be NO action taken by Congress In re-
lation to Mr.. Sparks recent order suspending
the granting Of titles to lands by settlers under
the presumption and other land settlement
laws. He says the order was much needed and
that the outcry against u comes chiefly from
parties who have made frAudulent entries. The
new land commissioner, he says. was mot iamil-