The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-12-18
THE LAWMAKERS.
A Busy Time in Congress on
Thursday.
THE NEW RULES IN THE HOUSE
Lively Debate, In Which Morrison
and Randall Bave q Bit
OF a Spat.
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
THE NEW RULES IN THE HOUSE
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE .

4
WASHINGTON, December 17.-After
the reading of the journal, Dolph pre-
sented the credentials of Mitchell, newly
elected United States Senator from Ore
gon, which were read. Mitchell was
then sworn il
The Chair laid before the Senate a
letter from the Secretary of the Treas
uEy transmitting the report of the sup
erintendent of the coast and geodetic
survey.
Hoar, from the committee on priv
ileges and elections, reported favorably
the bill to fix day for the meeting Of
electors for President and VIce-Pres-
ldent and to provide for and regulate
the counting of the vote for President
and Vice President, and the decisions
and questions arising therefrom, Hoar
said he would call up the bill for action
Immediately after the disposal of the
Presidential succession bill and the bill
! fixing the salary of United States Dis
trict judges. The bill went to the cal
endar.
The Chair laid before the Senate a
resolution of Butler, calling for COM
mittee to inquire as to the alleged organ
Il alton of the Territory of Dakota into q
State and the alleged election of u. s.
Senators.
Harrison did not think a committee
necessary for that purpose. The efforts
OF Dakota, he said, was per-
fectly respectful to the United
| States. Its new constitution fully
recognized the authority of the
| United States, and stayed the hand
of the new State organization until the
new constitution should be approved by
! Congress. For six years the people of
Dakota had been trying to secure ae-
ton by Congress looking to their ad-
mission; the Senate had passed bill
for their relief, but the bill had not
passed the other house.
Butler inquired by what authority
United States Senators had been elected
in Dakota.
Harrison replied that he could show
that Senators had heretofore been
elected under precisely similar circum-
stances. Dakota had the right to go at
least as far as Tennessee, California and
Michigan had proceeded.
Butler remarked that if the proceed
! ings in Dakota were regular and proper,
| the fact than himself. He had offered
the resolution for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning the facts. He thought the Sen
ator from Indiana had been working
himself into passion unnecessarily.
/ Harrison replied that he was not in q
passion. The Senator" said he, has
never seen me in passion, or he would
/ be able TO discriminate. (Laughter.)
| Harrison briefly reviewed the history
of the question of the admission of
Territories and said that Democrats at
any rate ought not 10 question the pro-
| priety of the action of Dakota.
Butler said that no question of pol
/ itics was involved.
| Harrison was glad that Butler took so
statesmanlike view on the subject.
Butler inquired whether Harrison
would sustain action by the Territory
of Utah similar to the recent action of
! Dakota.
Harrison replied that he would, but
reserved to Congress the power to ap-
prove or disapprove their constitution,
and that power was recognized and ad-
mitted by Dakota.
! Mcmillan said Minnesota had been
/ admitted to the union without any en-
aiding act, and Democratic Senators
had been elected and were ready
to take their seats Immediately upon
the passing of the act of admission.
After further debate the matter went
over until tomorrow and the Presiden.
tial succession bill was taken up and
warts addressed the Senate on it. He
took the ground that the succession
provided for by the bill now before the
Senate was the only possible constitu-
tional exercise of the very limited power
accorded by the Constitution to Con-
! gress. Evarts spoke about an hour
and was listened to with the
utmost attention both on the
! the floor and in the galleries.
After q few words from E1munds in
reply to EYarts. and differing from him
as to the livery limited power" of Con-
gress, Edmunds' amendment was voted
| down, yeas 81, nays 81.
Edmunds' smendn ent wss one strik-
/ ing out the clause. The bill then passed
without division as reported from the
committee.
The chair then laid before the Senate
the bill fixing the salary of United
! States Judges, but without action on
/ that bill the Senate went into executive
session and, when the doors were re-
/ opened, adjourned.