Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-16
H0AR'S BILL TO BE A LAW
THE HOUSE PASSES 1T BY A
VOTE OF 1873 TO 20.

OhAN AWu democrats NnLe Against tne
Measure-Mr. DibbIe Shows Wherein
the Measure, While Weak, is an I'm
prOVement on the Existing Lsw-Futile
Legislative TrickerI.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The private
business having been dispensed with to-
day, the House resumed consideration of
the Presidential succession bill, and its
passage was advocated by Mr.. Dibbe, of
South Carolina, who regarded il as far
better statutory provision than the exist
ing law. He proceeded to argue that
neither the President pro TEN. of the'sen-
ate nor the Speaker OF the House was
United States officer, and in support Of
this position quoted from the 14th
amendment to the cOnstitu-
tion, where distinction is
made between member Of Congress and
United States officer. He picked out the
flaws which be cOntended existed in the
present statute and the manner in which,
II called into operation II would destroy
the symmetry of our national election
system. While admitting that the pend
ing measure did not, and no statutory
provision could, meet every eXlgency
which might arise in Presidential success
sion, he answered many OF the objections
made to it and showed wherein it was an
improvement over the law OF 1892.
MR.. OsBoRNE's OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Osborne, of Pennsylvania, regretted
that he could not give the bill his sane
tton, but he could not find in the argu-
ments made in It's support sufficient legal
reasons to answer the constitutional OBJ
jectiOns he found to it.
Mr. Roc pkvall Of MaagaQhnGpffa
nOunced his support OF the pending meas
ure, not that he thought 1t by any means
perfect, but because be regarded it as
much better than the present statute.
Mr.. Baker, Of New York, spoke briefly
in favor of the bill, and was followed by
MIR. Ryan, Of Kansas, who, while admit
ting that IN some respects IL was far su-
peri0r to the existing law, found in it
some defects so fatal that he did not feel
at liberty TO vote for it.
WANTS THREE VICE PRESIDENTS.
The latter gentleman favored a settlA-
ment of the YeXed question by a cODstitu-
tional amendment, and the amendment
which he thought TO be the best was the
one providing for three Vice Presidents.
Mr.. ErmentrOut, OF Pennsylvania. sub
mitted some remarks, which he said con-
tanned no new ideas, but were simply
offered in defense of the bill. He criti-
cised, however, that section OF the meas
ure which repeals the special election
clause OF the act OF 1872.
At $50 O'Clock MIR. Caldwell, of Ten
nessee, demanded the previous question
which, after a little parliamentary fenc-
ing, was ordered by vote Cf l46 yeas to
125 nays.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Adams,
of Illinois, striking out the clause which
repeals sections Of Revised Statutes pro-
vlding for special elections, was rejected
by vote of 1l3 yeas to 1853 nays.
Mr.. M'KINLEY's PLAN DEFEATED.
A vote was then taken on the substitute
offered by MI. Mckinley, of Ohio, leaving
in force the present law with the addition
Of a provision that for the purpose OF baV-
ing a Speaker of the House Of Represen-
tatiYes in office continuously, Congress
should convene at y O'Clock on the 4th
day Of March next succeeding the cleo
ton Of Representatives in Congress and
whenever vacancy exists either in the
office Of President pro. TEN. Of the Senate
or Speaker OF the House, the President
shall convene the House in which vacan-
cy exists for the purpose Of electing a
presiding officer.
The substitute was rejected by a vote
Of los yeas to l57 nays.
The House was divided on these votes
by party lines.
RECORIAIITTAL PROPOSED.
MIR. Ryan, or Kansas, moved to re-
commit the bill with instructions TO
the committee % report back Il Joint reso-
luton proposing constitutional amend
ment providing for the election Of two or
more Vice Presidents.
Mr.. Everhart. OF Pennsylvania, moved
TO amend the restrictions 50 that the
measure reported back would deyOlve the
Presidential Succession in the Speaker Of
the House. President pro TEN OF the Sem
ate, Secretary u Slate. Chiet Justice OF
the Supreme Court, Secretary OF The
Treasury and Attorney General, in the
order named. This was rejected
MIR. Ryan's motion MAS also lost.
The bill was then passed by vote of
1873 yeas to 70 nays, precisely as it came
from the Senate.
The negative vote was cast by ReDub-
licaus ana by Messrs. Bennett OF North
Carolina and Green OF New JefseY.
The tollowing-named Republicans voted
with the Democrats in the Affirmative:
Messrs. Allen OF Mississippi, Atkinson,
Baker, Browne Of Indiana, Buck, Butter
worth. Cutcheon. Ely, Galhnger, Hayden,
Herman. Hiestand, HiscOck, Hit. James,
johnson of New York, Ketcham, Laf0l-
lette, Long Markham. McCOmas, M0iiit,
Neglcy, Payne, PettbOne, Price, Rock
well, Scranton, Steele. Strait, StrOuble,
Swinburne, Symes, Wade, Wakefield.
Warner Of Missouri, and Weaver of Ne
braska.
The House then, at 5:35 o'clock, ad-
journed till Monday.