The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-22
THE FIPTIETH CONGRESS.
The Senate Passes the Bill Creating a De-
partment OF Agriculture.


-
The Senate Passes the Bill Creating a De-
partment Of agriculture.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2l.-Mr. Stewart intro
duced q bill regulating the presentation OF bills
and joint resolutions to the President of the
Uniled States, which, after a brief discussion,
was referred to the committee on rules. IL
makes ii the duty OF the Speaker Of tho House
and Of the President of the Senate to have bills
and joint resolutions presented forthwith to the
President in person, and % have the fact report
ed to their respective houses.
Mr.. Stewart also offered a resolution reciting
the statements in the public press that presen-
tation OF bills to the present President is fire.
ouently delayed for several days. and some
lines for weeks, by the House committee on en-
rolled bills, and resolving that the Senate, as q
branch Of the legislative department of the gov
eminent, call the attention OF the House of Rep
reeentatives to such delays in presenting bills TO
the President OF the United States. and ask the
House to require its officers to present such bills
without unnecessary delay. BE desired TO sub
NIT some remarks, but. as 10 had been agreed
that the Agricultural Department bill should
be taken ND Immediately after the morning
business, he deferred his remarks until that bill
would be disposed OF.
1t was ordered that when the Senate adjourn
to-day it ce TO meet on Monday.
The House bill to make the Department. OF
Agriculture one OF the executive departments OF
the government WAS then taken M, the question
being on the amendment reported by the com
mittee on agriculture to strike out the eighth
section. which transfers the weather bureau OF
the Signal Service 20 the Department OF Agri-
culture.
Mr.. Chandler expressed himself as willing to
vote for the bill. Foreseeing, however, that it
would result In the establishment (which he
-AwHlA a-2aA -At~. II
dustries, he believed that it would be better TO
defer the creation OF the Department Of Agri-
culture until the time had arrived for tho crea-
ton OF a Department of National Industries.
which would extend the supervision and foster
ing care Of the government To all branches of
industries within the United States.
Mr.. Blair said that the proposition had origi.
nslly taken the form suggested by his colleague,
but had been opposed by the people interested
in agriculture. on the ground that they would
be submerged and lost sight of and would fail to
receive that specific attention which that great
industry demanded.
Mr.. Reagan sent to the clerks desk and had
read q substtute which he desired 10 offer for
the whole bill. 1t was for the creation of a de-
partment of industry and would, he eaid, en-
brace commerce. both internal and foreign. as
well as Agriculture, as the interests of ~agrieult-
ure and were inseparable aud inter
dependent He thought 10 would be a mistake
to pass . bill on the subject that would omit
either.
The discussion was continued by MI. Call in
favor of the transfer of the Weather Bureau.
and by Senators Wilson, OF Iowa; Palmer,
Salisbury and Hale against il. The vote Was
taken on the amendment TO strike out the fifth
section Of the bill, and II Was agreed to-yess,
81; nays. -. SO the proposition TO transfer the
Weather Bureau TO the Department of Agrieult-
ure was defeated.
Mr.. Reagan offered the substitute to which he
had previously referred, but IL was, on motion
of Mr.. Palmer, laid on the ,able.
q The bill was then passed. It provides that
the Department of Agriculture shall be an exec
utive department.. under the supervision and
control Of o Secretary OF Agriculture. who shall
be appointed by the President by and with the
advice and consent Of the Senate. There shall
be In the department. an Assistant Secretary OF
Agriculture. to be appointed by the President,
by and with the advice and consent OF the Sen
ate, who shall perform such duties as may be
required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
The Secretary OF Agriculture shall receive the
same salary as is paid TO the Secretary Of each
OF the executive departments, and The SALARY -
the Assistant Secretary OF Agriculture shall be
the same as that now paid TO the First Assistant
Secretary OF the Department OF the Interior.
A committee Of conference was ordered on the
dissgreeiug votes, and Senators Palmer, Sabin
and George were appointed eonferees on tie
part Of the Senate.
The conference report on the sundry civil ADJ
preparation bill was presented and agreed to.
Mr. Stewart inquired what had become Of his
amendment in regard TO land and timber frauds.
. Mr.. Allison replied that the Senate eonferees
had yielded on that point.
Mr.. Stewart thereupon proceeded to restate
HE views on the subject
AT the conclusion OF his speech Mr.. Sherman
asked Mr.. Allison whether the conference report
covered al matters IN dispute between the two
houses.
Hr. Allison replied that the only question on
which the confssees had been unable to agree
was the amendment as 70 the new library build
Ing.
Mr.. Sherman suggested that there Was no
sense in keeping up the controversy between
the two houses As TO the library building. The
Senate could not agree 10 the House proposition
to break existing contracts and TO make O new
start The only proper course was TO drop The
whole subject for the present
Mr.. Allison made a statement Of the position
or the House and Senate conferees. and ex-
pressed the opinion that the House proposition
involved the entire suspension of the work until
next Congress-. certainly for a year and n half
or two years.
Mr.. Hale, one Of the conferees, expressed the
belief that some plan could be hit upon that
would involve the two fundamental ideas O.
each house. that of the House being thar tho
charge Of the work shall be takea away from
the present management, and that of tho Sen
ate being that there shall De no unreasonable
delay in the construction of the building.
Mr.. Sherman moved to instruct the Senate
conferees that, IL the conferees OF the two
houses cannot agree, the Senate conferees shall
propose that the text of the House bill (disa-
greed to by the Senate) shall be stricken out of
the bill.
This motion was agreed TO. and the conferses
on the part of the Senate tMessra Allison, Hale
aud Cockrelll were reappointed.
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