Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-09-22
oxLr rHRrr rorEs OPPOSED


UNLI NHhEE tONhN OfNEONEb
TIE Chinese Restriction Bill Passes WA %
Pending Notion to Reconsider.
The presidents message on the China
matter was laid before the senate on the
9TH. He merely sent copy of tvo dis
patches from the American minister at
Pekin: One is dated September ., and
says:
81 believe that the treaty has been re-
iected. 1 have demanded from the for
eign office positive information. No in
formation has been received"
The other is dated September 8, and
says:
''Fhe treaty has been postponed for
further deliberation.
Mr.. Mitchell was speaking rapidly and
vehemently on the Chinese bill when the
gavel fell and the presiding officer put
the question, "Shall the bill passg"
Mr. German rose to speak, but had
got no further than the words, ''Mr.
President, in consideration of this meas
ure," when he was stopped by the an
nouncement on the part of the presiding
officer that debate was not in order.
Unanimous. consent had been given yes
terday that at o'clock the vote should
be taken on the question, "Shall the
bill pass" There being some questions
as to the terms of the agreement, the
report in the Record was read. Mr..
German excused himself on the ground
that he was not present when the agree
ment was made, and was not aware of it.
He now moved that the bill and the
presidents message be referred to the
commmittee on foreign relations.
Mr., Teller-'Ihat is contrary to the
arrangement.
The Presiding Offieer-"The char
holds that the motion is in order under
the rule, Notwithstanding the agree
ment.
The question was taken on Mr.. Cor
mans motion, and resulted, yeas z, nays
19-no quorum.
The question was then taken on the
passage of the bill, and the result was
yeas 81, nays 8.
MIR. Blair asked the presiding officer
whether motion to reconsider the vote
was in order, and ON being informed
that it was, he submitted that motion.
He said that if it were reconsidered he
would move an amendment to the bill,
providing that the act shall not take eff
feet until the expiration of sixty days
after its passage unless the pending
treaty shall be rejected by China within
that time, but to take effect Immediately
on such rejection.
Mr.. German referred to his motion to
commit the bill, and said that he had
made that motion in consideration that
the bill had come before the senate,
without doubt, under misrepresentation.
Mr.. Stewart opposed the motion to re-
consider, and said the more he read
Denby's dispatches the more he felt that
the bill was proper.
Mr.. Blair advocated his motion. He
argued that the treaty would, If ratified
by China, afford all the remedy which
the bill was designed to give. Unless
the real purpose of the bill was to des-
troy the treaty, delay of sixty days
ought to be satisfactory to everybody.
So far as was known the Chinese gov
eminent was acting in good faith.
At the close of the discussion Mr. Tel
Ter moved to lay on the table Mr.. Blair's
motion to reconsider A vote was taken
and resulted-yeas 90, nays II; no quo
rum. A call of the senate having shown
the presence of forty-four senator's, Mr..
Jones of Arkansas moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Blair-As the vote just taken is
clearly indicative of the will of the SEN
ate. do not want to delay action, and
therefore beg to withdraw my motion to
reconsider.
Mr.. Sherman object
A vote was taken on a motion to adj
iourn, and it was defeated-yeas 10,
nays %.
A vote was taken the second and third
times on the motion to lay on the table
the motion to reconsider, but each time
there was lack of quorum, several
senators taking advantage of their being
paired to refrain from voting. Finally
the friends of the bill realized the use
lessness of further attempts to end the
matter, and the senate adjourned till
Monday, leaving the bill passed, but
motion to reconsider its passage pend.
ing.