Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-07
WRESTLING FOR BRAKES.
SHERMAN THINKS CONGRESS IS CO.
ING TOO FAST

In Legislation Against the Chinese-He
Suggests That the Senate May Find It
self lin a BoIe"-Another No Quorum
yote-The Question of Adjournment
Scott's Reply to TeiIer's Criticism.
WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. THE prin-
cipal debate in the senate yesterday was on
the Scott Chinese restriction bill
Sherman said he favored the passage
of the bill if the Chinese government
had refused to accede to the new
treaty or to negotiate further upon
it. 1t was an unusual thing for the senate to
pass upon bill of such importance without
reference to committee, without consldera-
ton, and without any of the forms required
in ordinary legislation. No answer had been
received TO the resolution adopted Wednes-
day asking the president whether definite
and positive information about the rejection
of the treaty had been received by our gov
eminent, and if it should appear as be be-
lieved it would, that no such information had
been received, and if the senate without re-
gard to the ordinary usages of the senate,
should hurriedly pass this bill, it would be
surprise to the country and to the whole civ
ilized world. Sherman said he had informa
ton from undoubted sources, mot from
the president or secretary of state J." he added.
that the probability was that no such
action had been taken by the Chinese govern
ment. When the bill came over from the
house he had assumed, as a matter of course,
that the house had passed it on information
from the executive; but the senate had no
such information, and should not rush like
flock of partridges into the passage of the
bill If it should turn out, as he believed it
would, that the Chinese government had not
rejected the treaty, the hasty passage of the
bill would be unbecoming to the American
senate, and so he thought it bound by the
common courtesy due between nations, as
between individuals, to await the action of
the Chinese government
Sherman, therefore, asked the senate to let
tine bill go over for day or two, until the
facts were ascertained but Stewart objected.
Brown asked Sherman whether he, as
chairman of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, bad any information of the rejection
of the treaty.
Sherman-Certanly not A gentleman
who had business with the Chinese legation
told me that be does not believe the legation
mas I'M offhatlOH OF lle rejection OF tne
treaty; that there has been no objection $50
far as known to the amendments to the
treaty On the contrary. the minister him
| self assented to them at the time they were
| offered; and it was presumed as a matter
/ of course, that the treaty would be ratified.
| feel free to say that no communication OF
any kind has come to the president in regard
to the treaty. | believe that that
is fact, and the whole OF
our action on the bill is based upor
the assumption that because distinguished
member of the house Of Representatives
brought it in and had it hurried through tn,
house it was done with the sanction of the
administration Certainly we ought not to
be satisfied with that Suppose the president
should veto the act which he has now befor
him on the ground that We had passed TIN
bill abrogatlng the treaty, we would be "in q
hole"-in very embarrassing position.
Morgan questioned the sincerity of the Pa
cifc slope senators as to the exclusion o
Cinnamon and remarked that the sentimen
for their exclusion was far from universal
The statement was challenged by Mitchell
who said somewhat eNciteily that there wa
not one word OF truth 10 it from beginning t,
end