The morning news., 1888-10-16
OATES MAKES A BLUNDER
AN ADJOURNMENT RESOLUTION
WHICH VITIATED ITSELF.

WHEREAS, The present session of congress
hss continued longer than any ever held in tn,
history of the government.
EWHEREAs. Much less than quorum is pres
ent in the Senate or House of Representatives
so that no legislation can be econstitutionally en-
acted and
WHEREAS There is no probability of a quorum
being present in either house during the time
when the present session may by law continue
EoSo'red, That the president of the Senate
and the speaker of the House be authorized to
close the present session by adiourning their
respective houses Wednesday, the 11Uh of
October, at II m.
BACKING UP HIS PROPOSITION.
Mr. Gate said that in view of the fact
that there was no quorum in the other
branch of congress and no probability of
there being one, he thought that the resolu-
ton for final adjournment should be agreed
e.. AS the committee on ways and means
was likewise without Il quorum, nothing
would be gained by referring toe resolution
to that committee, but he WAS willing that
ii should lie upon he table until tomorrow.
In response t. ques ion by Mr.. Lanham
of Texas, the speaker stated that if the
point were raised, a quorum would be
necessary to pass an adjournment resolution.
Mr.. Lanham then suggested that the
reso ution offered by Mr. Oates in the pre-
amhle of its If revealed the point of no
quorum, and tie speaker acqulescng in
could not pass in its present shape.
ANXIOUS TO VOTE.
F. B. Taylor-Let the gentleman strike
out the preamble, and leC us pass the reso-
luton. TCries of ''vote" vote! !
Mr. McMllin said that the House had
been waiting to give the Senate an oppor-
tunity to act upon the bill which the House
had sent it for reduction of taxation. If
ii became necessary for a quorum to be
here for the purpose of reducing taxation,
there was no day upon which quorum
could not be obtained.
Mr.. Lanham inquired whether it had not
been developed TO the satisfaction of the
gentleman and Of the country that no tariff
bill would be passed this session.
Mr.. NcMllin replied that the record
showed all that he knew upon the subject
There were reasons satisfactory to the mem
h'IS OF the ways and means committee why
a resolution Of adjournment should not be
Introduced to-day.
MIR Oates then withdrew the preamble
ard the resolution was laid over until to-
N rTow,
Mr.. Kugore of Texas gave notice that
he would demand a vote upon it at that
time
ADJOURNMENT TALK IN THE SENATE.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Brown pre-
sented a petition of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union of Georgia for the re-
peal Of the Internal revenue laws. and ad-
dressed the Senate. He referred to the fact
that there was no quorum of either house
in the city of w ashington, aud that no
bus ness could be lawfully done in the faca
OF a single objection. There was therefore
One said, one thing left to be done, and that
was to adjourn at the earliest day possible
The only reason why an adjournment had
not taken place before tins was that both
parties were ie lous OF each other and were
lpSr no crain a
vantage. There was no probability of en-
acting the tariff bill ilto a law at the
present session.
NO REASON FOR STAYING.
He saw no reason why an adjournment
should not Ue agreed upon at once. Two
weeks had already cen occupied by the
tariff debate in the Senate and there was
htUle left TO be said. He did not believe
that either party was making a single vote
by protracting the debate He asked Mr..
Allison to state whether there was any
possible chance of passing the tariff bill at
the present session.
Mr. Allison replied that he did not SEQ a
possibility of passing it III the Senate under
the surrounding circumstances and even if
it were passed by the Senate, it was i'm
possible TO have the amendmel 1t considered
Ii the House before next December.
ALL SHOULD BE PRESENT.
The consideration of the tariff bill should
take place in the full Senate, but he did not
believe that the senators would remain in
session during the next three weeks, nor did
lie believe that they were called upon t DO
so under the circumstances. Whether a
recess should be- taken and whether CON
gress should come back after the election
aud go on with the tariff bill was
question which he would leave to
the Judgment of the senator's on
both SIDES. 1t was his purpose to pursue
the tariff bill with whatever facility it
could be pursued until it was finally dis
posed of. He was willing to allow reason =
able time for general debate, and then he
would ask the Senate to discuss the bill par
ngraph by paragraph, under the five or ten
Minute rule.
AN UNDERSTANDING WANTED,
Whatever was done now whether con-
gre adjourned tomorrow, or next day,
or next wees), the Senate ought TO have an
und standing that on reassembling
tariff bill should be pursued, so that it
would get to the House of Representatives
before the Christmas holidays. If he had
his way, he should push it to the exclusion
of all other business. As 10 the matter OF
adjournment, he was willing 10 submit t.
the judgment of the Senate.
Discussion Of the adjournment resolution
stopped here, the Senate proceeded with
consideration of the tariff blll, aud Mr.
Vest took the hoor to speak up II it. Mr.
Teller obtained the floor and the tariff bill
went over till tomorrow.
The Senate then adjourned
OATES BLCSDERED.
The democratic managers of the tive
houses got an intimatiol this morning tina
II they would wait dav ur two the repub
Hca,t managers of the Senate woulC
bring in an adjournment resolution eth
independently or simultaneously with Of,
. 10 be- brought forward 10y the democrats IL
the House. Consequently the democratic
managers agreed to withhold for tb,
present their resolution providing for an al
1ournment on Saturday, but Mr.. Oates
who was not at the conference, compliclte,
matters by introducing, on bis own re
sponsibilitY, his ill-drawn res luton for az
adjournment OH Wednesday, which, by re
citing that neither house had a quorum
nullilsed Itself, since IN the absence Of
quorum If attention is thus officially draw
TO the fact that quorum is not presen
Congress cannot, under the constitution
adjourn sine die.
MADE THE AUTHOR BLUSH.
OF course when The speakers attention
was called TO this he ruled that the rfsolti
ton would have TO be aniendei 10 be effect
i've, while Mr. Oates blushc1 an
the House laughed, and bv uuani
lat