Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-31

George proceeded with the speech which he
had begun yesterday. In reply to the asser-
tion made by Mr.. Edmunds last week in his
speech, that the president had right
TO suspend the operation lof section
3006 of the revised statutes, which
allowed the transit Of goods between the
United States and Canada without the pay
ment of duty, Mr.. George argued that If
the president were to undertake to suspend
the operation of that section he would be as
suming an autocratic power denied him by
the constitution and possessed only by some
potentates in Europe and ASIA. The presi-
dent could not abrogate a solemn enactment
of congress, absolute in its terms aud with
out any contingency whatever.
Mr. Cullom addressed the senate on the
same subject. The rejection Of the fisheries
treaty by the senate, he said, had met the
approval OF very large majority of the
sage might be fairly taken as evidence that
even the president had become satisfied that
the treaty was mistake. To retrieve what
he had lost by that mistake the president had
launched out into broader sea and would
find himself IN deeper water than ever be-
fore, and with greater changes threatening
him. When he (Culom) applied the mes
sage to the existing situation, and saw how
little excuse there was for it, the fact be.
came more and more apparent that it had
been inspired by political necessity. His
complete change of front on the fisheries
question showed that Cleveland and bis
party were in desperate straits, politically;
that they saw defeat staring them in the
face, and they were seeking to divert atten-
tention from one issue on which they had
deliberately staked all their chances of sue
cess at the approaching election.
! the close of Mr.. Cullom's speech the
subject went over without action.
The senate then proceeded to the fortifica-
tion bill with amendments recommended by
the committee on appropriations.
MIR. Cullom offered a resolution, which was
laid over, directing the secretary of the
treasury to inform the senate whether tran
sit in bond over or across the United States
(without payment of duty of goods, wares,
and merchandise coming from Canada had
been permitted since July |, 1885, when ar
ticle 25, of the treaty of Washington, and
section of the act of March 1, 1873, are said
to have ceased to be in force; If so, to what
extent and by what authority of law.
House.
WASHINGTON, August 3G-After routine
business the house went into committee of
the whole on the Oklahoma bill. An amend
ment was offered by Mr. Ar derson of Iowa,
providing that honorably discharged soldiers
and sailors of the late war bhall be permit
ted to enter lands in the proposed territory
without payment of the purchase price pro-
vided for by the bill. After some time had
been spent in securing quorum the amend
ment was rejected by voteof ~ to 92. The
committee then arose Informally to allow
Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky ito report from
the committee on foreign affairs substitute
for the Wilson retaliation bill, and he gave
notice that he would call it up for considera-
tion on Saturday next
The committee on the Oklahoma bill then
resumed its sittings. The entire afternoon
was consumed in an unsuccessful effort to
secure quorum to vote on the amendments
offered, and without action the committee
rose. as
Mr.. Springer of Illinois, as privileged
question, offered a resolution directing the
sergeant-at-arms to telegraph the absent
members that their presence Is required i'm
mediately in order that public business may
be transacted. -
Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois doubted the eff
cheney Of telegram. If the utterance Of q
leader in the house (MilIs), made in Chicago
recently, that the British lion was to be taken
by the snout, would not bring the members
back. why would a single telegram do2 The
resolution was ruled out Of order, and the
house adjourned. t--