National Republican., 1888-02-21

laws; also resolution directing the com
mittee on education to report back the
Blair educational bill before March 20.
BY Mr.. Crohnse, OF Ohio, for the pay
ment OF the 8 per cent. greenback certiil-
Gates Of the District Of Columbia.
BY Mr.. Foran, OF Ohio, to fix the COM
pensation OF employees Of the government
By NJ. audd, of Wisconsin; Joint resolu-
tion proposing a constitutional amendment
extending the Presidential term to eight
years.
The Speaker laid before the House a
message from the President, transmitting
report from the Secretary OF State in reia-
tion to an invitation from the Belgium
government TO the United States to partici-
pate In an international exhibition TO be
held at Brussels in May next. Referred.
Also message from the President trans
mitting report from the Secretary OF State
relative to an invitation from the German
government to the United States TO become
party to the International Geodetic Asso.
citation. Referred.
Mr.. Culberson, of Texas, on behalf OF
the committee on the judiciary, moved to
suspend the rules and place upon It's pas
sage the Hoar Joint resolution proposing
constitutional amendment changing the
date Of Inauguration day, and extending
the terms OF members OF Congress until
April 80.
Mr.. Collins, Of Massachusetts,, supported
the measure, the practical effect Of which,
he said, would be to extend the short ses.
sion into a long one, In which the necessary
business OF the country could be transacted.
1t was important that the proposition
should be acted upon Immediately, as many
OF the state legislatures would not be In
seesion.one month hence, and It was desir-
able that the next President should take
his seat on the same day of the year as that
on which George Washington assumed the
presidency.
Mr.. Grain, OF Texas, in opposing the reso-
luton said that according to its friends It
had two objects in view. The first object
was to carry out sentimental idea that the
successor OF the present incumbent Of the
presidential chair should be inaugurated on
the came day as that on which Washington
was installed in Office. The second object
was to leDgthen the short session OF the
term Of Congress. He had no objection to
change the day of Inauguration, although
he though that sentimental reason was
very poor one for an organic change In the
law OF the land. 1t was said that owing to
the inclemency Of March weather In Wash
ington 1t would do better to change nau.
guration day 80 that the new President
might not subject himself to an attack OF
pneumonia, but he had never heard OF any
gentleman, Republican or Democrat, de-
clInipg a presidential nomination for fear
that he might catch cold at his inaugura-
ton.
Mr.. Culberson, Of Texas, said that the
principal benefit to be derived from the
pending proposition was the change Of
Inauguration day to better season OF the
year, and the extension Of the short ses.
sion OF Congress-.
Mr.. Taulbee, Of Kentucky, asked unani-
nous consent to offer an amendment pro-
xVtI hat Nt,nD anI Nla ,I,a,a
OF Congress whose terms are extended by
the resolution shall not receive any com
pensation or salary for the time SO ex-
tended. III 1t was patriotic proposition
to extend the term Of the members Of the
fiftieth Congress two months, IL would be
much more patriotic to extend It two years.
He would not under the guise of patriotic
sentiment extend his own term Of power
and compensation, and he regarded the
pending resolution as a small salary grab.
Mr.. Collins objected to the amendment,
stating that his objection was based on pa
triotic reasons. Under the provisions OF
the resolution members of Congress must
serve the country two months longer, and
he believed in paying them for the services
rendered. He did not believe that the
United States, any more than private in
| vdual had right to expect services from
him without mohinS reasonable componsu'
| tion. The only objection he had to the reso-
luton was that 1t kept him in Congress two
months longer than he wanted to stay here.
Mr.. Reed, OF Maine, regarde the propi
sition as step in the dark. 1t was pro
posed to add two mepths to the present
term iof Congress, step which hud nc
| justification In reason or good sense. The
| reason why the short session was crowded
with business was not its length. 1t was
crowded because 1t had fixed term, aud
1t would be crowded whether the terminus
was the..4th OF March, the 30th of April, ,or the
30th of August. The real reason for the
be a much nicer holiday for Washing
topians than the 4th of March. Laughter. |
| Mr.. Lodge, OF Massachusetts,, thought
that the changing Of the date OF inaugura
tion to more pleasant season OF the year
while IL was not a sufficient reason OF itsel
for the pending proposition, was certainl.
not en- objection to 1t. Nor was the historl
cal sentiment OF itself sufficient reasoi
for the change, but 1t was worthy of con
sideration that Washington had been In
augurated on the 3Oth Of April, and every
thing that could be done to preserve an,
extend those patriotic considerations wa
well worthy the attention of the House
But the real reason for the change was th
fact that 1t added sixty days to the shor
session. Such an extension would be bene
fetal to the interests OF the people, and 1t
indirect effect might be to shorten the Ion
session by two Of the most dlsagreeabl
months OF the year.
Mr.. Henderson, OF Illinois, opposed tn
resolution, and he was followed by MI
shively, ofIndiana, and Buckalew, Of Penn
sylvania, In the same strain, while Messrs
Oates and Herbert, Of Alabama, favore'
the proposition.
Mr. Cox, of New York, said that the yer,
highest possible refinement Of republicar
principles was the amendment OF the con
stitution under prescribed rules; and II
the present instance Congress was onl
applying to its constituents for the right I
extend the term two months. Two month
great benefit to the public interests; an
II Congress could glorify Inauguration da
with something besides snow storm, let
do so. ILaughter.l
Mr.. Wheeler, Of Alabama, maintaine
that members Of the fiftieth Congress ha
no right to extend the power given to theI
by the people in November, 1886.
the people the right OF franchise and indi
rectly thwarting their will, as such an Q,
tension would do; and Mr.. Crisp, {
Georgia, argued In favor Of abolishing th
short session Of the fiftieth Congress, an
providing that the first session OF the flft,
first Congress should begin on Jan. !, 1SS'
Mr.. Collins closed the debate In supper
| OF tne propositlon, anu quotou eX-opeakt
Winthrop as being the first person who ha
suggested-in his oration upon the compile
tion Of the Washington monument-th
change Of the Inauguration day. He n
piled to what he considered sighting n
mark In reference TO Mr.. Winthrop, mad
by Mr.. Reed Ito the effect that Mr.. VIII
throp was distinguished member of th
House-a long time ago) and declared thl
Mr.. Winthrop was just as live man In th
| uaparatinn a a the Upntlpman from Mninl
and that he (Mr. Collins) would rather Civ
heed to the sayings Of such man as th
Massachusetts, statesman than be diverte
by the shallow persidage of the moder
politician.
The motion to suspend the rules an
pass the joint resolution was lost-yeI
129, nays l2s-not the necessary two'thirt