Evening journal., 1889-01-08
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.
A Quorum in the House, but It
Is Still Deadlocked.
THE SENATE DEBATES IN SECRET.

WASHINGTON, Jan. h-lhe mouse spent
the whole day in filibustering over the pro
posed change in the rules, without result
Immediately after the reading OF the Journal
the contest over the resolution Of Mr.. Reed,
proposing a change in the rules 50 as to
abolish, for the remainder OF the session, the
call Of states on suspension Mondays was
renewed. The pending question being on
ordering the previous question, the clerk
proceeded to call the roll A quorum not
voting, a call of the house was ordered,
which developed the presence Of 22G mem
bers tmore than quorum). Further pro-
ceedings under the call were dispensed with,
and the vote again taken on ordering the
previous question, with the same result as
before-not quorum voting.
Mr. Reed moved call OF the house, and
MIR. Cox moved an adjournment The latter
rnotion was defeated, and Mr.. Reeds motion
prevailed Another call OF the house was
ordered, and a quorum voted; Mr. Blunt
moved to adjourn, but the motion was de-
fented.
Then the old time dilatory motions began
to adjourn TO Wednesday, no quorum, votes
by tellers, etc.
at o'clock the session ended by limita-
fion, and the house, without action on the
pending measure adjourned.
THE SENATE IN SECRET SESSION.
The senate spent most OF the day in secret
session on the resolution of Mr.. Edmunds
in reference to the Panama canal The
secret session concluded at $40 when, by
unanimous consent the date for the vote on
the tariff bill was made Jan % instead Of
Jan. 81. The senate then adjourned.
The debate on the Panama canal was Just
getting under way when Senator Edmunds,
noticing an unusual number Of foreign
diplomats in the galleries, moved that the
senate go into executive session, and the gal
leries were cleared and not even an official
reporter was allowed to remain. The debate
was on the advisability Of the United States
government taking control Of the Panama
canal, and it was participated in by all the
leading senators Of both parties A vote was
taken which resulted in the aflirmntive-40
to3.
FALSE STORIES CONCERNING ALASKA.
The house committee on merchant marine
and fisheries, investigating the charges
against the Alaska Commercial company,
continued the hearing. Capt johnson, gov
ernment agent from 1857 to 1858, testified
10 the good effect the residence Of the com
pany's officers on the islands had upon the
natives He stated during his stay there he
had seen or heard nothing 20 confirm the
many newspaper reports published lately
and says he does not think that they are
true. He advises moro protection to seal
life from pirates During his stay there
were thirty-hve Of these pirates reported
sealing. OF this number fifteen were capt
ured and 1900 skins taken from them, and
he estimates from reports published that
60,O00 seals were killed illegally during his
stay. Lieut.. Nichols, U. S. ~, said he
found the natives Of st. George and st.
Paul Islands tthe companyis headquarters)
more contented and civilized than those in
other parts of Alaska. As to the newspaper
charges he thought them without foundation.
PROSPECTS OF AN EXTRA SESSION.
Judge q. c. Moody, Of Deadwood, one OF
the senators-elect for the state Of South Da-
kota, arrived here from indianapolis, where
he had a consultation with the president
elect in reference TO the prospects Of action
on the territorial statehood bills now pend
ing in the house and an extra session Of the
Fifty-flrst congress. Judge Moody refuses
to quote Gen Harrison on anything. but
ventures the prediction that no action will
be taken ON the ''omnibusn or any other bill
looking to the creation Of new states at the
hands Of this congress, and that there viii be
an extraordinary session Of the Fifty-frst
congress called to convene within three
months after the 4th Of March next A
delegation Of the leading Democratic and
Republican citizens Of bath North and South
Dakota is expected here at the ead Of this
week for the purpose of fascertaining whether
anything viii be done at this session with
the territorial statehood bills, and If there is
1 n laar 20. .fre 49,
elect the necessity for an extraordinary ses-
sion Of the next congress.
SCHEDULE or INVALID PENS IONS
The house committee on invalid pensions
agreed to report favorably bill 70 increase
the pensions Of disabled veterans. Under
this bill the pensions win be increased as fol-
lows: For the loss Of an arm above the
elbow the pension Is increased from $50 70
e42; for the loss Of arm below the elbow she
pension is increased from $50 to SAG: for the
loss Of an arm at the shoulder the pension is
increased from SIS to $50 The increases
provided for the loss OF leg are the same
In cases Of total inability to perform manual
labor the pei.sion is increased to $50, and for
the loss Of both arm and leg the pension is
increased to $50.
MAN WITH BIG IDEAS.
William H. Pearsall, a former resident of
New York, has returned to this city from
Bolivia for the purpose Of having his pension
readiusted He was a member Of Company
I X, Thirty-ninth regiment. New York volun-
teers, and received three severe wounds. Dis
cussing South American affairs he said: Il
think the Argentine Confederation, Bolivia.
4 Peru, Chill, and indeed, the entire section
viii soon be glad TO have American protec-
/ tion The feeling Of Americans there is that
South America will eventually belong 10 the
I United States, as / believe will also Central
America, Mexico and Canada. Il viii be to
their commercial interest to belong to our
nation. The Panama canal / believe. is a
sad failure, and the money spent on it is
1 being thrown away
TO DISCUSS LHE BANQUET, NOT THE CABINET
Gen. George B. Williams, chairman Of the
banquet committee Of the inaugural com
mittee, left for indianapolis yesterday to see
Gen. Harrison. He will be in indianapolis
two or three days, and viii stop at the New
Denison house.
NExIcASs WANT TO COME IN
The president pro tempore laid before the
senate resolutions adopted at a meeting Of
the citizens of San Miguel county, n M,
Dec. 2s, praying the admittanee of New
Mexico as state.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Democratic caucus last night, after
several hours session, adopted resolution
that the Democratic party would not make
any dilatory motions or action on suspension
Mondays hereafter. and tnat the pending
I rsile winch has caUsed She iiiibustcr.ng OF the
PAST week sail be referred bass T. lhs cem-
mittee on rules