Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-18
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
MEXICO AND SOUTH AMERICA.
Our Commercial Relations with Them.
DISCUSSING TIE POWERS OF TIE SENATE
NOMINATIONS AND COMBINATIONS.
The Senate.

The Senate.
The third week of the called executive ses-
sion OF the Senate opened this morning with
the Vice-President in the chair
Resolutions were offered and referred to the
committee on contingent expenses authorizing
the committees on woman suffrage and on ad-
ditional accommodations for the library to sit
during the recess.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.
Gibson for the appointment of a select commit
tee on
was taken up.
Mr.. Gibson disclaimed utterly the suggestions
made by Senators Platt and Morrill, (when the
resolution was last under discusson) implying
that the motives which prompted its being
offered were the expectation of the mover to be
appointed chairman, and the desire of enjoying
a pleasant trip at government expense. He
reminded the Senate that he had originally
offered 1t as an amendment to Mr.. Hoar's reso-
luton for a select committee on relations with
Canada. and that, if it had been accepted no
additional select committee would have been
required He had offered the resolution be-
cause the people of Louisiana were very largely
interested in the subject of increasing trade re-
lations with Mexico.
OUR TRADE RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
There were no less than thirteen steamers
of Mexico and Central America. The imports
from Mexico into the United States amounted
to $50 OO0,0OO year. and the exports from the
United States into Mexico to only $4,000. 900 a
year, and that great difference between imports
and exports showed there was some difficulty
III the way Of trade with Mexico. which diff
Guilty required attention at the hands of Con-
gress. 1t was natural enough that he should
respond to the sentiment of desir1for an in
terchange of hospitality and commerce be-
tween New Orleans and those countries.
MR.. MoRRILL's DISCLAIMER.
Mr. Morrill, disclaimed having had any idea
of belittling the important question of COM
mercial relations with Mexico. He had thought.
however, that there had been altogether too
many peripatetic committees provided for DIR
ing the recess. SO far as Mexico was concerned
he had been decidedly in earnest in expressing
desire to go there himself and examine into
commercial interests and relations.
Mr.. Coke referred to report made by Mr..
Schleicher, when Representative from Texas.
ON trade relations with Mexico one of the
ablest and most exhaustive reports to be found
anywhere.
THE RESOLUTION REFERRED.
The resolution referred to the committee
on commerce, and the Senate proceeded to ex-
cutive business
When the doors were reopened (after a very
short interval of timeD the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the resolution heretofore
offered by Mr.. Call for the appointment of "a
select committee on the relations of the
United States with
CUBA AND THE OTHER WEST INDIA ISLANDS
The discussion turned on the question of the
competency of the Senate, when sitting in
called executive session, to enter upon the
performance of legislative functions Mr. Gray
making a short argument against it,
NR. SHERMAN on PRECEDESTs.
MIR. Sherman said that the precedents on that
point all turned, not on the power Of the Sen
ate to do so, but whether it was discreet and
wise to enter upon legislative questions at an
extraordinary session. No one could dispute
the constitutional power of the Senate when
called, either III an ordinary or an extraordinary
case. to do whatever it had a right to do as a
body. The Senate was not called TO do only
the thing which the President might recon-
mend, for he did not recommend anything
The Senate had been called by Mr.. Cleveland
and OF course, he could not restrict the power
of the Senate. Therefore, there was no con-
stltutlonal question involved in the matter. and
NO QUESTION OF THE POWER OF THE SENATE
The Constitution of the United States defined
the limits of its powers, and as a matter Of
course, no act of the executive could limit that
power. Everything that could be done by the
Senate at any time could be done by the Senate
in extraordinary session. He thought, how
ever. tnat tnt Senate should cOntinc Itself now
to those matters which it could complete
by its own action. While he had no objection
to the reference of the pending resolution he
did not think that the Senate should adopt any
resolution making charge upon the Treasury.
or upon the contingent fund: but should (after
it had discharged the duties for which it had
been calledD adjourn. He expressed the hope
that, as early as next week at farthcst, tie
Senate might adjou and go home.
MR. PLATT's BROAD VIEW
Mr. Platt argued that the Senate might con-
time in session until next December. and that
it was within its power to transact any business
that might be transacted in regular session.
QUESTION OF PROPERTY
Mr.. Gray admitted that the Senate when
convened in session in the absence of the other
house, had the power to do anything which it
was its will to do He did not dispute that
This was not question of order (so-called) but
a question of propriety.
The discussion was further continued by SEN
ators Sherman. Blackburn. Gray Call. Platt,
George and Spooner.
Without disposing of the question (the
pending motion beng to refer the resolu-
ton to the committee foreign relations)
the Senate again proceeded to the considera-
ton of executive business, and at 900 ad-
iourned