Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-12
Fiftieth Congress-SecOnd Session
WAsa1NaToN. Jan. Ii

| WASHINGTOH, Jan. II. l SENATE.-Only six senators were present at the opening. MT. Butler of South Csro- ! lima moved a call of the senate. The chair declined to entertain motion l to dispense with proceedings under a call un- | til it should appear that there was a quorum present for the transaction of business. One by one the senators made their appearance, and by quarter past eleven thirty nine sen- ators had answered to the call of their l names, and then yesterdays journal was 1 read and approved.
 SENATOR PLUMB's FIGHT FOR FREE FISH. The senate then resumed consideration of the tariff bill, the pending question being on the amendment offered yesterday by MT. Plumb, to strike out of paragraph 557 the words 'except when frozen or packed in ice, or otherwise prepared by any process, for preservation"-so as to let the paragraph read simply "fresh fish" (free). MT. Plumb (Rep., Kas.) spoke in support of his amendment. As the paragraph stood. he said, the people living near the Canadian line in Maine and Massachusetts and else where could avail themselves of the privi- lege of purchasing fresh fish free of duty, while if that fish were transported short distance into the interior (which required the use of salD the people who used it were re- quired to pay duty on it. Either all fresh fish should pay duty or else the people of the interior should have the same opportu- nifty to buy fresh fish as the people of Maine or Massachusetts, or Michigan or Ohio or H. inois. Here was manifest discrimination, and this is what he objected to.
 After long and somewhat hot debate, in volving the discussion of many negative theo ries MT. Plumb's amendment was withdrawn and fresh fish was placed on the dutiable list without division.
 The bill was then proceeded with. When paragraph 561 was reached. utting floor mating, from round or split straw, and Chi- nese mating on the free list, MT. Vance moved to strike it out 50 az to leave mating on the dutiable list. The motion was re- jected, 16 yeas, 24 nays.
 On motion of MT. Allison paragraphs 603, leather, old scraps, and 626, mica and mica waste, were struck off the free list. Para graphs 627, mineral waters, was passed over informally. So was paragraph 630, molasses testing not above 56 degrees by the polari- scope.
 Mir. Vest moved to strike out "musk," paragraph 632 and insert shingles" reject ed, yeas IS, nays 8.
 All the paragraphs relating to oils, para graphs GA to CIT, were laid aside informally so as to have verbiage changed.
 Having reached paragraph 79O, as to cedar and other woods unmanufactured, MT. Aid rich moved to strike out of it the words ''osier or willow" stating that the object WAS to put them on the dutiable list at 10 per cent
 Mr. Vest opposed the motion, although he said his own State was somewhat interested in 1t.
 The amendment was agreed to.
 The end of the free list having been reach ed at paragraph 795, MT. Allison said he pro- posed that the Senate would finish the read ing of the bill tomorrow, the administrative sections of it. He would propose, he said to spend the remainder of the day on the omit ted paragraphs in the free list, after which he would propose to take up the par- agraphs as to guns, cutlery and few miscel- laneous items of that character. Early next week he hoped to proceed with the "wool and woolens'' schedule, which had not yet been touched.
 The Senate at 5:15 p. m. adjourned till to morrow at noon.
 RANDALL's EFFORT TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK
 HoUsE.-Hardly had the chaplain closed his petition with the "amen," when Mir. Weaver came forward with a motion that when the House adjourned to-day it be to meet on Monday next. MT. Crisp and Mir. Weaver were appointed tellers and the count
 Mr. Reed inquired whether the object of this motion from the Democratic side was to enable that party to hold 8 caucus.
 The Speaker-The chair has no informa- tior on the subject.
 Mr Crisp-This motion is not from the
  It Is only from one man. MT. Cummings-You ought to come to the caucus.
 Mr. Reed-Possibly ought. have caused more Democratic caucusses than any body else on this side.
 While the count was being taken an earn est consultation was held at the Speakers desk, participated in dy the Speaker, Messrs. Randall Mills, Dockery, McCreary and Me- Shane, Dems. As result of this conference, and after the count had proceeded for half l an hour without 8 quorum making ita ap pearance, Mr. Randall demanded the yeas | and nays, and they were ordered. The motion having been dsfeated-yeas 2, | nays 22S-Ar. Weaver, who had voted in the negative, moved reconsideration. MT. Randall made the point of order that | it was not in order to move to reconsider | vote upon motion to adjourn to day cer- | tain, and the point was sustained by the I Speaker.
 | Mr. Weaver then moved to take recess until 130, but be was again blocked by Mir. Randall with point of order that the motion | was in the nature of business and therefore | not in order until the journal had been read. The Speaker decided the point to be well | taken.
 l MT. Weaver was immediately on his feet l with another motion for an ad djournment un- | til Monday. This motion was also voted | down, 150 to 4, and MT. Weaver raised the I l the yees and nays and a number of gentle men having risen the Speaker without count ing them announced that there was sufh
 cent number and directed the clerk to call ! the roll.
 But MT. Weaver had another obstacle to place upon the track of legislation in the
 shape of a point of order that the yeas and
 nays could only be ordered by quorum. As the easiest way to remove the obstacle
 the Speaker requested those in favor of or.
 dering the yeas and nays to rise and I'll members responded to the request and the ! yeas and nays were ordered.
 The previous question was ordered-yeaf 217, nays 1S.
 Mr. Weaver then asked whether it would
 now be in order to move to adjourn unti
 Monday.
 The Speaker thought not. The chair hsd
 some doubt about the correctness of his rul ing and some doubt as to the effect it might | have under certain circumstances hereafter
 but the chair still adhered to it, for the pres ent at least, and would have it carefully ex 1 amined hereafter.
 !. Mir. Weaver-I suggest that it would b. l better for the Speaker to resolve that doub | in favor of the rights of the minority. The Speaker-The chair thinks it is better l to resolve the doubt in the interest of tn,
 transaction of the public business of thu l House and he has therefore done so on thi occasion. (Applause.)
 I Speaker would meet the approval of th l next Democratic caucus.
 Mr. Randall-The Democrats can talk
 care of themselves.
 MT. Reed-If they did not do more thai , take care of themselves, nobody would care No quorum voting on ordering the yea and nays on the adoption of the conference report, MT. Weaver again raised his point 0 l order that quorum was necessary. The Speaker overruled the point. He wa
 aware that it had been decided in the Thir
 ty-Third Congress that quorum was neces sary, but for more than thirty-fve years tn decisions and the uniform practice of tn |. 1 House had been the other way. Mr. Dibble presented a conference repor on the bill for the erection of public build I ing at Omaha, Neb. = Mr. Weaver raised the question of consid eration, but the house decided to conside : the conference report.
 MT. Weaver permitted the report to b ! agreed to without forcing yea and nay vote