The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-19
IN THE SENATE.

Debate on the Propriety of Entering Upon
Consideration of Legislative Business.
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-The third week
of the called executive session of the Sem
ate opened this morning with the Vice
president in the chair. Resolutions were
offered and referred to the committee on
contingent expenses authorizing the COM
mittee on woman suffrage and on addition
al accommodations for the library to sit
during the recess.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Gibson for the appointment of select COM
mlttee on relations with Mexico and Cen
tral America was taken up.
Mr.. Gibson disclaimed utterly the sug-
gestions made by Senators Platt and Nor
rill, when the resolution was last und er
which prompted its being offered were the
expectation of the mover to be appointed
chairman and the desire of enjoying pleas
ant trip at government expense. lie re-
minded the Senate that he had orig
inally offered it as an amendment to Mr..
Hoar's resolution for select committee
on relations with Canada, and that it it
had been accepted, no additional select
committee would have been required. He
had offered the resolution because the peo-
pie of Louisiana were very largely inter-
ested in the subject of increasing trade re-
lations with Mexico. There were no less
than thirteen steamers plying between
New Orleans and the sea ports of Mexico
and Central America. The imports from
Mexico into the United States amounted to
$50. 900 year, and the exports from the
United States into Mexico only to 600
q year. and that great difference between
imports and exports showed that there was
some difficulty in the way of trade with
Mexico, which difficulty required attention
at the hands of Congress. 1t was natural
enough that he should respond to the senti-
ment of desire for an interchange of hos
pitality and commerce between New Or
leans and those countries.
Mr.. Morrill, disclaimed having had any
idea of belittllng the important question OF
commercial relations with Mexico. He had
thought, however, that there had been al
provided for. So far as Mexico was con-
cerned, he had been decidedly in earnest in
expressing desire to go there himself and
examine into commercial interests and re-
latiOns.
Mr.. Coke referred to a report made by
Mr.. Schleicher, when Representative
from Texas, OH trade relations with Mexico,
as one of the ablest and most exhaustive
reports to be found anywhere:
The resolution was referred to the COM
mittee on commerce, and the Senate pro-
ceeded to executive business.
When the doors were reOpened-after q
very short interval of time--the Senate
proceeded to consideration of the resolution
pointment of select committee on the re-
1ations of the United States with Cuba
and the West Indian islands. The discus
sion turned on the question of the COM
potency of the Senate, when sitting in
called executive session, to enter upon the
| performance of legislative functions Mr..
| Gray making short argument against 1T.
| Mr.. Sherman said that the precedents on
| that point all turned, not on
| do so, but whether it was discreet and
wise to enter upon legislative questions at
an extraordinary session. While he had no
| objection to the reference of the pending
resolution, he did not think that the SEN
| ate should adopt any resolution making a
charge upon the treasury or on the cOntin-
| gent fund, but should, after it had dis
| charged the duties for which it had been
| called, adjourn.
| The discussion was further continued by
| Senators Sherman, Blackburn, Gray, Call
| Platt, George and SpOoner. The latter
| favored the idea of leaving the whole mat
| ter of relations with Canada, Mexico, Cuba
| and the South American states in the hands
of the executive.
Without disposing of tie question, the
| pending motion being to refer the resolu
| tion to the committee on foreign relations
| the Senate again proceeded to the consider.
| alton of executive business, and, at 2:5(
| o'clock, adjourned.