Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-04-23
Proceedings of Congress.
WASHINGTON, D. g., April %.
SENATE.

|
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on For
eien Relations. reported back concurrent
resolution, which was adopted, requesting
the President to enter into negotiations with
the government Of Mexico on the subject OF
rrigating the arid lands in the Rio Grande
valley.
MIR. Blair introduced bill to amend the
Interstate commerce act by adding pEoviso
that nothing in the act shall be construed to
prevent free competition between all COM
mon carriers of the United States with those
of foreign countries by land and sea.
Mr.. Chandler offered resolution to adopt
the following among the standing rules OF
the Senate:
whenever bill or resolution, reported
from committee, Is under consideration,
the Senate may, on motion Ito be acted on
without debate or dilatory motions), order
that, on day not less than six days after
the passage of the order debate shall cease
and the Senate proceed to dispose OF the bill
or resolution and, when said day shall al
rive, at o'clock the vote shall be forthwith
taken without debate or dilatory motions
upon any amendments to the bill or resou-
ton and upon the passage thereof. When
ever quorum OF Senators shall not vote
upon any roll call the presiding officer, at
the request of any Senator, shall cause to be
entered upon the journal the names OF all
Senators present and not voting, and such
Senators shall be deemed and taken as in
attendance and present as part of quo
rum to do business. and declaration of the
result of the voting shall be made according.
Iy. The purpose of the foregoing rule is to
expedite the taking Of votes in the Senate
and to facilitate the public business
Mr.. Eustis asked Mr.. Chandler if the pro-
poaed rules were the result of republican
caucus.
Mr.. Chandler Ifthey we're, should rot
be at liberty to state 1t 20 the Senator; but
, I will obige him by stating that no Senator
had any knowledge that had drawn the res
olution and intended to offer It,"
; The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Rules.
Mr.. Reagan addressed the Senate in SUP
port of his bill introduced last Monday TO
repeal all laws for the retirement of officers
of the army, navy and marine corps, and of
the judiciary from active service on pay.
HOUSE,
Mr. Hammer, OF Pennsylvania, presented
a memorial of the protected manufacturers
| T., ~
and In favor Of higher tariff. The House
then went into Committee of the Whole on
the legislative appropriation bill the pend
ing question being on the motion OF Mr..
Dunnell, of Minnesota. to strike out the
clause providing clerks for Senator'S
Mr.. Breckenridge, OF Kentucky, said If
the clause were to be placed on the bill, 1t
should be done at the request of the Senate
and not be originated by the House. The
difference between the Senate and House
was rapidly growing and the House was
largely responsible for It, In 1888 the
House had surrendered to the Senate its
prerogative to originate tariff legislation.
At every Presidential Inauguration the Sen
ate assumed to dominate the whole matter,
and the House scquiesced. This was viz
tual abdicaton Of the power of the House
to originate appropriation bills.
Mr.. Butt erworth, Of Ohio, said ii the Sen
ators wanted the clerks, let them have
them. Representatives ought also to have
clerks. Nine out of ten members wanted
to have clerks, and If there was not yea
and nay vote they would get them. Nine
out of every ten were wild to get clerks, but
when the yeas and nays were called they
went on dress parade and voted against the
proposition.
Mr.. Breckenridge said that under the
present rules the Senate was usurping the
power of the House, and in spite of its con-
tinuing character was becoming the leader
of public opinion. The Senate dis
cussed public matters in public
before the nation. aud as long ,s it contin
ued to do this land the House continued to
conduct lts business without proper debate)
it would become the true representative Of
the people. The House was sbdicating its
power day by day. Through the machinery
of party caucuses members could not ex-
press their opinions on the floor of the House.
The motion to strike out was lost-syes
So, nays 81.
Iu speaking to verbal amendment Mr..
Kelley, OF Kansas, read letter from w. A.
Finley, appointed 10 May as postmaster at
Abbevile 8. c. who states tina. shortly af-
ter his appointment he waa set upon by
mob, led by Ward S. Cothran. son of Con-
gresham Cothran. and beaten with barbed |
wire and ordered to leave the town.
Mr.. Ealoe, of Tennessee ID d you write
the letter for him /?