Morning journal and courier., 1890-12-03
THE Frrrx.Frnsr CONGRESS.


The Election Bill Read I'm the Senate
-Mr. Blair Gives Notice that He
Will Soon Ask Confederation OF the
Eight Hour Bill-Work ofthe House
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec AIT the ex.
piration of the hour devoted to the calen-
dar Mr.. Hoar moved to proceed to the
consideration of the house bill to amend
and supplement the election laws of the
United States and to provide for the more
efficient enforcement of such laws.
Mr.. German demanded the yeas and nays
on that motion.
The yeas and nays were taken and the
vote "a strict party one) resulted-yeas Al
nays 30. So the election bill was taken up
and the clerk began to read it.
Mr.. Hoar suggested that instead of the
original house bill being read the substi-
tute reported by the committee of the sem
| ate on privileges and elections be read.
| Several democratic senator's expressed
| dissent to that proposition and Mr. Harris
said, sNo, no; let the original house bill
be read"
So the clerk proceeded with the reading
of the original house bill.
The reading went on monotonously and
to empty chairs up to o'clock, when under
the rules of the senate the unfinished
business" from the last session came up,
| being the house bill providing for the ad-
justment of accounts of laborers, workmen
and mechanics arising under the eight
hour law.
Mr. Hoar moved to proceed with the
consideration of the election law, and Mr..
German argued against that motion.
The point of order was made by Mr..
Hoar that the motion was not debatable,
and the presiding officer (Mr Hale) de-
cided in support of the point of order, but
said that he would submit the question to
the determination of the senate.
Mr.. German claimed the right to discuss
the point of order.
Mr.. Hoar denied that that right on the
ground that subsidiary question arising
out of matter. that is itself unbeatable
cannot be debated.
Mr.. Butler inquired what the effect of
Mr.. Hoar's motion Gf agreed toy would be
on the unfinished business"
The presiding oficer-The effect of it
would be to bring the election bill before
the senate, and unfinished business"
would not be taken up at any time after
wards except by vote of the senate.
Mr.. Butler-Then the effect of the
motion would be to postpone indefinitely
the unfinished businessa
The presiding officer-The eight hour
bill would take its place on the calendar.
calendar nowa
The presiding oficer-Both bills are on
the calendar.
Mr.. Butler-H the motion of the senator
from Massachusetts shall prevail will it
not result in the defeat of the eight hour
laws
Mr.. Hoar-The eight hour law can be de-
feated only by some unreasonable procras-
tination of the election bill
Mr.. Butler-As to whether such procras-
tination may be unreasonable or not that
is another proposition. I simply rose to
parliamentary question, whether the motion
is not in direct antagonism to the eight
hour law and whether, if it prevails, it
will not result practically in the defeat of
the law.
After some further discussion the ques-
ton was taken on Mr.. Hears motion to
proceed with the election bill and it was
agreed to by strict party vote-yeas 36,
nays 80.
Mr. Blair (who had voted with the
majority gave notice that at the earliest
opportunity subject to the election bill he
would move that the senate proceed to
displaced
The clerk resumed the reading of the
bill at page 81, and had proceeded as far
| as page SO, (the whole number of pages
covered by the house bill being 76), when
Mr.. Hoar suggested for the convenience
of senators that the reading of the re-
mainder of the house bill be dispensed
with and that the senate substitute be
read, the debate not to be entered on
this afternoon. There being no objection
that course was followed and the clerk
began the reading of the senate substitute
which covers fifty-eight printed pages.
The reading of the bill finished, the sem
ate adjourned at 4:15 p. m.
HOUSE.
Mr. Hamer of Pennsylvania presented
the petition of citizens of Philadelphia in
favor of an amendment to the Mckinley
bill, allowing a rebate on unbroken pack
ages of smoking and manufactured tobacco
and snuff Referred.
The speaker laid before the house
senate bill referring to the court of claims
the claim of the Chesapeake Female college
for property destroyed during the war.
After discussion the bill was passed-yeas
121, nays Sc. In the morning house Mr..
Simonds of Connecticut from the commit
the copyright bill.
Mr.. Payson of Illinois raised the ques-
| ton of consideration.
The house decided-yeas 1872, nays IA
to consider the bill, but Mr.. Blount of
Georgia, having changed his vote for that
purpose, moved reconsideration.
The motion to reconsider was lost-yeas
II, nays 119.
The speaker then recognized Mr.. Simonds
| to move an amendment providing that the
act shall 60 into effect July /, 1891, not
withstanding the effort of Mr. Kerr of Iowa
| to secure recognition for a motion to ad-
| journ.
Mr.. Simonds demanded the previous
| question on the bill and amendment, pend
| ing which Mr.. Kerr moved an adjourn
ment. The motion to adjourn was lost
yeas SO, nays 123-and the question recur-
red on the demand for the previous ques-
| ton, pending which Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois
moved to lay the bill on the table.
Mr.. Spinola of New York made the point
of order that the motion was dilatory one
/ and could not be entertained.
| The speaker overruled the point and en-
| tertained the motion.
The motion to table was lost-yeas 90,
nays 1879.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia moved recon
sideration. Lost
| A motion to adjourn having been voted.
Yeas SO, nays 109-the question required
on the demand for the previous question.
The previous question was ordered. The
house then adjourned, leaving the bill as
unfinished.