Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-01-21
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ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
Proceedings of Congress.
WASHINGTON, D. g., Jan. 81.

WASHINGTON, ID. g., Jan. q.
SENATE.
Mr. Blair presented the memorial of the
board of missions OF the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church of America in favor
of the Blair education bill, and asked to
have it printed ia full in the Record. Oh.
lection wss made by Mr.. Harris and then
8 motion for leave to print was made by
Mr.. Blair, but he was the only Senator vot.
ing for the motion, end the Vice President
declared the motion lost. Then Mr.. Blair
demanded the yess and nays; but again he
was himself the only Senator to second the
demand. He thereupon proceeded to state
some of the views set out In the memorial.
because (be said the memorial would be
virtually buried out Of sight. He also pre-.
se1ted numerous other memorials of the
same character, among them one from the
republican club of Norfolk city. They we're
all laid on the table.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following
By Mr, Jones, of Nevada: To discontinue
the coinage of So and 81 gold pieces end 8
ceut nickel pieces.
] The bill adversely reported ION January
ICY from the CENSUS committee to ascertain
what percentage of the people own their
farms, the number of farms under mortgage,
aud the amount thereof, was taken from the
calendar and debated at length.
HOUSE.
Yesterday. jast previous to the adjourn
ment, MIR. Bland, Of Missouri, moved that the
House adjourn, aud on E. division the Speak.
or declared the motion lost. Mr.. Bland
t%lsreupon demanded t%ellers, and according
to the Record this morning, the Speaker re.
piled, There Is no provision for %tellers."
! There was no record OF this fact made In
The Journal, and this morning Mr.. Bland
moved to have the journal amended ac-
c%ordiogly.
The Speaker stated that he had made bis
reply il an interrcgative form and that the
gentleman from Missouri had seemingly &C.
q%uiegcei in it. The chair was informed that
such details we're not inherited in the journal.
The chnir submitted Mr.. BANDS motion to
amend the rules and on a division declared
the motion lost by a vote Of SIS to So.
Mr.. Bland demanded %tellers.
Tue Speaker inquired whether the gentle
man from Missouri had discovered any
ground Why telless should be appointed.
The chair last night bad suggested that he
would like to have his attention called to
sny provision regarding tellers.
Mr. Bland sgid that he had demanded
tellers under the general practice of the
House.
The Speaker declined to entertain the de-
mand for %teliers.
Mr. Bland demanded the yeas and nays,
but almost at the anne moment appealed
from The decision Of the chair.
The Speaker said that the appeal came
rather lete, bat that he would entertain it.
Mr.. Mills, of Tezap, argued that a vote by
tellegs WAS as much a part of the parlia-
msntary law as a motion to adj ourn. 1t was
the only vote by which the House could cor
rect O decision OF thu Speaker; and if the
House did not have a right to this vote the
Speaker became 6 mere car. When the
Speaker refused to permit the House to
have tcllers to verify his count, he simply
refused to allow the Rouse to say whether
hls decision fright or wrong) should stand.
Mir. Breckenridge, of Arkansas, protested
against the decision. If the House could
sot have %teIlers, it was at the mercy of the
Speaker. 1t could not sec1re the yeas and
nays, because if the Speaker, either by mis-.
take or design, should say that the yeas aud
nays were refused, what test c,uld the
House apply, except the demand for t%ellers,
which here had been arbitrarily ruled out.
The House was brought to the position
that il could not choose for Itself whether
it would have the yeas and nays.
In fact, it was absolute despotism, and if there
was a man in the chair disposed to exercise it he
could decd &c every question. The matter was de-
bated st length.
Tho appeal from the decision of the Speaker
declining to r~ecosniz, a demand for tellers) was
laid upon the t%ablo-yeas 149, nays 1876.
Rough Passage.