The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-21
YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS-.

YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON. June 2O.-Yesterday's con.
test was renewed. The speaker announced
the impending question to bs tho ordering
OF the previous question on the motion bv
Mills, of Texas. to approve the journal Of
Wednesday as amended by the resolution
of yesterday. Yeas, 126; mays, 122. McKin-
ley changed his vote to the affirmative and
moved a reconsideration. Mills moved to
table the motion to reconsider; carried,
yeas, 131; nays, 129. Question carried on
approving the journal of Wednesdays pro-
ceedings as amended. Tho motion as
amended was agreed to, yeas, 1872; nays, 1SO.
The clerk then proceeded to read the jour
nal Of yesterdays proceedings. The jour
nal was read and approved. Stewart, Of
Vermont, presented the conference
report on the antitrust bill. Bland,
OF Missouri, raised the question
OF consideration to offer resolution that
the house bill directing the purchase OF
silver bullion and tho issue OF treasury
notes, with the senate amendments, be
taken from the speakers table and the SEN
ate amendments concurred in. The house
determined by yeas Ia, nays 1O2, to con-
slider the conference report. After short
debate the report was adopted, yeas A3,
take up the silver bill. Mckinley made the
point Of order that the motion was priv
ileged one, and Conger, of Iowa, added n
further point amidst sarcastic democratic
laughter. that the bill was not on the
speakers table. but in the hands Of the
bill was on the speakers table. long
discussion followed as to whether the sem
ate amendments to the bill were new mat
ter, such as would require consideration i'll
committee of the whole. Conger,
OF Iowa, said that notwithstand
ing the action Of the house in correcting
the journal, the bill had been referred to
the committee ON coinage, and the chair
man of that committee had actual possess
sion of it. Crisp, of Georgia, said there
was no evidence Of reference. The journal
did not show it.. Morrow, Of California,
said the action Of the house yesterday was
exceedingly significant Of disposition. The
fact was there was no reference at all. The
speaker had no authority to refer the bill.
His action was not tenable, but void. The
fact was the bill was upon the speakers
table, mere physical fact. The gentleman
from Georgia or his clerk in actual posses
parliamentary position. Williams, Of Illi-
nois. said that yesterday while the motion
to reconsider was pending. after the
resolution had been adopted, the chairman
Of the committee ON coinage walked up to
the speakers desk. took up a. bill that
he (Williams) believed was the silver
bill and handed it over to the clerk of the
committee on coinage. This looked like
conspiracy to obtain physical possession Of
the bill. Conger. of Iowa, chairman of the
committee on coinage, said the bill had
been delivered to his clerk before II o'clock
Yesterday morning: During the afternoon,
upon request of the journal clerk, II had
been put in his possession for a short time
in order to make some clerical endorse
menta, but he (Conger) had again taken it
back to the committee clerk. Bland asked
Sdass whether the bill would be laid before the
declined to answer tina. question until the
proper time. McComas demanded regular
order. The speaker said the reg
uiar order was q private bill,
which he passed to. the reading clerk.
the speaker finally ii ruled that at Biana's 5n
resolution Ito proceed to the consideration
OF the. silver bilQ was not in order under
the rules. Bland appealed. Mckinley
moved to lay the appeal on the table. The
yeas and nays were ordered, pending which
motion was defeated, but the hour of s ar
rived and the house, under the rule took a
recess, the evening session to be for pension
business. No business was transacted at
the evening session, however.
In the senate, Stewart, rising to ques-
tion Of personal privilege, denied the truth
OF the story recently published giving an
account of the imaginary conflict between
himself and Reagan. Reagan also
stated there was absolutely no foundation
for the report. The bill was resumed. The !
postofice appropriation bill and the consul
lar and diplomatic appropriation bill were
reported and placed on the calendar and
Of the legislative, executive !
and judicial appropriation bill resumed.
After some discussion an amendment in !
creasing the salary of the commissioner OF |
The general land office from, 1900 to $1,000 |
and the assistant commissioner from $4,000
to $500 was agreed to. motion to in
crease tho salary Of the commissioner of In |
dian affairs from $4,OOO to 5000 was de-
teated. Stewart moved to strike out the
tenn of $3l, 600 for the executive officer of |
The geological survey. This gave rise to a |
ong debate. Major Powell was harshly |
by Stewart and others and de-
tended by Ingalls,. At the close of tho dis
,ussion the amendment was Withdrawn by
Stewart. The bill was then passed.