The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-23
ROUTINE OF THE SENATE.
NO BUSINESS OF IMPORTANCE
TRANSACTED.

Senator Blair's Prohibition Amend
ment to the Constitution Laid Over
The Supreme Court Bill Considered.
Amendments offered and Rejected
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-In the Senate
this morning the joint resolution proposing
an amendment to the constitution of the
United States in relation to the manu-
fscture, importation, expectation, trans
portation and sale of alcoholic liquors
having been reached on the calendar, Mr.
Blair, who had reported it from the COM
mittee on education and labor, called for a
vote upon 1t.
Mr.. Cockrell asked that the report be
read. While the report was being read Mr.
Stewart suggested that the reading would
occupy too much time; but MIR. Blair
thought the Senate might well devote a
short time to the subject that it was not to
be tritied with. The reading of the report
having occupied what was left of the hour
assigned to the calendar no vote was taken
on the joint resolution.
JU RISDICTIoN OF THE SUPREME COURT.
The Senate then resumed the considera-
tion of the bill to define and regulate the
jurisdiction OF the courts of the United
States, the pending question being on SEN
ator Daniels amendment, offered
last Saturday, extending the juris-
diction Of the supreme court to
all cases of conviction OF felony
and to all cases where the matter in dispute
is the right to personal liberty or the right
to the custody of a child.
After an argument by Senator Evarts
against the amendment Senator Vest
offered a substitute for the bill It pro-
poses that there shall be three divisions of
the supreme court, TO be composed of three
Justices each; that the chief justice shall
make assignments to these divisions that
all final decisions in either of these divisions
shall be considered by the court en- banc,
and shall require concurrence of five
justices; and that the chief justice shall
apportion business to those divisions.
Senator Vest said that his object in Offering
the amendment was to formulate and put
on record the opinions of the minority of the
Judiciary committee on the question rather
than with the view Of obtaining the legisla-
tion expressed Ia the amendment. The
vacant seats in the Senate chamber evil
denced, be said, how little interest was felt
generally in the question, although it was
one of the most important questions to the
people that could be contemplated by law
yer or citizen
DANIELS AMENDMENT REJECTED.
After discussion between Senators Vest
and Evarts, Senator Daniels amendment
was rejected. Mr.. Vest did not insist upon
vote being taken on his amendment, and
the bill was then reported from the com.
mittee of the whole to the Senate.
Mr.. Dolph offered an amendment provid.
ing for tenth Judicial circuit and the ap
pointment of two judges for it,
Mr.. Ingalls, offered an amendment, OF
| which he had heretofore given notice, divid
| ing the judicial districts of the United
States into eleven circuits, and the Vice
President ruled that that amendment tool
precedence of the one proposed by Senator
Dolph. From this ruling, Senator Dolpt
| appealed, and Senator Hale moved to lay
the appeal on the table. The latter motion
was agreed to, yeas 2S nays IL.
Senator ingalls, amendment being ther
before the Senate, he modified it at the sug-
| gestion of Senator Wilson of Iowa by omit
ting the state of Iowa from the eighth cir
cult and adding it to the ninth. The amend
ment, however, was rejected. Senator
Dolph's amendment was also rejected.
Senator Vest offered his amendment fol
the division of the supreme court into ti1ret
parts. 1t was also rejected.
Senator German moved to designate
Baltimore, instead of Richmond, as the
place for holding court in the fourth circuit
Upon Senator Gormans amendment nc
quorum voted, and, accordingly it went
over till tomorrow.
After a short executive session the Senate
then adjourned