Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-22
FASTENING ITS WORK
The Senate Preparing to Make a
Night Of It.
TALK ON THE ELECTION BILL TODAY.
Conference Report on Public Build
ing Bills Adopted.
QUORUM QUESTION IN HOUSE.
TALK ON THE ELECTION BILL TODAY.
QUORUM QUESTION IN HOUSE.
SENATE.

1he small attendance of Senators this morn
ing attracted the attention of the democrats
and Mr.. Harris demanded q call Of the roll.
Ihirty-two Senators responded to the call
twelve less than a quorum. The sergeant-at-
arms was directed Con motion Of Mr.. Hoar) to
request the presence of absent Senators. In
the course OF half an hour quorum made its
appearance.
RECORD AND PENSION oTFrCE--wAR DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Cockrell from the committee on military
affairs reported (and the Senate passed) bill
to establish the record and pension Office of
the War Department.
Mr.. Dawes presented (and the Senate adopted)
tne conference report on the Sioux reservation
bill.
At the request Of the Wage Workers Alliance
OF the District of Columbia Mr.. Cockrell intro
duced bill to prohibit members of the Senate
who are stockholders of corporations from
serving on the committees on finance and COM
merce. Referred. .
Mr.. Cullum, by request, introduced bill to
incorporate the Pan American Transportation
Company. Referred
j., MIR. Hoar gave notice that he would at $50
tins afternoon ask the Senate to take a recess
until o'clock.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Mr.. Spooner having submitted various con-
ference reports on public building measures,
Mr.. German criticized the policy of Congress
in making no appropriation for the erection of
the ediices, although a limitation was placed
upon the cost. Under such policy it was inn
possible that there could be economy in the
public expenditures.
The bills authorizing the construction of pub
lie buildings at Norfolk, Va; Sioux City. Iowa;
Kansas City, No.: Taunton, Mass: Stockton.
Cal; Newburg, n Y. and Pawtucket, II. L.
AS agreed upon in conference the bills are
left as they came from the House. which struck
out the clauses making appropriations.
The reports were agreed to.
NOT CONQUERED IN.
The House amendment to the Senate amend
ment to the urgent deficiency bill (strik-
ing out the appropriation for the pay of clerks
of Senators) was non-concurred in.
THE ELECTION BILL.
The discussion of the election bill was then
resumed. Mr.. Higgins taking the floor.
The pending measure went, he said, but
slightly beyond the one now on the statute
books. 1t did not in any way take the control
of elections from the state authorities. The
whole subject Of elections was left by the pend
ing bill to the states. and all the defamation
against it as to its interfering with elections
in the states was groundless and rested on
nothing o.. but bald Misrepresentation. 1t
was confined entirely and exclusively to the
guiding and scrutinizing Of elections of the
lower house Of Congress. He commented upon
Mr.. Stewards opposition to the bill and said
that that Senator's objection to it was not that
it had faults, but that it did not have
faults; not that it was force bill, but
that 1t was not q force bill. Replying to
some Of Mr.. Gfay's argument against the
bill on the ground that the appointment
of supervisors was given to the circuit
Judges; Mr.. Higgins undertook to show that in
various states-Maryland Virginia, North Caro-
lima and others-cOunty commissioners (wbp
had the appointment Of judges and clerks Of
election at the precincts) were not elected by
the people, but were appointed by the governor
or the legislature, and that in that respect the
pending bill was not open to attack.