Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-09-23
THE r1Frx-FInsr CONGRESS.

Passed-Consideratf OF the Bill to
Define and Regulate the Jurfsdic-
ton OF the COurts-Only Two Demo
Gratis Answer to the Roll Call I'm the
House.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 22.-After
the transaction of routine and unimport-
ant business bills ON the calendar were
taken up for an hour and number of
them passed. .
Mr.. Hale offered resolution (Which was
agreed toy calling on the secretary of the
treasury for reports made by customs Off
Gals, special agents Of the treasury depart
msnt and others relative to the difference
in test and classification Of imported sugar
in the ports of Boston, New York and
Philadelphia since June, 1890.
The joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution of the
United States in relation to the manufac-
ture; importation, expectation, transpor-
tation and sale of alcoholic liquors, having
been reached on the calendar, Mr.. Blair,
who had reported it from the committee
on education and labor, called for a vote
upon it.
Mr.. Cockren asked that the report be
read.
The reading of the report occupied what
was left of the hour assigned to the calen-
dar and no vote was taken on the joint
resolution.
Mr.. Plumb offered a resolution, which
went over without action, directing the
committee on education and labor to in
yestigate the charges made in the memo
rial Of the Woman's National Industrial
League of America, presented on the third
inst. for the protection of women and
children employed in mills and factories
r The senate then resumed consideration
of the bill to define and regulate the juris-
diction of the courts of the United States,
the pending question being on Mr..
Daniels amendment offered last Saturday,
extending the jurisdiction of the supreme
court to all cases of conviction of felony
and to all cases where the matter in dis
pute is the right to personal liberty or
the right to the custody of a child.
After an argument by Mr.. Evarts against
the amendment Mr.. Vest offered substi-
tute for the bill. 1t proposes that there
shall be three divisions in the supreme
court to be composed of three justices
each; that the chief justice shall make as
signments to these divisions; that all final
decisions in either of these divisions shall
require the concurrence of five justices,
and that the chief justice shall apportion
the business to those divisions.
Mr.. 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 view of obtaining the
legislation expressed in the amendment.
The vacant seats in the senate chamber
evidenced, he 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 any lawyer or citizen. He declared his
belief that it was bad policy to go into tire
business of increasing the number o.
judges. The principle of life offices of
judges was abhorrent to the people of the
United States. In most of the western
states the appointment of judges had been
taken from the governor and vested in the
people, and he believed that that was the
trend of public opinion in the country. 1t
was the duty of congress to try the system
as it existed, changing only the form of
proceedings, instead of increasing the
number of judges.
Mr.. Evarts said that the necessity for a
remedy for the congestion of the supreme
court was admitted on all sides and that
there were but two modes of providing for
the difficulty. One was to proceed with
the judicial establishment as it now stood
with such arrangements as might be pro-
vided for, and the other was to provide an
intermediate court of appeals, which. dis
tributed through the different districts,
might be able to dispose of certain heads
of jurisprudence and jurisdiction. 1t was
the latter plan that had been recommended
by the judiciary committee of the senate.
That plan, he thought, offered less front
to objections than any other measure pro-
posed. The senate had to determine
whether it was appalled, at the difficulties
before it and was hopelessly to abdicate its
authority or whether it would pass the
bill reported from the judiciary committee
Mr.. Vest suggested that the matter
should go over till the next session, when
it could be more deliberately considered
After further discussion Mr. Daniels
amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Vest did not insist on a vote being
taken on his amendment and the bill was
then reported from the committee of the
whole to the senate.
Mr.. Dolph offered an amendment pro-
viding Cor tenth judicial circuit and the
appointment of two judges for it.
Mr.. Ingalls, offered the amendment of
which he had heretofore given notice, di-
viding the Judicial districts of the United
States into eleven circuits, and the vice
pItbluCnb VIM tooh
precedence of the one proposed by Mr..
Dolph. From this ruling Mr.. Dolph ap-
pealed and Mr.. Hale moved to lay the ap-
peal on the table. The latter motion was
agreed to-yeas 2S, nays II.
Mr.. Ingalls, amendment being before the
senate, he modified it at the suggestion of
Mr. Wilson of Iowa by emitting the state
of Iowa from the Eighth circuit and add
ing it to the amendment. The amendment
was rejected.
Mr.. Dolph's amendment was voted on
| and rejected.
Mr.. Vest offered his amendment for the
division of the supreme court into three
parts. 1t was rejected.
Mr.. German moved to designate Balti
more Gnstead of as the place for holding
court in the Fourth district. The vote
was taken on Mr.. Germans amendment
but there was no quorum, and it wen
| over.
After a short executive session the sen
ate at $50 adjourned until tomorrow al
| noon.
| HOUSE
Mr. O'Ferrall of Virginia and Mr.. Smitf
of Arizona We're the only democrats in tn,
house when the house was called to orde
this morning. At the conclusion of tn
prayer the clerk under dlrectlon OF tn
speaker proceeded to call the roll on tn
approval of Fridays journal. The vot
resulted yeas 1853, nays Ono quorum, AM
a call of the house was ordered. One hun
bred and fifty-nine members responded.
Mr.. Mckinley of Ohio moved an ad
iournment. The motion was carried-yea
"a, nays 70, and a republican caucus wa
| announced to be held Immediately.
/
The Langston-VenableC Case.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-About the onl
conclusion reached by the republican rel
resentatives in caucus this afternoon wa
to go on with the Langston- Venable elet
ton case at all hazards. There was SON
| lively denunciation of the members who
by their absence it was alleged, retarde
the public business and postponed an earl
J adjournment and there was talk of fnin
| them heavily if they failed to appear, b'
nothing of this kind was agreed upon an
. the caucus after going over the list of a
| canfeas and statements from the state del