The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-20
The House Refuses to Permit Him
to Smother ths Sill
ver Bill.
Enough Republicans Join the Dem
ocrats to Save the Day
for Silver.
At Present the Bill IL Resting In the Gus
tody Of the Clerk OF .
Committee.

the approval of the journal on the ground
that it was not read in full by the clerk.
The speaker ordered its full reading. The
clerk proceeded to read that portion Of the
journal which disclosed reference Of the
silver bill to the committee on coinage,
weights and measures. Mckinley moved
that the journal be approved and demanded
the previous question, despite Mills protest,
to which he was entitled, to move to COR
rect the journal. Springer raised the point
of order that the journal contained rec
ord of something which never happened.
The speaker replied that was for the
house to decide, and directed the clerk to
call the roll. The call proceeded, while
Springer, amid the applause of his party
colleagues, entered vigorous protest, ad-
dressing the speaker, saying: "You can ig-
more the rights of the representatives Of the
people. but the people will pull you down, sir,
at the polls next November, and your party
with you." The house refused to order the
previous question by 102 to III, amid loud
democratic applause. The following re-
pnblicans voted with the dem
fsasi sa1ne eH.1sn sss Rs5 Rsf'e ker hfssrs e~s
Lind, Morrow and Townsend, of Colorado,
Mills offered resolution reciting the or
der of reference made by the speaker refer
ring to the silver bill to the committee on
coinage, weights and measures, was an in
correct rule of the hour and made without
authority under the rules, and resolving
that the journal be corrected by striking
therefrom this entry. Cannon, Of, Illinois,
argued that the senate amendments would
require it to be considered in committee of
the whole: That being SO, it was the
tee on coinage, weights and measures. The
resolution sought to strike out a recitation
of facts. Mills, of Texas, characterised
Cannon's position as the boldest, the most
reckless and absurd position he ever heard
maintained ina legislative body. Under the
the house; not by the speaker or his clerks.
He charged the republican party with be-
ing false to it's pledges on the matter of sill
yer. The democratic party would give the
people free and unlimited coinage Of silver.
At the hustings the people would ask the re-
puhlicans why. when they were sent here
as the friends of silver, they voted it to
death to prevent the contamination of the
peoples wishes and fulfillment of their
promises. Springer, of Illinois, contended
journal and make it show what a majority
of the house decided it should show. The
purpose of referring the bill to the COM
mittee on coinage, weights and measures to
prevent the house from voting on the ques-
tion of concurrence in the senate amend
ments. The rules which it was claimed
were intended to allow the majority to do
business and produce results were now pros
tituted to the base purpose of gaging the
majority.
The speaker in rendering his decision
said he desired members of the house to di-
vest themselves of the idea that any unusual
procedure had taken place in connection
with this bill. Reference of bills of this
kind and in this way had been a daily oc-
currence since the adoption of the present
rules. The chair desired also that the house
should know that this particular transac-
tion did not take place in a corner. In the
regular course of business the journal clerk
informed the speaker that among the list of
bills to be referred under the rules to appro.
pirate committees was the silver bill with
the senate amendments. The speaker had
been asked whether he had any particular
direction to make in regrad to it. Knowing
the bill to be one of grave public impor-
tance, and anxious that he should have all
possible light on the subject, the chair had
consulted the democratic members of the
and the gentlemen from Missouri and Illi-
nois, Bland and Springer, not for The pur-
pose OF throwing any responsibility upon
them. but in order that he might benefit by
any light they might be able to give. After
conversing with those gentlemen it had
the house covered the question and that his
duty was to treat the bill as he would treat
any other. Accordingly the clerk was not
directed to make any change in regard to
the reference. He would therefore
overrnle the points of order and
Cannon moved to table Mills resolution.
On standing vote this carried, 12O to ITO.
Morrow, of California, Bartine, of Nevada,
and Townsend, of Colorado, voted with the
democrats. On a vote by tellers the mo-
tion to table was lost, yeas 118, nays 123.
n rn inn, hon +,
olution and it was agreed to, yeas 12l, nays
III. Mills then moved to approve the Jour
nal as amended, asking to Withdraw the
preamble, which recites that the order of
reference made by the speaker referring the
silver bill to the committee on coinage,
weights and measures was incorrect under
the rules of the house and done without Au-
thority under said rules. Mckinley OBJ
iected and the question recurred on the
adoption of the preamble. It was lost, yeas
1o9, nays 100, Springer moved the approval
of the journal as amended, pending which
the house adjourned.
In the senate the following senate bills
were reported and placed on the calendar:
To adopt regulations for preventing COLI
sions at sea; to authorize corporations to
of the United States. The senate resumed
consideration of the legislative, executive
and judicial approprition bill. The COM
mlttee amendments having been disposed
OF, the bill was opened to general amend
ment. Paddock moved to increase the sal
ary of the commissioner of the general land
office from 81 600 to 5000, and of the as
slstant commissioner from 5000 to $500.
Without action the bill was laid aside. The
message of the president in relation to re-
clprocal commercial treaties with the Latin
American nations was laid on the table and
in connection with It an amendment to be
offered to the bill as follows: And the
president of the United States is hereby au-
thorized, without further legislation, to de-
clare the ports of the United States free
and open to all products of any
nation of the American hemisphere upon
which NO export duties are imposed, when
ever and 30 long as such nation shall admit
to it's ports free of all national, provincial,
municipal and other taxes. -four, corn meal
and other breadstuffs, preserved meats, fish,
vegetables and fruits, cotton seed oil, rice
and other provisions, including all articles
of food; lumber. furniture and all other
articles of wood, agricultural implements
and machinery. mining and mechanical
machinery, structural steel and iron. steel
rails, locomotives. railway cars and supplies,
street cars. refined petroleum, or such other
products of the United States as may be
agreed rpon. After eulogies On the de-