Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-01-29
THE NATIONAL SOLONS.
SENATE AND House OF REPRE-
SENTATIVES.
Our National Lawmakers and what They
Arc Doing for the Good OF the Country
Various Measures Proposed, Discussed,
and Acted Upon.

Aro DOlnx Tor the GOOu OF the Country
Various Measures Proposed, Discussed,
and Acted Upon.
THE Senate met at IL a. M, on the 10Th,
thoroughly refreshed and ready for re-
newal of the great election bill contest.
Senator Blair. fresh from his New Hamp-
shire defeat, was in his seat, and 30 also
TO Kansas. There was very full attend
ance on both sides, and the galleries, In an
ticipation OF hot work before the day was
out, were well filed. IL was evident from the
talk OF the Senators that there would be no
more night sessions. All-night sessions
have never been popular In the Senate, and
there are several Senators who will posi-
lively refuse TO repeat the performance of
the 10th. Senator Cullom presented to
the Senate thirty-five petitions In favor
1000 prominent business houses In Chicago.
Many of these firms heretofore protested
against the enactment of the bill, but are
now urging its Immediate passage. The
election bill was taken up as the unfinished
business, and Mr.. George took the floor
In opposition to the measure. After a
statement of the action of several States on
the subject of negro suffrage (after IL had
been imposed on the South) Mr.. George re-
marked that In Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and
Wisconsin the question had been submitted
to the people and had been rejected by large
majorities. He asserted that the Constitu-
tion OF the State of Oregon, adopted in 1857,
contained provisions prohibiting the immi-
grafton OF negroes and their settlement in
the State, and, In fact, Outlawing them,
and he asked Mr.. Dolph whether
those provisions had been changed. Mr..
Dolph said the Constitution I'm question had
been framed when Oregon was hopelessly
Democratic. The constitution had not
since been amended, Mr.. George-Then
understand that those provisions are, phys
ically In the constitution of Oregon? Mr..
Dolph-Does the Senator mean to state that
they are to-day the expression OF the judg-
ment OF the people of Oregon? Mr.. George
oh, no; but they are the expression of the
judgment OF the people OF Oregon at that
timc and the people of Oregon have not
seen proper to recall them in the same SOL
emn and formal manner. Mr.. George
yielded the floor while the Vice President
laid before the Senate the message from
the President transmitting the agreement
made with the Crow Indians for the sale Of
the western part OF their reservation in
Montana, He afterward resumed his
speech. but, without concluding, yielded
for motion to go into executive session,
and the Senate soon adjourned.
THE House, on the Goth, experienced the
stormiest scene of a very stormy Congress
The trouble arose over a motion to approve
the journal without debate. Hard words
ley, and it was not until the Sergeant-at at
arms and some friends had forced Mr.. Mills
into his seat was order restored. The row
has significance from the fact that the
leaders of both sides of the House
were the principals. The scene in the
House was re-enacted I'm the Senate, when
Mr.. George, of Mississippi refused to yield
the floor to Mr.. Aldrich. who was anxious
TO present the cloture resolution. Mr.
George had the floor when the Senate adj
journed the previous night, and paliament-
airy rules gave 10 to him at reassembly.
MIR. Georges plan Is apparently, TO hold the
cloture of indefinitely. The prospective
struggle over the force bill is tho all-ab-
sorbing topic. Both sides are anxiously
counting noses.
TURBULENCE again marked the proceed
ilgs OF the House on the 21st, and again
also it was over the approval of the jour
nal. Mills. Bland, Rogers, and Breckin-
ridge on the Democratic side, and Speaker
Reed, Mckinley, and Boutelle on the Re-
publican, were the warrng parties. At
times intense feeling characterized the de-
bate-or, more properly speaking, the quar-
re.-and the gallery was packed by an
eager, listening throng. The scene was
highly dramatic. Speaker Reed, pale, but
calm and firm, listened to Rogers scathing
TRADE in silence, and when it was ended
made ruling squarely against the
wishes of the Democrats. In the Senate
also the Journal became a bone of conten-
tion, and very acrimonious debate en-
sued. 1t was as to whether or not the Sem
ate had decided to proceed with considera-
tion of the cloture rule. Mr.. German held
that no such decision had been reached,
while the journal announced that it had.
He spoke strongly against the Senate ignor-
ing the laws established for its own govern
ment. He carried his point. and the jour
nal was corrected. No further business of
Importance was transacted.
In the Senate, on the ed. Mr.. Aldrich
said that the journal disclosed the fact that
IL was the determined policy of the Dem
ocratic Senators to prevent any legislation
or action unless their wishes as to certain
measures should be acceded to. The ac-
tion OF the minority was revolutionary and
would be resisted. When Mr.. Aldrich had
concluded his remarks he moved that the
Senate proceed to the consideration
the rules. A point OF order was
made that the unfinished business was
the motion to correct Tuesdays journal.
A long discussion followed, during which
Mr.. Stewart argued strongly on the Demo-
cratic side. Finally the Vice President
ruled that Mr.. Aldrlch's motion to proceed
TO the consideration Of the cloture rule was
in order, and overruled tho point of order
that tho question before the Senate was the
motion to correct Tuesdays journal. The
House on the same date got down to busi-
ness, approved the journal, and then passed
the District of Columbia appropriation bill
It then went into committee of the whole
on the naval appropriation bill, general
debate being limited TO four hours.
AT IL a. M, on the 23d, the Senate reas-
sembled and resumed discussion OF the
cloture rule. Mr.. Hoar delivered himself
of some rather forcible and uncomplimeu-
tary remarks upon the course pursued by
the Democrats. Mr.. Coclrell spoke against
the measure, and, with frequent interrupt
tions, continued until adjournment. In the
House Mr. Cooper of Indiana sent to the
Clerks desk and had read resolution
offered by him on Sept. last, making
charges against the Commissioner of PEN
sions The resolution had been referred to
the select committee examining previous
charges; and on the 11th of September the
Chairman OF that committee had been di-
rected TO report the resolution, but he had
never performed that duty.