The record-union., 1891-01-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
MESSAGE ON THE
CROW INDIAN AGREEMENT.
The Democrats in the House Re-
sort to Obstruction
Tactics.
Special to the REcoRp.uN1oN.

special 10 the IsECORD-UNI0N.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 19-In the Senate
to-day German argued against the cor
rectness of the ruling made by the Vice
President on Friday to the effect that al
appeal from a decision is not debatable be-
cause the question itself on which the de-
c1sion was made "a motion to lay on the
table, was an undesirable one. Morton
held that the decision was absolutely
right. The discussion kept up some time,
when German withdrew the motion. It
is thought to be something in the nature
of flank movement against the closure
matter.
Mitchell presented a resolution (Which
went over calling on the Secretary of
War for copies of all recommendations
and statements of Boards of Trade, as to
ite for a gun factory on the Pacific
Coast.
The elections bill was taken up, and
George spoke. He remarked in the
course of his speech that much had been
said about the new Constitution of Mis-
slppi, which was less liable to abuse than
those of several other States. He as
serted that the Constitution of Oregon
(adopted in 1850 contained provisions
prohibiting the immigration of negroes
Dolph said the Constitution was framed
when Oregon was hopeiessly under the
lead of General Joe Lane. 1t had not
since been amended.
George dwelt on the matter at some
length, saying, in response to the ques-
ton OF Dolph, that these provisions may
not be expressions of the judgment of the
people OF Oregon of the present day, but
they were their expressions at that time,
and the people of Oregon have not seen
fit to withdraw them.
The Vice-President laid before the SEN
ate message from the President, trans
mitting the agreement with the Grow
Indians for the sale of the western part of
their reservation in Montana.
Hoar moved that the adjournment to-
day be until noon tomorrow. to give
the Senators an opportunity to attend the
funeral of Mr.. Bancroft.
George resumed his speech, but yielded
for an executive session, and the Senate
soon adjourned.
in THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. I9-The intention
of the Democrats of the House to resort
to obstruction tactics until the determines
ton OF the Senate on the elections bill
was manifested this morning, when Bland
demanded the reading of Saturdays pro-
ceedings, instead OF in an abbreviated
form.
ihSh NliIlS htoNCo I'LL ilHcllu1llGUb 10
the journal relative to the refusal of the
Chair to recognize his motion to recon-
slider the vote by which Fridays journal
was approved.
Cannon inquired whether it was in
order to move the previous question on
the approval of the journal.
The Speaker, after examination of
Mills motion, recognized Cannon. Then
came chorus of Democratic demands
for the reading of the amendment, which
said the ruling of the Speaker is disap-
proved by the House.
The Speaker, regarding the amendment
as not proper, recognized Cannon's de-
was rejected, but the Republicans gath
cred strength and seconded the delnand-
yeas l30, nays l03.
Thereupon Springer took to the floor.
and for some time the House was enter
tanned by a discussion which went on
between himself and Speaker Reed.
Springer said that never before the first
session of this Congress had q motion TO
reconsider--a privileged notion-been
denied by presiding officers. lie offered
to the remarks of the Speaker addresses
made in New York State during the last
campaign about overturning precedents
of the last hundred years. The verdict
of the American people had condemned
the rules of the Speaker.
Speaker Reed had read several decisions
made by Speaker Randall, showing that
the latter refused TO entertain similar APP
peals.
Mckinley took the floor and said no.
body could deny that the motion made by
Mills was purely dilatory, and it was the
duty of the Chair to refuse to entertain
the appeal. 1t was manifest to the coun-
try that for the last six weeks the whole
effort of the Democratic side had been TO
obstruct public business. The whole
purpose offiHbustering was that it should
be impossible, if the Senate should pass
the elections bill, to pass that bill through
the House.
Flower of New York retorted: 'We
accept that issue, and stand upon it.n
democratic applausc.]
After further discussion the journal was
approved.
The Senate bill for the relief of Sarah
e. Perine was passed.
Adjourned.