Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-05
FlFTY-secOND CONGRESS.
The Case of the Florida senatorship-The
New House Rules Adopted.
rBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l

WASHINGTON, February 4-SESATE.-ln
the absence of Vice-President Morton,
who has gone TO New York for few days.
the chair was occupied by Mr.. Henderson,
president pro ter. Among the bills re-
ported from committees and placed on the
calendar were the following: Authorizing
the construction OF bridges across the
Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers; to extend
the provisions of the act in relation TO the
immediate transportation of dutiable
goods to st. Augustine. The following
was reported back adversely: To extend
the provisions of the act for the imme-
date transportation of dutiable goods to
Fernandina, Fla. At the request OF Mr..
Pasco this bill was placed on the calendar.
THE FLORIDA sESAToRsHIP.
At 1890 the Senate proceeded to execu-
tive business. and when the doors were
reopened the report of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections In the case OF the
Florida senatorship declaring Mr.. Call
entitled to the seat) was taken up for ac-
ton. The report was read. IL closes with
the sentence: THE appointment OF MIR.
Davidson was an act OF mere irrelevancy,
which it is not necessary further to no.
tice."
Mr.. Chandler, member of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, stated
that the report was unanimous, ana thet
the committee had wisely concluded that
the question was neither political nor
personal one. but was a question OF con-
stitutional and statutory construction. IL
was whether the mere absence OF q quo
rum of one house of tho Legislature (pro;:
vided there was majority present OF an
the members of both houses) was sum,
cient to defeat an election OF united
States senator. That question seemed to
l. nclttaIvalu lin the neHatlYel
by the United States statute.
DISSENT
from the position taken by MIR. Chandler
on the constitutional and statutory ques-
ton involved was the occasion of long
legal discussion, in which Messrs. Mitch
ell. Stewart, Gray, Teller, George, aud
Sherman took part. There was no con-
tentlon as to the correctness OF the reso-
luton reported, but the discussion turned
simply upon the construction OF the
statute and its constitutionality.
Mr.. Sherman argued that the fair con-
struction of the law of Congress Con the
election Of senators) was, that IT the two
houses failed to elect in separate meeting
then Joint convention of the two houses
should be held and majority of that con.
yention, as in the case of Florida. should
decide the question. 1t made no differ.
ence. IN his opinion, whether quorum Of
one house was OF was not present.
Finally the resolution was agreed to
without division.
Adjourned till Monday.
House of Representatives
| The consideration of the rules having
been resumed MIR. Enloe. of Tennessee,
offered an amendment providing that eu-
logies of deceased members shall be de-
livered Sundays (and Sundays only. on
which days the ceremonies shall be opened
With prayer by the Chaplain. These services,
he said, were in the nature OF religious
services, and no more appropriate day
could be selected for giving tribute to
deceased members than Sunday. /.
Mr.. Morse. of Massachusetts,. seconded
| the amendment. He believed that memo
rial services were educational and proper,
and that the Lords day was the most suit
able one that could be chosen.
Mr.. Ray, of New York. opposed the
amendment. 1t was evidently offered in
the interest of those persons who never
attended church. but who could come
here on the Sabbath day and listen to
oratory.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine. pave the informa-
ton that the consumption of time in the
FIRST session of the last Congress for me-
mortal services was twenty-four days.
Although standing vote showed ma
JOtkty VI % W 70 IL hovOA VI viz etA4SA&o~
ment, this majority vanished before the
dreaded roll-call and the amendment was
defeated-yeas. 81; nays. 155.
Mr.. O'Neill, of Missouri. offered an
amendment making it obligatory on the
House to consider the private calender on
Friday. Lost---57 to III.
TEE CUSTOM As TO YULoGrEs STANDS.
Various propositions were made hrving
for their object the abolition OF the re-
striction of the custom Of setting apart
days for the delivery OF euloeies upon de-
ceased members, but they were all re-
| jectsd.
Mr.. Reed offered : subsrisute for Rule
a relating to the order of business. Tho
only change proposed II that the morning
hour, which under the code IL limited to
sixty minutes) may be extended indefinite
| y At the pleasure Of she House. The sub
stitute Was lost 30 to 1of.
Mr. Chapman, Of Michigan, offered "a
amendment providing. for Esiday-uight
sessiens tor the c0rslderation Of private
| psnsfou bills Aeysed ~ #
u speaking - - infpsnaI anen1ment,