Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-12
CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE.

TO extend its line into the Dis
trict Of Columbia gracefully admitted
themselves defeated, and the bill WIS
passed without a division. The joint
resolution changing the time for the
meeting Of congress and for the inau-
Rurotiou Of the president gave rise 10 n
rather interesting discussion.
The house met at 1l:05, in continue
ton Of Mondays session. When the
speakers gavel fell to call the body TO
order a number OF members who were
ignorant OF the fact that the house had
merely been In recess reverently rose TO
listen 10 the chaplain's prayer, and
then sat down, amid the laughter OF
their better informed colleagues The
house resumed the consideration OF the
bill for the admission OF Norfolk &
Western railroad into the District of
Columbia, and after sharp discussion
1t was passed.
Mr. McMillen, from the committee on
rules, reported resolution, which was
adopted, making the following business
assignments: TODAY, measures report
ed from the committee on election OF
president, vice-president and members
ported from the committee on Indian
affairs; Thursday, measures reported
from the committee on naval affairs;
Saturday, measures reported from the
committee on the judiciary
In conformity with this resolution
the house proceeded to the considera-
tion OF the Grain joint resolution pro-
posing amendments to the constitution,
substituting the 3lst day OF December
for the 4th day of March, as the COM
mcncement and termination OF the off,
cial terms of members of the house OF
representatives and OF the United
States senators, and providing that
congress should hold its annual meet
ing on the second Monday in January,
and substituting the 3Oth OF April for
the 4th Of March as the date for the
commencement and limiting OF the
terms OF the president and vice-presi-
dent
Mr.. Cochran said that IL was quite
true that the proposition provided for
the coming in OF n congress to settle
the very questions which had arisen In
the election OF the members themselves
and that was his objection to it The
superiority OF the constitution as II
stood as against the constitution as IL
would be under the operation OF this
amendment was that the congress which
under the existing constitution must
pass upon all questions relating to a
presidential succession had been chosen
two years before the question could
arise. This measure would substitute
f..t. hot \, II, al
out of which had arisen the dispute
with regard to the presidential success
SION.
Mr. Grafton, of Texas, asked: "a con-
gress chosen by the people?"
Mr. Cockran-Chosen by the people,
but chosen in the very contest out OF
which the presidential dispute arises
The questions upon which the validity
of the election of a presidential candi-
date would be disputed would arise In
the election OF every member of the
house OF representatives Instead
OF having well ordered, we'll reg
ulated method, which has settled
more than one question OF preside n tial
succession, and which has given TO this
country from the day of its foundation
a long line OF rulers whose authority
was never questioned by any depart
ment of this government, you are going
20 open wide breach in the constitu-
tional system through which disputes of
every character may enter, disputes
| which may cast n doubt for years upon
the title Of president and even array
the people of the country into hostile
camps, warning against each other to
settle by arms question which there
will be no tribunal to settle by peace
full means. II there were any grave in
conveniences arising under the present
method OF doing business, IT, in view,
of a perilous crisis, we were called
upon TO devise some means by which
the country might escape the danger,
the criticism | now make might not be
as conclusive as 1t is. But believe
no reason can be advanced in favor OF
this proposition beyond the prompting
toward fanciful experiments which
seems to be inseparable from the human
race
Mr.. Bushnell advocated the measure,
as did also Mr.. Boatner who character
/ led the views of Mr.. Cochran as chin
erical and not based on any solid foun-
dation. Mr. Springer believes that the
terms proposed by the joint resolution
would conduce TO the prosperity and
being of the people. Mr.. Reed seconded
Nh Cochran's attack upon the meas
ure and made one of his characteristic
| speeches, vigorous and witty. lie OBJ
| jected TO an extension of the short ses-
sion. II the house, he said, wanted 10
do business IL could find plenty of time
| 10 do it in. The members of the house
needed a vacation and he did not mean
to sueer at congress when he said that
the people needed one too The vote
then came on ordering the joint resolu-
ton TO n third reading. The vote re-
sulted-yeas 20, nays l2l, thus defeat
ing the measure. The house then adj
journed.
THE SENATE.
The bill granting additional quaran-
tine powers and imposing additional
duties upon the secretary of the treas
ury and the marine hospital service
was passed by the senate. An impor-
tant amendment was adopted TO the
section giving the president power to
suspend immigration from infected
countries, and now the section gives to
the president power not only to sus-
pend immigration, but to prohibit in
whole or in part the introduction of
persons and property After the quar-
autine bill was passed the special order,
the bill prohibiting immigration for
one year, was allowed to lapse. The
anti-options bill was then taken up and
MIR. Villas completed his argument