The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-07
OFF DAY IN CONGRESS.
LITTLE DONE SAVE THE PASSAGE
or PENSION BILLS.
Mr.. Tucker Introduces Bill in tho Inter-
est OF Commerce In Virginia.
South Dakota's Freak.
TMEs BuREAu. RArLrr BuILplNl. !

Inc beauttul descriptions that we nave
read Of Venice by night. or the gay at
traCtiveness OF the winter scene ut St.
Petersburg or even the fur clad grandeur
Of Berlin's beauty "Unter den Linden"
can scarcely be moro magnificent than
was the great sleighing earaival here
last night. The broad avnues were
thronged with merry seifners. whose
Joyous laughter rang out above the Jingle
Of the bells. the bright lights glistened
on the frozen track and bejeweled each
fragile snow fake thet fell. Gladness
made the midnishn grand, and pleasure
scored a season solely Aer own.
AS the noon hour to-day approached,
few OF the congress men began to assem-
bic within the greet white building that
with its surToundilgs to-day rcsembled a
gigantic architectural design IN snow IT.
self Nothing was expected Of the ses-
sion to-day. and all anucipations in that
respect We're realized. IL was private
bill" day, but the pension advocates
raised a point and secured the considera-
ton of their measures. which resulted as
yesterday in no business at all, as the
majority Of the Democrats are fully de-
termined 10 restrict for the present at
least any further increase Of the pension
bills.
Mr.. Pickler. Of South Dakota. who took
such a prominent part in the attempt TO
pass these pension bills. was the gentle
men who on the last day Of the last ses-
sion objected 10 their passage simply
because a member OF the House had
raised objection TO special land scheme
bill Of his. Mr. Pickler was at one time
n member OF the Dakota territory iegis-
frs ars1 a
crank on womans suffrage prohibition
and everything else that he thought
majority did not want. In the Fifty
frst Congress he was like Tom Watson
last year. always on his feet. but never
10 a purpose. and at the close Of one Of
his ridiculous harangues. Speaker Reed
remarked, 'Weh. ! never knew what
was meant in the Bible by the foal Of
the Wild ass until I heard pickler' Mr..
Plcker would ruin anything on earth
save tha apothecary business.
Congressman Grady. of North Carolina,
said this morning that the only thing
new that he had heard was the announce
mcnt of the candidacy Of Mr.. -. j. Broad
hurst Of Wayne county y. c., for the
position of marshal for the Eastern Dis
trict The candidates from North Caro-
lima seem 10 be about as alert as those
from any other state and their Con-
Eressmen are all busy with applications.
Hon. l.. r. Bum has not yet returned
from his holiday recess. Mcssrs. Hender-
son and Crawford were both in the House
today
Senator Carlisle was in the House for
little while this morning, and was en-
gagged in conversation with Representa-
tive Dockery, Of Missouri The roll was
being called on a pension bin. ana when
"Air. DOckcrv" was yelled by the clerk
the emphatic "No" startled the sedate
senator by his side hut a look Of APP
prova came as if the next Secretary
OF the Treasury was in accord with leav-
Ing whatever little balance there IS for
his future consideration and handling.
The advance Of the senatorial contests
in the Western States still continues SO be
subject Of general speculation here and
the Democratic members seem 10 view
the fights with fun confidence that their
party will be victorious. The situation in
California Is especially bright they claim
to-day. and Montana. Wyoming and Ne
braska. they claim. Will be in line when
the time comes.
The commercial men or drummers Of
virginia are frequently mentioned here
and especially since the splendid work
which they accomplished I'm the last cam
paign. Mr.. Wise has a bill which will
probably be passed very soon giving them
am exemption from tie excess baggage
tax which they are now required to pay.
4 bill was introduced yesterday by Mr.
Tucker which is Of interest 10 the drum
mrrs and also 10 the entire State. The
bill is drawn after a close and careful
consideration OF the commerce clause Of
the Constitution, which Mr. Tucker has
studied with an especial interest torn Of
his fathers famous research along these
lines
Some years ago the State Of Virginia
passed an act taxing foreign drummers
more than the domestic drummers were
taxed The law was tested before Judge
Bond. and he held that # was inconsistent
with Article ~. Section 2. Of the Con-
stitution. which declares the citizens Of
each State shall be entitled TO all prvi-
leges and immunities Of citizens in the
several States" that the foreign citizen,
under that clause, had the right TO do
business in Virginia on the same condi-
tlons and terms citizens of Virginia en-
Joyed IN similar business. The Legisla-
ture then amended the law and placed the
domestic and foreign drummers on eX-
actly the same terms Since then the
Supreme Court Of the United States has
decided that, though the State law puts
the foreign and domestic drummers on the
same footing, II is void as being in con-
hict with the commercial clause Of the
Constitution and because IL impedes and
hinders commerce This bill Is intended
10 give legislative construction 10 tlcSe
conflicting clauses Of the Constitution,
and II passed will increase the revenues
Of the State Of Virginia $4,000 annually.
The bill provides that II shall be law
ful for the citizens Of each state and Ter
ritory Of the United States and the Dis
:rict OF Columbia 10 do business In The
District Of Columbia and In every other
State and Territory OF the United states
upon such terms and conditions as may
..rfl lon a.,
IT'S own citizens engaged in like business
At $50 j. NJ the rOll-call Of the House
is still being made. not over fifty men,
bers are in the House, and quorum
could not possibly be mustered. but the
motion 10 adjourn does not prevail, ana
the monotonous cal Of 352 names by the
clerk is filling up hours worse man
wasted. H. L. w.
The senate.
Mr. HIPS resolution OF YESTERDAY as 10
~ frEgn ana