Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-09
Important Action Taken in the
House Today.
TIE SHERMAN REPEAL AMENDMENT
A Vote Results Against a CIoture
Rule.
BUSINESS IN THE SENATE
The Hour of Meeting Changed
Back to Noon.
SENATE.

There were only seven Senators present this
morning while the chaplain prayed. and AZ
the secretary WAS about TO begin reading
yesterdays journal il was suggested by
Mr.. Teller (CoL) that such an import
ant act should not be performed in the absence
OF quorum. The roll was therefore called and
In the course OF half an hour quorum made ice
appearance and business proceeded with.
The original seven we're Messrs. Berry. Butler.
Faulkner, Hunton. Stewart. Teller and White.
AN ADVERSE REPORT.
Mr.. Frye Me- in reporting back adversely
certain amendments referred to the COM
mittee on commerce (proposiug. river and
harbor appropriations) said that the
sundry civil appropriation bill al
ready contained river and harbor appropria-
tlons TO the amount of about IL. 900 900 under
the continuing contract clause) and that the
committee on commerce would not recon-
mend any further river aud harbor appropria-
tons.
The following Senate bills were reported and
passed:
To authorize the Union Railroad Company
to construct and maintain a bridge across the
Monongahela river.
To authorize the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road Company to renew and operate it's railroad
bridge across the Big Sandy river near the site
OF its present bridge.
An EXECUTIVE SESSION.
At noon the Senate went into executive ses-
sion on the motion of Mr.. Morgan Ala. }, who
said that he merely wanted TO get paper and
have 1t printed. The doors, however. re-
manned closed for more than half an hour.
When they were reopened n motion made
Mr.. Wolcott Col. TO have the hour Of meet
] ing again changed to noon. The vote re-
sulted-yeas so; nays, 30-and the Vice Presi-
dent in announcing it said: The Senate being
equally divided tine chair "a pause votes ave
| Laughter and applause.
The credentials of stephen NJ. White. Senator
elect from California for the term Of elk years,
beginning March next, were presented by Mr..
FELTON, GAL and were read and placed on file.
Senate bill granting right of way to the Colo
RADIO River Irrigation Company through the
Yuma Indian reservation, Cal, was reported
/ and passed.
THE CAR COUPLER BILL
The unfinished business'-the automatic
car coupler bill-was taken up at pm, the
question being on the amendment offered yea
terday by Mr.. Dolph (oreg. to that offered by
Mr.. Morgan ALA.
Mr.. Morgan's amendment requires the At
torney General 20 bring suit Tor the ''con-
demnatlon OF any device that may be selected;
and 4lr. Dolphs Is that railroad company
shall be required to Use such device until such
Condemnation" has taken place.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading and approval
Of the Journal Mr.. Catchings Miss called up
the resolution Of the committee on rules setting
apart this legislative day ard (if necessary the
next legislative day for the consideration Of
the bill repeating the Sherman silver act.
Mr.. DAcoNs PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Bacon On. ", chairman of the commit
tee on banking and currency, took the floor.
The House, he said. was well informed ms 10
the nature Of the bill proposed to be
considered, and the serIons condition
of the country which it intended to re-
| lleve. The intent of the bill-the purpose for
which it was brought into the House-wss that
either by its provisions as it came from COM
/ mittee or by any such amendments as the
House might make, the situation of affairs
which all agreed IL deploring. might be ended.
The main purpose of the bill was that the
purchase of silver bullion and the stor-
| ing Of II in vaults Of the treasury
| as commodity IN metallic form aud
without coinage, should stop. The rule as
reported by the committee on rules was
in the form which that committee at this Con-
gress had invariably used for the purpose OF
bringing important measures before the House
! And that form of rule had always
proved TO be Intellectual. The les
son which the House had learned on
the bankruptcy bill ought not to be forgotten.
| There was no phase of the silver question that
| needed discussion. There was no phase of il
that had not been exploited. The discussion Of
| the bill could serve useful purpose unless
| the House finally came TO a vote.
Representatives should discharge their re-
sponsibilities TO themselves, TO their con-
stituents and 10 the country by recording their
| votes here and now, and no matter what YVES
done elsewhere no matter what others might
| shirk let the members of the House do their
duty. lApplsuse.l
He would, if the previous question were
voted down. oher an amendment providing for
cloture az o clock on the second Legislative
day given to the bill. A. the clerk read the
proposed amendment il was greeted with loud
applause
This amendment. continued Mr. Bacon, has
besn prepared in reference to the views and
experience of that sound democrat the gentle
man from Missouri Mr.. Eand) and WAS
an exact copy of the resolution
which that gentleman had desired 10
offer in July last. 1t was substantially the
rule which reported TO the House by
such sound democrats as Mr. Mills of Texas
and Mr.. Randall and by such a good repub-
lican as Mr. Reed of Maine. Ii presented
no novel proposition. 1t presented no
proposition on which gentlemen on eithef side
were divided. So much for the amend
ment; so much for its purpose and so
much for its form. He gave notice now.
committee on rules to demand the pre-
vious question on the adoption OF the rule that
gentlemen who desired to come 10 a vote
| on the bill must vote against that
demand. And particularly he said to
those gentlemen who united in a desire
to put end to this ruinous practice OF
purchasing silver bullion and keeping il as
bullion, to vote against ordering the previous
question. vote for the previous question
was a vote for the death Of the bill.
A vote against the previous preston
would meet with the approval of the committee
on rules.
"How do you know that?" shouted Mr.
Pierce. one Of the most intense silver men
Mr.. Bacon replied that he needed no au-
thority TO make the statement He knew that
it was correct The committee on rules was
not seeking to prevent the previous question
being voted down. and the rejection Of the pre-
vious question would be no affront TO the men,
bcrs Of that committee,
He insisted that the House should ct this
time fairly and squarey meet the question and
not waste time in idle discussion. Any man
who voted for the previous question voted 10
allow the country TO 80 on in this foolish pur-
chase Of silver.
NR. BLAND FOR THE SILVER MEN.