The National tribune., 1893-02-16
CONGRESS.
An Abstract of the More Important
Proceedings of Both Houses.
TUESDAY, FEB. z,


phin. was taken from the calendar and passed
The Vice. President appointed Messrs. Cullom
and White on the Board of Visitors at the next
annual examination Of cadets at the West Point
Academy.
The car-coupler bill was then taken up and
arguedeat length no conclusion being reached,
and the bill went over.
The Senate adjourned at p. m.
The reading of the House journal having
been completed, the Speaker stated that with
cut objection it would stand approved.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the Legislative, Judicial. and Ex-
ecutive appropriation bill. Mr.. Dockery mo,
d. stated that the appropriation carried by
the bin amounted to S21. .6S4.89S, against an
cal year, and against an estimate OF S22l10,-
O74.
Mr. Dockery criticized the report of the
Treasury Department relative to the condition
of the finances.
Amendments were offered by Mr.. Wheeler
Gala, d. to reduce the salary of members of
Congress from s., 600 to 81 600, and that of the
President of the United States to S25, 900 per
annum; both of which were rejected.
Mr.. Pickler Is. D., r. made vigorous at
tack on the provision of the bill providing for
a commission to inquire into the workings of
the Executive Departments; and without dis
posing of this paragraph the committee rose
and the House adj j0urned.
WEDNESDAY, Fen. s.
In the Senate, the Vice President appointed
Messrs. Dixon and Gray as members of the
Board of Visitors to the Naval Academy.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar it was ordered that
the Senate proceed in a body TO the House at
five minutes before j o'clock to-day, in pur-
suance of the concurrent resolution, to take
part in the count of the electoral vote.
number of bills were then taken from the
calender and passed.
At FIVE minutes before o'clock Vice Presi-
dent Morton announced that the time had
arrived for the execution of the GrGer of the
Senate The Senators then fell into line and
preceded by the Vice President and Secretary,
and attended by other officers, including Capt
Bassett, the veteran doorkeeper, who carried
the boxes containing the certificates of Presi-
Dental electors moved toward the hall of the
House of Representatives. The Senate returned
10 its chamber at 2:10.
The car-courler bill was then taken up and
discussed for the balance of the days session
without reaching conclusion. The Senate
adjourned at $50 p. m.
The Speaker laid before the House the House
quarantine bill with Senate amendments. and
Mr. Rayner ND, d. moved a concurrence
Mr.. Kilgore TEX, d. was present, however.
and moved recess. and pending that motion
Mr.. Antony Tex, d. moved TO adjourn, and
pending that moved that when the House ad-
journed il be TO meet on Saturday.
After more ilbustering by Mr.. kilgore the
amendments were concurred in. 4 recess Of l5
minutes was then taken.
After the recess, and few moments before i
o'clock. Doorkeeper Turner announced the pres
ence Of the Vice President and the Senate OF
the United States, and the vast assemblage rose
with one accord 20 do them honor The Vice
President took the chair asst igned to him TO the
right of the Speaker. aud the Senators occupied
the first four rows of the seats to the right of
the presiding officer. The counting Of the cleo
toral vote was then proceeded with, and at its
completion the Senate returned to its own hall.
When the Senate had retired, the House re-
sumed in committee the consideration of the
Legislative appropriation bill. the pending par
agraph being that for the appointment of
JOINT Congressional Committee TO inquire into
the laws organizing the Executive Departments
OF the Government at the National Capital.
Mr. Pickler 6. d., l. J, who was fighting the
measure and who wanted the Pension Bureau
excluded from its provisions inasmuch as that
bureau now being investigated. refuses TO
acknowledge the power of the Chair 10 rule
him out of order. and to order him to take his
seat, and the services of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
with his symbol of authority, had to be resorted
to.
Without disposing of the bill the Committee
rose, aud the House at $40 adjourned.
THURSDAY, FEB g.
In the Senate, Mr.. Frye in reporting back
adversely certain amendments referred to the
Committee on Commerce (proposng river and
hsrbor appropriations) said that the sundry
civil appropriation bill already contained river
and harbor appropriations TO the amount of
about $l6.000,0o0 (under the continuing con-
tract clause). and that the Committee on Com
merce would not recommend any further
river and harbor appropriations.
The credentials of Stephen NJ. White Sem
ator-elect from California, were presented by
Mr.. FELTON,, aud were read and placed on file
The unfinished business the car-coupler BILL
was then taken up. the question being on
the amendment offered yesterday by Mr.
Dolph (Ore, r. to that offered by Mr. Morgan
Gala, d. Mr.. Morgan's amendment requires
the Attorney-General to bring suit for the
condemnation of any device that may be
selected and Mr.. Dolph's is that no railroad
company shall be required to use such device
until such " condemn alton " has taken place.
The amendments and the bill itself were dis
cussed at much length. The bill was supported
by Messrs. Palmer, Cullom, and Mcpherson.
aud was opposed by Messrs. Mills, Morgan
Harris, and Butler
Without concluding the consideration Of the
bill the Senate at o'clock adjourned.
The last chance for the repeal of the Sher-
man silver purchase act at this session of
ately after the reading and approval of the
journal, Mr.. Catchings Miss, D. called up the
resolutions OF the Committee on Rules setting
apart this legislative day for the consideration
of the bill repeating the Sherman act
Mr.. Bland Mo, d. said that it would be a
curious thing for the country 10 observe the
vote upon the cloture resolution. in order to
ascertain how many men on the Democratic
side of the House who, when the free coinage
bill was up, planted themselves upon the high
horse OF Democratic principles and announced
that the proposition was undemocratic would
to-day come down from that high horse and
vote in the interest of Wall street 10 demon
etize silver. The people would watch TO see
how man could in one instance raise him
self above the people in pure democracy and
vote in favor Of Wall street. and yet deny
the principles of democracy as approved by
the people when it came to a bill of this
character. The bill professed to carry out
the declarations Of the Democratic plat(orm-a
platform which demanded the repeal of the
Sherman law. This name was a misnomer for
Ar. Sherman never liked the bill himself and
was now trying 10 have il repealed This was
one good reason why q Democratic House
should stand by IL and sustain il. The pro-
posed bill was monstrosity, yielding to the
National banks further privileges and defeat
ing the monetization of silver in behalf Of
gold gamblers and Spectators. When the
Democratic party went before the people it
said that the silver question was nothing in
comparison with the tariff question. The lat
Ter was the oyershadowing. paramount issue
which the people had to face But as soon AS
eiqgfInn anfl lf,a,y ham 81