The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-01
NEW YORK BRIDGE BILL.
Senator Hill Induces the Senate to
Adopt 1t Without Quorum.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal


WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-The Senate did
not indulge in idleness to-day after its long
and wearying campaign on the silver ques-
ton. 1t met at noon and did not adjourn
till quarter before 5 o'clock. Between
these hours it considered and finally passed
the very important measure known as the
New York bridge bill. 1t is a House bill.
with various amendments reported by the
committee on commerce All these amend
ments, which were rather of form than of
substance, were agreed to by the Senate
and the discussion which took place was
over an amendment proposed by Mr. Nc
Pherson, OF New Jersey. One of them was
TO give the authorities of Hudson county.
New Jersey, the power to fix the New Jer-
sey end of the bridge; and another to pro-
vide that the bridge be constructed without
pier in the river. The first was with
drawn and the second was voted down. The
bill passed without any other amendments
than those reported by the committee on
commerce. An effort will be made to-mor-
row TO take up the bill to amend the Chi
neSe exclusion act and to make Ii the I'M
finished business.
When the Senate convened the attend
ance of members was not large, and there
were only a few people scattered through
the galleries. Mr.. Blackburn, chairman of
the committee on rules, introduced, and
the Senate adopted. the following resolu-
ton, which was, undoubtedly, inspired by
the recent discussion of the rules during
the past few weeks.
THAT the committee on rules be instructed
to inquire and report TO the Senate what
revision OF, or amendments TO, the rules, if
any, should be adopted to secure more
efficient and satisfactory disposition of the
business of the Senate"
\ bill was reported from the judiciary
committee by MIR. Pugh, to provide for the
time and place for holding the term Of the
nit oil fafR nd niGfri af rpt-
in the State of South Dakota. The amend
ments recommended by the committee were
agreed to and the bill passed
Mr.. Walthall, from the committee on pub
lie lands, reported a bill To extend for one
year, from the time they become due, final
payments on entries under the desert land
act The bill passed.
Mr.. Hill then moved to take up the New
York a.hd New Jersey bridge bill.
Mr. Mcpherson offered an amendment Civ
ing the freeholders of the towns of New
Jersey power 10 decide the location. Mr..
Mcpherson said the bridge would ruin
blocks OF buildings and destroy streets and
bOuevards. The people of New Jersey
would laugh at the want of intelligence
which the Senate would show by authoriz-
ing the location, in the middle OF the river,
OF a pier with an area as large as an island.
Mr. Vest retorted that the question of in
telligence of the Senate was an open one;
and the Senator from New Jersey rendered
himself liable TO suspicion by such re-
marks. a discussion continued at some
velohed against Mr.. McPherson's amend
ment. which he finally withdrew, and Of
fered another to the effect that the bridge
shall be constructed with a single span over
the entire river between towers or piers,
and that no pier or other obstruction to
navigation shall be constructed. This gave
rise TO another discussion, at the close of
which the vote was taken on Mr.. McPher-
sons amendment, and IL was rejected
yeas, Il; nays, =.
Mr. Allen moved amendment that the
bridge may be used by the government for
military and postal purposes without
charge Rejected without n division, The
bill was then passed without division, with
the amendments reported from the commit
tee on commerce
Mr. Gray moved TO take UP the House
bill TO amend the Chinese exclusion act OF
Nav 3 1892 so as &C make IL the "unfin-
ished business The vote was announced
as a 10 S, but as there was no quorum vot-
fng the motion withdrawn, and the
Senate proceeded to executive business,
and, at AS adjourned till tomorrow at
noon.