Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-17
MRS. MFEEDIrH's RECEPTION.
FlFTY-SEcONO CONGRESS.
Votes on the Anti-Option Bnl-Popular
Election of Senators,

lBy telegraph 70 the DIspatcn'l
WAsH1SGroN. ID. c., January 16.-SEy-
A1E-l he resolution offered on Saturday
by Mr.. WOlcOtt. lnStructlng the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations to inquire as 10
the expenditures in and about the con-
structlon of the Nicaragua canal since the
accounts of expenditure rendered two
wears since was agreed 10.
Three prepared speeches were read. The
first was b. Mr. Morrill,, against the Nc
Garrahau bill: the second by Mr.. PETER,
in favor OF a constitutional amendment
limiting the presidential Office 10 one
term. and the third by Mr. Call, in
defence OF the c2natitutlonaiity OF the
antl-OptiOn blll. The McGarrahan bill
went over without action. Mr.. PET
fer's speech was not concluded when
the anti-optlon bill came up. There were
not more than half q dozen senator's IN
the chamber while Mr.. Call was making
his speech, and that fact was noticed by
Mr.. Platt, who suggested that the pend
ing measure was Of sufficient importance
to nave at least one eighth OF one tenth OF
the senate listen 10 the discussion.
Attention having thus been directed 70
the absence OF a quorum! the roll was
called. Senators came III from the lobby
and cOmmittee-rOOm. ana fOrty-slX re
spOndcd. The question being on the
amendment offered by Alr. Villas intended
TO cOnfine the penal provisions of the bill
to purely speculative transactions, a short
argument in favor OF it was made by Mr..
White Democrat, Of Louisiana, and then
the amendment was rejected: Yeas, u d.
nays, 33. Mr.. Hill was paired with Mr..
Irby; otherwise he would have voted for
the amendment.
An amendment offered by Mr. Wash
burn to change the time for the act 10
take effect from September /, 1892. TO July
l, 1893, was agreed to; also an amendment
10 section to the effect that the act shall
not apply 10 any agreement 10 pay or de-
liver q part OF the product of land as CON-
pensatiOn for work or labor done or TO be
done on the land.
MIR. Daniels amendment 20 strike ont
section 10 was defeated-yeas. 13; nays. g..
Mr.. George moved TO amend the bill by
striking out all after the first three sec
tions and inserting IN lieu thereof the sub
stitute proposed by himself last July
(omitting the first three sectlons).
No action was taken on Mr.. Georges
substitute, and the Senate at $50 ad-
journed.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE.
A demand for the regular order from Mr
Kilgore prevented the consideration Of
several private bills which members de
sired 10 call mp. Then, for almost au hour
the time of the House was consumed IN
the consideration Of a resolution to which
there was not the slightest Opposl-
tion in any quarter and which was
finally adopted without objection. 1t was
one calling upon the executive depart
ments for information Is 30 the NUN Der
and amount of war claims allowed or dis
allowed by such departments. Then mo-
ton TO suspend the rules and pass bill 10
settle claims of Arkansas and other States
under the swamp-Iand grants failed 70 Sc
cure the necessary two-thirds vote, aud
was therefore defeated.
Mr. Chipmsn, from the Committee on
Election Of President and Vice. President,
moved TO suspend the rules and pass
Joint resolution providing for the election
of senators of the United States by popu-
lar vote.
Mr. Lodge, the senator-elect from Mas
sachusetts, demanded a second. The Re-
pubIicans refrained fiom voting and
lett the House without a quorum.
although il was but three short
of one. Then Mr.. Reed moved
TO proceed Mr. Reeds notion was de-
feated-yeas 6. nays Island the teliers
resumed THEN places. A quorum appeared
and a motion 10 suspend the rules was
seconded. In two-minute speech Mr..
Lodge opposed the measure. but the mo-
ton to suspend the rules and pass it was
agreed to without division. The House
then (at 4:20 p. III. adjourned.