Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-14
IN IHs HOUSE.
The Story oil The Surrender 10 the Senae on
Tariff Hili.

WASHINGTON, Aug. l3.--The House con-
sidered business reported from the COM
mttee on the District of Columbia. The
bill TO establish free librar, in the district
was discussed. The discussion was inter-
rupted by the introduction of the expected
order from the committee on rules relating
to the consideration of the tariff bill and
cognate measures, proposed by Catchings.
1t provided U), that it shall be in order
after the passage of the order to
move that the acton of the House request
ing further conference on the tariff bill,
be resCinded, the conferees be discharged
from further duty in connection herewith
and the House agree to the Senate amend
ments in bulk, which motion will be debated
two hours, when a vote on the adoption and
motion shall be indivisihlc. General leave
to print on the subject is given for
10 days. (2). Ii shall be in order
after the adoption Of the order to
present in the House and consider
without reference to any committee,
bills for placing sugar, coal,siron ore and
bsrbed wire upon the free list. Thirty
minutes will be given for the discussion of
each bill, then vote to be taken.
Catchings moved the previous uestion
but Reed raised point of order against the
resolution.
Speaker-Thc gentleman will state it.
Reed said a portion of the resolution pro-
posed action upon bill which, in his opin-
ion, was not before the House, therefore
it was not in order for the House
to pass the resolution. Reed ex-
planned the parliamentary situation from
his standpoint, asserting that in
the present condition it was possible
for the Senate at this moment to
agree to recede from the amendments to
the bill, while the House proposing to re-
cede from its disagreement to those amend
ments to bill which would become law,
would puzzle everybody except the persons
who cut the Gordian knots and do not un-
tie them.
He reinforced the position that the House
is not entitled to the custody of bill and
papers by quoting from decision by
Speaker Colfsx in 3Sth Congress, where he
declined to receive n conference report pro-
posed TO be made by Mr.. Washburn, be-
cause the House was not entitled to receive
it, He read from Jefferson's manual TO
show that the papers in the case belonged
to the House asserting to request
for conference. This case, (Colfax
decision) said Reed, is authority for two
propositions First, the conference report
must be acted upon primarily by the body
which assents to the conference, and sec
ond, that even if the papers were before
the House, unless they were rightfully be-
fore the House, the House has no authority
to set. These two propositions are perfect
ly plain and clear in parliamentary law.
"Tbe status of the bill in case of dis
agreement is also equally clear. ] admit
the action of the two houses, no dispute be-
ing made, are often irregular, but never so
far as my knowledge goes, when point has
been raised and the question presented to
either of the bodies. Recollect, the key to
the whole situation is the rnle that no House
can act upon papers not properly before it.
If it were possible it should be otherwise,
and we might see two bodies acting at the
same time upon the same or similar papers,
which could only lead to confusion and dis
credit the business action of both houses.
"The papers, then, it being cause of
disagreement, are properly before the Sen
ate, because that body was the body that
first asked for conference. There can be
no better illustration of the wisdom and
soundness Of this than the actual position
Of public affairs at this moment. The Sem
ate said; We will pass your bill if you
will admit our amendments That was
July 8. The House refused the amend
meuts Of the Senate. There had been one
conference which resulted in disagree
ment. Another conference is now pending
and in existence. The bill must be in the
hands of the Senate, although it may be in
the custody Of the conferees.
"Nevertheless that is where the bill is.
The Senate, today. is proposing action
Continued on I'd page.l