The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-11
The Work of Congress Is About Finished
and 1t VIII Adjourn To-Day.
ARRAIGNMERT OF THE SUPREME COURT
Benator butler In Opposing the Bill
Giving it nrIsdis tir :, in 0nt,mpt
pressing His Opinion cfthe August
Tribunal-IInvct 10 Hold u Quorum.

lW4SuuElOIi, June 1U-tSeUGAe.-lH
spite of the fact that Ii was generally
believed that this would b. the last day
of the session, th.re was q rather slim
attendance in the galleries. and the
days proceedings were devoid of interest
or excitement. There was also a deaMh
OF Senators present, and whenever call
for quorum was made considerable
time was spent in looking up the requi-
site forty-nve Senators. There always
s;emed to b. a feeling of doubt in the
chamber that such a number could be
secured. and feeling of relief was mani
tested Whenever tbs quorum was obtain
ed The contempt of court bill was the
greatest bone of contention during the
day and II; was finally pasS.'d. 1T di-
v.dts contempts of court into two classes
direct. committed in the presence of
the court and all others, indirect. Sum-
mary punishment is provided for di-
rect contempt. For indirect contempts,
reasonable opportunity is given the ac-
cused to purge himself of such contempt
and 20 have trial by jury. WIits OF
error will liz to the Supreme Court.
In advocating the passage of the bill
Mr. Butler arraigned the growing power
of the Supreme Court TO influence legis-
iation. Aftir speaking of the instances
In which the Supreme Count had upset
legislation demanded by the people re-
fe,ring particularly to the income tax,
h described the Supreme Court as the
third legislative house. elected by no.
body, representing nobody, accountable
20 nobody, inconsis:ently arroga ting to
itseh rae authority and power to de-
scribe that Congress did not know what
III was doing, and which had described
that the incone-taX was bad legislation,
as Will as unl1nt'.Hut,ona!. 1t mus:
have been an oversight in the bill, which
increased the power of these courts be-
Sond thaa conferred. by the oonstltu-
tion.
He referred to the summary trsat-
ment Of Debs, the Chicago labor leader
who was sent to prison for contempt of
court. in not respecting the injunction
iesued by the courts 20 prevent the strk-
ers from interfering with the move
fnentS of trains. Such power vested in
the judiciary was "A relic of old world
barbarsm and tyranny, as a protest to
which this Government waa constituted.
Yet. after only a little over 100 years ex-
isaence. this Government was sinking
into this gioove of tyranny.
Or tbs two appropriation bills on which
the differences between the two Houses
blocked the way 10 adjournment the
District of Columbia bill was compro-
missed by continuing this appropriation
no sectarian charities, but decla ring that
NO further appropriations for this pur-
pose shall be made after June 80. 1897.
The conferees on rh sundry civil bill re-
ported further disagree :ment, but Just
before recess was taken an agreement
was reached, the HousM recedng from
its disagreement to tha Senate amend
mema providing for the erection of pub
lie buildings at Boiss' City, Ida, Chey-
enne Wyo., Salt Lake City, Utah. and
Helena, Mont. Ths following bills were
passed: Increasing the pay Of letter car
riers: 10 prerent the transportation of
spirIucus liquors under false names
Thi' bill increasing the pension OF
Francis f. Hoover was passed over the
Presidents VETO.
The latter pa;t OF the session was oc-
cupied by speeches by Mr.. Stewart and
Mr. Butler, of North Carolina, arraign-
irg centrally Congress and the admin
iStia:ion.
concurrent. resolution for final ad-
iournmert tomorrow at p. m. was
agreed to. and at $40 O'Clock tn; Senate
took recess until $3.50 this evening.
Tho frs: ripple on the placid current
OF inaction at the night s;sson was
caused by motion entered by Mr.. Hale
tRep), of Maine. to reconsider the vote
by which the Senati to-day pass, q q
bill TO increase the pay of letter carriers.
Jus. before II O'clock the sundry civil
bill and several minor bills wers, received
from the House and Immediately signed
by the NicePresident
The Senate then adjourned until to-
morrow al II O'Clock.
(House)-Th business of the first ses-
sion of the Fifty-fourth Congress was
pTQSalca1iy COncluueu Today by the
agreement of the two bodies. upon the
sundry civil and the District of Column
bia appropriation bills-the only remain
ing matters of difference between the
two houses when they met this morning
TNo accomplish this, the House voted to
concur with the Senate in its amend
ments to the sundry civil bill. appropri-
ating direct and contingent. 5000. 900 for
certain public buildings. This vote--l00
yeas to IS nays-demonstrated what had
been feared would not be found-a quo
rum of members still in the city. The
Senate agreed with the House provision
In the District bill, cutting off appro-
priations to religious. benevolent, and
charitable institutions. amended so as
TO make the new policy effective after
July 80, 1897
PREVIOUS to reaching this conclus ion.
the House passed many measures under
suspension of the rules, among them
the following:
HOUSE bill to protect the timber on the
pubic domain and forest reservations
from the srayages of fire. caused by mali
cious op careless campers or others.
JOINT resolution extending the scope of
the good roads investigation now be-
ing conducted by the Agricultural De-
Foorbidding the landing upon the
shores OF the United States Of q foreign