The sun., 1897-01-12
FUNDING BILL DEFEATED.
The House Reject. t by the Decisive Vote
OF 1Oa TO les.

WARRINGTON, Jan. 11.-A full attendance OF
mem bers was evidence Of tho interest taken In
tho Pacific Railroads Funding bill. which was
debated last wook. and upon which. under the
special order, . vote was taken to-day imme-
dintely after the reading Of the journal.
The Speaker stated the first question TO bo
upon the amendments adopted In Committee OF
the Whole, and they were agreed to without
division.
The next vote was taken on tho substitute Of
fered by Mr.. Bell lDem., TexJ. fixing the rate OF
interest on the bonds to be issued at per cent
instead OF g as provided in the bill. Tho substi-
tute was defeated: Yeas. ITO; Nays. 156.
Tho question was then on the substitute Of
fered by Mr.. Harrison Dem, AlaJ constituting q
the Secretary Of the Treasury, the Secretary Of
the Interior, and the Attorney-General n COM
mission. with full power TO settle the debts Of
the bonded Pacific railroads. upon such terms
and in such manner as may be agreed upon, tho
approval Of the President being necessary. II
unable TO reach agreement with the owners
OF the roads, the commission TO recommend to
Congress what legislation they deem necessary
70 protect tho interests Of the Government and
to enforce tho prompt collection Of the debt
This substitute was also defeated: Yeas, 55;
Nays, 2l4.
The yeas and nays were then ordered on the
euerossment and third reading OF the bill. Tho
vote resulted: Yeas. l02; Nays, l0S. aud the
bill was defeated.
vote by SPEAKER Reed there was some applause
from opponents of tho bill. The Speaker pro-
nounneed tn. perfunctory sentence required that
the House declined to order the engrossment
aud third reading OF the measure, ana consider
able confusion followed. caused by the exchange
| Of congratulations among members. Then sew
eral members attempted TO make themselv ves
| heard. but Mr.. Babcock CRep. Wis., managed
| TO get the floor to request that District of
| Columbia day be postponed until next Monday.
| Mr.. Powers Rep. vi wanted the bill recon-
mitted to the COMMITTEES on Pacific Nailroads, lie
Mr. DoeEery iben;; Mo- made a point of
business made the motion out Of order. After
some dosultory deb,te Speaker Reed disposed
Tomorrow TO look into the question Involved 10
| fore rendering an opinion.
..,sm.ht o n. Soo of
OF the Union Pacific and Central Pacific on the
basis OF an extension OF over eighty years. at :
% for Toe 81 nsss ten years ssso,oOo FOR IL. second
years. The defeat OF the bill Involves tine
, probable immediate foreclosure OF the Govern
fn. ds9s vote s IL the House. asn. the
| bill has changed tho condition OF affairs with
TO as s ss
! Committee will DO called At once, or that au
Informal conference OF the members will bs
prosrsmms arranged by the senate Steering
| Committee, II was TO be made the unfinished
business after the vote on the Oklahoma Fret
| Homestead bill. which would have been dis
| posed OF within very few days. The judgment
| OF mem hers OF the Pacific Railroads Comm 81
Is that IL would be useless TO consume the tint
OF tho Senate in the discussion OF the measure
| and IL appears TO bo the desire to either con
| struct different measure. meeting some OF tut
objections raised in the House, or let the SENATE
| bill go by default.
The question was asked Harry smith, forme
journal clerk Of the House, as TO the parlia
mentary status OF the Funding bill.
| 1t Is like Mahomets coffin. suspended be
tween heaven and earth" was tho reply. -
really has no parliamentary status. The motion
to commit Tor recommip IL in order only whei
the question ts under debate, or pending tn
motion for tho previous question OF after II ha
been ordered on the passage OF bill. As tn
House had passed from the consideration OF tn
BILL tho motion of Mr., Powers To recommt wa
not iu order, and nothing but a new 'specia
order from the Committee on Rules can take
ont OF Its present POSITION"