Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-23
ONLY. THE HOUSE
But One Branch of the Natiopal Leg
islature in Session.
Mr.. BLAND'S RAILROAD RESOLUTION
TWAS Not Considered a PriyIeoed
Question.
L 81 E / N d A N BILL
Mr.. BLAND'S RAILROAD RESOLUTION
T Fl E AN BILL
THE HOUSE.

The desk of the late Judge Holman TO-DAY
was covered with a black pail of mourn,ny
upon which were strewn lilies Of the valley
and hyacinths. The blind chaplain in his
prayer referred feelngiy to the loss the
House an1 country had sustained in his
death.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal Mr.. Bland (Mo.) offered the resolu-
ton which he attempted TO offer last week
relative to the suits to foreclose the first
mortgage on the Union Pa.idc railroad
and calling en- the Attorney General for
information as 10 what steps had been
taken to protect the interests of the gov
err ment, SO modified as to strike out the
clause directing the Speaker to immediate
ly appoint the committee on Pacific rail-
roads.
Not Privileged Question.
He presented the resolution as a priv
ieged question, on the ground that as
there was no committee to which the reso-
luton could be referred this was the only
way 1t could be brought before the House
The Speaker ruled that it was not priv
ieged, whereupon Mr.. Bland appealed and
Mr. Dingley promptly moved to lay the ap-
peal on the table. The chair ruled the mo-
tion was not debatable, but brief debate
was INDUCED in touching the merits of the
resolution.
MI. DlhSIty pointed out tnat the reSOlu-
uon went far beyond an ordinary resolu-
tion of inquiry. in that 1t called for legal
opinion from the Attorney General
Mr.. Bland insisted that he was seeking
legal information for the House. If there
were a committee on judiciary 1t might
he procured there but as there was none
this was the only manner in which the
House could secure the information.
We want TO know" said he, whether
the prior liens on the Union Pacific are
to be Hquidated. as the law requires that
the government may take pc session CT
the road. We desire to ascertain the policy
of the government
Mr. Dingley pointed out that all the
information which the Attorney General
could furnish on the subject had already
been transmitted to the Senate. The At
his legal opinion 20 the Presilen-.
Mr.. Bailey supported Mr.. Bland contendI
ing that the Attorney General might go
further than he did in responding to the
The debate was brought to an abrupt
close by the interposition of point OF order
that the motion to lay the appeal on the
table was not debatable.
Appeal Laid on the Table.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn) sharply contended
that an appeal was always 1ebatabe, and
that 1t would not be cut off unless The floor
N1s yielded for the morton 20 lay it on
the table. but the Speaker rcsolutely re-
affirmed his decision. The House could no..
he declared. be placed at the mercy of one
member. If there was a desire to hear
the appeal debated The House had II in
its power to vote down the motion. On a
rising vote the motion % lay nc appeal
on the table was carried-)S-33.
Mr. Bailey called for ;he yeas aid nays,
whtch were ordered.
The appeal was laid upon the table, ST.
10: 22 present and not voting.
On motion of Mr.. Robinson Und) Mr.
Bland (Mo) was added to the committee
to attend the Holman obsequies.
To Attend the Grant Ceremonies.
Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration of a
resolution for the appointment of a COM
mittee of twenty-five members of the
House. of which the Speaker should be
chairman. to attend the exercises in con-
nection with the dedication OF the Grant
tomb next Tuesday. There vas no objec-
Ton and the resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Dingley then effected an agreement
by unanimous consent by which the House
when II adjourned today should aG journ
until Monday next, on Monday until Thurs
day and on Thursday until the following
meetings next week should be merely for
NAL, no business whatever 20 be trans
acted.
The Indian Bill.
The House then went into committee of
the whole and resumed the considera ton
of the Senate amendments to the Indian
appropriation bill. The pending amendment
was that relating to the opening of the
Crcompahgre reservation, motions being
pending both to concur and non-concur.