The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-19

the rart Of the senate, was appointed
l., wait upon the presid 4nt.
The first hitch in the otherwise
smoothly-acting machinery OF organi-
cation occurred when Mr.. Henderson,
republican, of Iowa, ouered a resolu-
ton that, until otherwise ordered, the
rules of the house of the Fifty-fOurth
congress be adopted as the rules OF
the house of the Fifty-fifth congress,
and on this he moved ne previous
question. To this another republican
member from Iowa (Mr. Hepburn) pro-
posed an amendment, lifting the con-
tinuarce of those rules to thirty days
from this date.
Mr.. McMillin asked Mr.. Henderson,
indirectly, whether it was the purpose
of the committee on rules 10 report a
cod Of rules, and to let the house have
an opportunity to vote upOn them.
There is no doubt" said Mr.. Hen
dersOn, that that will be done. Tne
house will have the fullest opportunity
to offer amendment to the rules hat
will be presented"
The house was counted on Mr.. Hen
derson's motion for the previous ques-
ton and the speaker reported the close
vote Of 157 ayes and 1913 nays, when
the speaker announced an addition Of
one vote to the ayes (making it a tie)
but that was Immediately followed by
an addition of one of the noes. The
vote was thereupon taken by yeas and
nays, and resulted in ordering the pre-
vious question on Mr.. Henderson's
resolution by 1873 yeas and 152 nays,
several republicans having changed
their votes from no to Aye
A point having been raised that un-
der the rules there were twenty min
utes for debate, the speaker said:
There are rules and rules. There is a
r111a for Tho praUinrC n11nCtinn in tho
Fifty-second, Fifty-third and Fifty
fourth congresses, and also under gen.
eral parliamentary laW. In the house
Of representatives, heretofore, the rule
has allowed twenty minutes for de-
bate. But that Is not the rule under
which we are now acting. Even if it
were, there has been debate enough, be-
fore the previous question, to cut off
that twenty minutes The question is
now on agreeing to the resolution"
The house divided and the speaker
reported-ayes, 157; nays, 133. SO Mr..
HendersOn's resolution was agreed to.
The usual drawing OF seats was pro-
ceeded with, preference being given, on
account of long service, to Mr.. Grow,
republican, Of Pennsylvania; Mr.. HOl-
man, democrat, OF Indiana; and Mr..
Harmer, republican, OF Pennsylvania.
While the drawing for seats was in
progress the committee appointed to
wait upon the p~TeSlueHl TepOTteu
through Mr.. Payne that the president
had "sent his kindly greetings to con-
gress and said that he would commune
cate Immediately in writing."The mak
ing Of the report was fOllOwed instant
ly Cat 3:15 o'clock p. NO. by the de-
livery of the presidents brief message,
but it's reading was withheld until the
seating Of members was completed.
The presidents message was read and
was referred, on motion OF Mr.. Ding
ley, to the committee on ways and
means.
Mr.. Dineley hen introduced his tar
if bill, which was referred to the COM
mittee on ways and means.
The speaker the appoint
ment of committees on rules and on
ways and mean as follows:
Committee on Rules-The speaker.
Messrs. Henderson Of Iowa, Dalzell of
Pennsylvania. republicans; Bailey Of
Texas, and McMillin Of Tennessee,
democrats.
Commute on Ways and Means
Messrs. Dingley. Of Maine, Chairman;
Payne, of New York: Dalzell, Of Penn
sylvania: Hopkins. of Illinois; Gros-
venOr, of Ohio; Dolliver, OF Iowa;
Steele, of Indiana: Johnson, Of North
Dakota, Evans, of -<entucky; Tawney,
Of Minnesota, republicans; Messrs.
Bailey. of Texas: McMillin, of Tennes-
OF South Carolina; Robertson, Of Louis
lana; Swanson. of Virginia, democrats.
Permission was given to the commit
tee on ways and means to sit during
the session of the house and to have all
necessary printing done; and then at 4
o'clock p. m. the house adjourned till
Thursday next