Evening star., 1897-02-08
PASSED OVER A VETO
Tho Bin for . Hew Division of Tsxas
JudiOial District.
Arbitration Treaty Considered by the
Senate in Executive Session.
Business In the House.

ported from the judiciary committee In
favor of passing over the Presidents re-
cent veto the bill for a rev division of the
eastern judicial district of Texas. Being q
privileged question. the bill received imme-
diate consideration.
Mr.. Mills (Tex) said the burden of the
Presidents objection was that the Judge OF
the court. the clerk and the marshal op-
posed the change. For years the develop
ment Of Texas has demanded the change,
but every time it was attempted there was
the opposition of the court officials who de-
sired their convenience consulted rather
than the convenience of the public. And
so. in this case, said the senator. the Pres
officers rather than the representatives of
the people.
'1t Is strange to me-" said Mr. Mills,
that the President does not consult the
fifteen representatives from Texas-thir-
teen in the other house and two in this
instead of accepting the views OF the court
officers"
Mr.. Hoar (Mass) said he thought the
senator from Texas (Mills) did the Presi-
dent great injustice In saying he was
moved solely by the wishes of the court
officers. On the contrary, said Mr.. Hoar,
the President took the very strong position
that but forty-fve cases had arisen in five
years In the locality Of the proposed dis
trfct. That was very strong and valid
objection The senator thought it was out
weighed, however. by the growth of Texas
would vote for the bill despite the veto
The Vice President then put the ques-
tion: Shall the bill pass. the objections
of the President Notwithstanding" The
result being yeas. 81; nays, 1. The mega
tive vote was that of Mr.. Cafrery Ua)
Now n Law.
The effect Of the vote is to make the bill
a law without further reference to the
President. as 1t was already passed over the
veto in the House.
A bill to remove doubt as to the power Of
the Supreme Court OF the District of Co.
lumbia to fill vacancy in the office of dis
trict attorney was reported from the ju-
dietary committee. in which committee a
nomination for this office Is now pending
Mr.: Pettigrew (S. d. sought to have the
bill relative to amending the timber culture
laws recalled from the President to correct
an error. Mr. Hill IN. W interposed the
legal point that 1t was beyond the power of
Congress to take a bill out of the hands Of
the President to amend it on matters of
substance. 1t might overcome the veto
power by Withdrawing bill from the Pres
ident when it was about to be vetoed The
resolution went over.
AT l o'clock on motion of Mr. Sherman
the Senate went into executive session.
Motion for Public Discussion,
ecutfve session a motion by Senator
Hill that the arbitration treaty be dis
eussed in open session instead Of behind
closed doors. He said that it was matter
in which the people were greatly Interested
and which ought to be public. There was
nothing in the treaty or in It's discussion
that demanded secrecy
He was followed by Senator Gray Oel.)
a member of the committee on foreign re-
lations. who opposed public discussion. He
said that on matter dealing with foreign
governments senators ought to be free and
unhampered in the expression of their
views, which could only be when the Sem
ate was held behind closed doors
Senators Lodge and Sherman followed
Senator Gray In opposition to Senator Hills
motion for the discussion of the treaty in
open session.
the treaty should be considered in open
session was still in progress.
The predicted result is that the motion
for an open session will be voted down.
THE HOUSE.
This was District Of Columbia day in the
House and there was every promise of a
dull session. The Speaker submitted to the
House the certifcation OF the election of
presidential electors in the several states
transmitted by the Secretary of State. The
Papers were ordered to lie on the table
pending the counting of the electoral vote
on Wednesday.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
Secretary of the Interior to inform the
House what action had been taken to en-
force the terms Of the treaty of 1868 with
the Navajo Indians, by which these In
dians are required to remain within the
limits of their reservation
Mr. Talbot (S.CO attempted to secure the
reading of a resolution adopted by the leg
isiature Of his state expressing sympathy
with the struggle of the Cuban insurgents
but objection was made and the House
proceeded to the consideration of District
of Columbia business