The herald., 1897-01-23
IN THE HOUSE
a Bill Passed over the Presiden. .ial
Veto

WASHINGTON. Jan. 22.-This was
private bill day in the house and most of
the time was consumed with small bills
The bill to provide for holding terms of
the United States courts for the eastern
district of Texas at the town of Beau
mont was passed over the presidents
veto. Incidental TO the discussion Mr.
Cooper of Texas declared that the pres
ident vetoed the bill through a misap-
prehension and that he had vainly tried
to get an audience with Mr.. Cleveland
to explain the measure.
Mr.. GrosVenor of Ohio spoke Sarcas-
tically of the presidents custom of re-
fusins to see congressman unless his Gri-
vate secretary approved of their errands.
Some minor bills were passed.
After the night pension session the
house adjourned until Monday.
On motion of Dalzell. Republican of
Pennsylvania, the house decided this
morning to adjourn at the close until
Monday. A bill passed to grant right of
way through the Indian territory to the
Galveston and Great Northern railroad.
Cooper. Democrat of Texas, called up
the bill recently vetoed by the president
to establish new division of the eastern
judicial district of Texas and providing
for the holding of court al Beaumont.
He moved its passage over the veto of
the president. In support of the meas
ure he referred to the fact that he was
unable to see the president or get to
Private Secretary Thurber.
He explained the necessities which eX-
listed for the enactment of the measure.
He said the first objection to the bill he
had ever heard of came from the pres
ident. He recounted, as he said. with
some humiliation, that he had several
times called upon Mr.. Cleveland to pre-
sent the reasons why it should be signe j
or to meet any objections the president
might raise. but he had been denied
casion of his last visit he said he had
been informed by Private Secretary
Thurber that it would be useless for him
to see the president, as Mr.. Cleveland
had already made up his mind to veto
the bill. Mr.. Cooper's remarks about
his inability to get access to Mr. Cleve-
| land drew from Mr. GrosvenOr half
humorous half sarcastic comment upon
the obstacles which hedged the White
| House.
Il desire to say that my constituency
never commissioned me to percolate my
! business with the executive through
the clay of private secretary 1t now
| appears that the president has made a
| mistake. 1t is unfortunate that he eX-
cludes members of congress and fences
himself about with a skrmish line of
such moderate capacity. / am sorry
these remarks are made too late to do
any good. They should have been
made several years ago"
DO you think the next occupant OF
the White House will do better?' ask
ed Mr.. Dalzell, quizzically.
Il cannot speak for the next admins
tration," replied Mr.. Grosvenor. smil-
ingly. II can only express the hopethat
not again will any administration refuse
ready access to the representatives Of
the people. The people are greater
than any executive" (Applause.)
The vote was then taken. Two-thirds
having voted in the affirmative, IA to 6S,
the bill was passed over the veto of the
president.
At the night session Mr. Thomas of
Michigan, Republican, who is acting
chairman of the invalid pension com
| mittee. did not press the usual motion
to go into committee of the whole. lest
| the point of no quorum would be made.