The herald., 1897-02-16
THE F|fIY-F0URTA CONGRESS
Senatorial Time Spent in Ex.
eCutive Session
THE ARBITRATION TREATY
Will Not Be Disposed OF at This
Session
house Leaders Plans Work-Sundry Civil
Bill Is Passed Under Suspensioa
Of the Rules
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The senate
was in executive session most of today,
| but the open session afforded sufficient
time for sharp controversy over pro-
ceeding with Mr.. Morgan's resolution
to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
Mr.. Sherman interposed numerous points
of order against Mr. Morgan, and when
the chair sustained them the Alabama
senator referred to his being "victim-
lied" by the presiding officer and Mr..
| Sherman. Mr.. Stevenson retorted sharp
ly that there was no disposition to "vic-
timize" the Alabama senator.
| On a vote Mr.. Morgan carried his
point and the Clayton-Bulwer resolu-
| ton was taken up. AS it involved
| questions Of executive business the SEN
! ate went into executive session. At
| o'clock the open session was resumed
and some progress was made on the
| bankruptcy bill
|, When Mr.. Morgan called up his resoIu-
tion for the abrogation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and started to proceed
WIN q oPCCShp tACA0 WCTC ODJGCIlOQS
from several sources. Cullom (Rep..
Ill), wanted to go on with an appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Chandler (Rep., N.
H), desired to speak on his resolution
as to bimetallism. There was sharp
sparring for precedence until Sherman
(Rep, Ohio) interposed point of or
der against Mr.. Morgan on the ground
that his resolution being of joint char
acter could not be considered in the
morning hour. This precipitated an un-
expected storm.
The presiding officer, Mr.. Stevenson,
being in the chair, referred to the rules
and promptly sustained ShermIn's point
Of order.
II appeal from the decision of the
chair" said Mr.. Morgan, calmly, "and
will debate that question of appeal"
| AS Mr.. Morgan was about to proceed
Mr.. Sherman again interposed, saying
chair was not debatable.
The presiding officer, consulting the
| rules again, sustained Mr.. Sherman,
stating that an appeal was not debata-
| BILE.
"I think it is debatable." declared Mr..
Morgan with a perceptible tremor in
his voice. as he still held the floor Mr..
Quay endeavored to act as peso emaker
and appealed to the senate to grant
unanimous consent to Mr.. Morgan to
proceed
II must object to that" said Mr.4Sher-
man, decisively.
Mr.. Morgan still held the floor.
II am not willing to stand here" said
he, ''and be victimized by the chair and
by the senator from Ohio"
Mr.. Stevenson rose from his chair and
in sharp tones responded: ''The chair
has no disposition to victimize the SEN
ator from Alabama. The chair is en-
forcing the rules as he finds them
The vice president emphasized the
word "victimize" and therei was silence
Of amazement at the rapid exchange.
Finally Mr.. Morgan withdrew his ap-
peal and a vote was taken on Mr. Nor.
gan's motion to proceed With the Clay
ton -Bulwer resolution. Unexpectedly
Mr. Morgan carried his point against the
opposition, which was Understood to be
favorable to going into executive session
on the arbitration trdaty. The vote
was very close, being 80 yeas to 81 noes.
On the announcement of the vote Mr..
Morgan arose smiling, and triumphant
and was about to begin when Mr.. Hoar
Of Massachusetts,. ReIj., interrupted with
the point that this Was matter prop
erly before an executive session. I'm
der the rules suggestions of this char.
acter compelled the. senate to 60 into
executive session and at 1890 the gall
leries were cleared and the doors
closed.
The executive session lasted until 1
o'clock when the doors were opened
and the Legislative, work was resumed.
The bankruptcy bill, which Is the un-
finished business OF the senate. was taxi
en- up and the measure read at length.
Nelson (Minn., Rep.) offered an
amendment and then the bill went oven
A conference REPORT on the bill pro-
viding the times, for holding terms q
United States COURTS in Utah was agreed
to, the conference being an agreement
to the house amendments.
The conference, report on the legislA-
tive, executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill was aglleed to.
A further conference on the agricul.
tural appropriation bill was agreed to
The senate then, returned to private
pension bills and twenty-four bills were
passed, thus clearing the pension cal
endar. One of the bills pensions the
widow of Gen. Roberts at $50 per month.
The bill was passed appropriating $10,.
900 to investigate the obstruction of the
navigable waters of Florida, Louisiana
and other South Atlantic and Gulf
states by the plant known as the water
hyacinth and for other purposes. Also
the senate bill for the revision and codi-
fication of the criminal and penal laws
of the United States. 1t provides for
the appointment by the president Of
three commissioners to make the re-
vision.
Also the bill declaring the declaimeA
Potomac flats, Washington. D. c., q
public park under the name of Potomac
park. Mr.. Quay gave notice that on
Thursday he would call up the house bill
authorizing the appointment Of nom
partisan commission to collect infor-
nation and to consider and recommend
legislation to meet the problems pre-
sented by labor, agriculture and capi-
tai.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The arbitration treaty was not
pressed in the executive session to-day
and it may not be called up again until
Thursday. Senator Sherman said to.
day that he would press the treaty
against all other legislation except ap-
preparation bills. He did not intend to
have it stand in the way of apprOpria-
tion bills. Mr.. Sherman will not make
motion to postpone the treaty but u
is understood that such a motion will be
made. 1t is believed by many senators
that the motion will prevail. Those who
were opposed to the treaty will, Of
course, vote for postponement, while Z
number of senator's who desire 10 "a