Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-09
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.

PLG 1-fU JUN II OUlNuREIoO.
WASHINGTON, January 8.
SENATE.
The Senate was not in session to-day,
having adjourned till Monday.
Mr.. Henderson moved to reconsider
the vote of last night, by which the re-
turn of the sergeant-at-arms upon the
execution of the warrants issued last
night for the arrest of absent members
was postponed until Tuesday next.
The motion was antagonized by MIR.
Thomas and Mr.. Henderson suggested
that it 60 over until Monday, after the
special order had been exhausted.
Mr.. Hull objected to the postpone
ment of consideration for the reason
that the right of the absent members to
vote until the order OF arrest was va
Gated, was questioned.
Mr.. Baker made the point that the
gentleman from Iowa, (Henilerson) had
no right to make the motion. not hav-
ing been present last night.
Mr.. Henderson responded that he
did not vote, and was therefore entitled
to make the motion.
MIR. Thomas, the author of the reso-
luton ordering the arr est of absent
members, said: If mem hers of the
House could stay away from the Fri
day night sessions because they did not
consider the business of sufficient i'm
portance 10 demand their attendance
4 n,,1 fha day Al
overturn the action of those present in
the effort to secure a quorum, the
whole session might be wasted.
Mr.. Steele said every member would
concede that the gentleman from Mich
igan was the most jealous republican
on the floor.
AS part OF his remarks, Mr.. Thomas
| had read the list of members whom the
record showed to have been absent last
night, those excuseG from attendance,
and those for whom warrants were now
in the hands of the sergeant-at arms.
Various efforts were made to head
Off the reading of this list, but they
we're all unavsiL;ng, the speaker hold
ing that the gentleman had the right to
make them part of his remarks.
Mr.. Steele plaintively-Won't the
gentleman be satisfied to have US all
write to his con stituents?
The Speaker--I don't know. lLaugh-
terl
Resuming Mr.. Thomas said it was to
be presumed that the sergeant-at-arms
had discharged his duty, and that until
the contrary was shown, all the mem
beers whose names had been read were
under arrest, and therefore, by the
rules, not entitled to vote until dis
charged from arrest. For the same
reason, he said, Mr.. Henderson was not
in order in making the motion to re-
| consider.
The Speaker did not agree with MIR.
Thomas's view regarding Mr.. Hender-
sons right in the matter, for he recog-
nized him to move the previous ques'
ton on his, motion. The motion was
agreed to, $50 to 10, and only is mem
beers seconded Mr.. Thomas's demand for
a yea aufl nay vote. The resolution
carving. over the order of arrest until
Tuesday was then disagreed to, 10 TO
165.
Mr.. Tho ,mas-I would like to ask
the Speaker if he counted members un-
der arrest?
The SpeaE:er-The chair is not in
formed that any members are under ar
rest. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Tho nas-Isn't it q part OF the
record that certain members are under
arrest?
The Speaker--The chair has no
knowledge of any such record and
would be glad if the gentleman would
point it out.
Mr.. Thomas-I do not desire to get
into controversy with the Speaker
over the matter and merely desired to
ask his opinion of the question.
Further proceedings under the call
of the House last night were then for
mally dispensed with, in order that
there might be no doubt of the status
of any of the members.
The House then in committee OF the
whole resumed consideration of the Pa
cifc Railroad funding bill, the day to
be spent under the operation of the
FIVE minute rule.
! Mr.. Johnson said "Let no man de.
ceive himself with the delusion that
these roads were built by the private
fortunes of any persons" The roads
had been built out of tbs proceeds OF
subsidy and mortgage bonds, and sales
of the land grant. netting profit OF
100 900 900 OF dollars. To say nothing
of what had been done for these cor.
porations, Mr.. johnson asked what eX
| cuse members could make to their con-
siituents by now adding to that mag,
nGcent gift the sum of $12S, 900
more, which was what the bill practical
ly proposed to do.
Mr.. Maguire-I have no objection to
the gentleman continuing his emarks,
but want to say that every member
from the Pacific coast opposed TO the
bill was shut out of the general debate
Yesterday, and shall consent only on
condition that at least some Of US on
this side have our time extended.
MIR. Hepbnrh-There will be no con-
sent given}to that. If you stayed out
of the debate yesterday it was by your
own election, and the time to-day is
not to be consumed in that way.
Mr.. Hilborn, opposing the wick.
ed BILL" said the ferry privileges and
property, of which the majority report
! made so much, had. since the railroad
officials had appeared before the COM
70