Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-08
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. July 8.
SENATE.


MIR. Berry offered a resolution
requesting the President to demand
the release of ODa Melton, native
born citizen OF the United States, who
was taken prisoner on board the Com
petitor" and is now confned in Span.
ish prison in Cuba. MIR. Berry outlined
the circumstances in the Competitor
case.
Mr.. Hale suggested that the resolu-
ton go to the committee on foreign re-
lations. There was no need, he said,
of hurrying the resolution, as the COM
mittee was dealing with the subject and
was all one way.
Mr.. Berry assented to the reference.
The deficiency bill was held to have
the right of way, whereupon MIR. Nor
gan said he would later move to re-
commit it with instructions to report
back bill for the settlement of the
Union Pacific railroad debt. The pur-
pose of this motion was to open the
Pacific railroad question to debate.
The efficiency bill, carrying $751;
465, was then considered.
The amendment accepting the invita-
ton of France to take part in the inter
national exposition at Paris in 1900,
and authorizing the President to ap-
point special commissioner, at salary
of s. 900, to secure space and arrange
for proper exhibition, caused extend
ed discussion, Mr.. Morgan urging that
the commissioner was given too much
power. He criticised the appointment
OF temporary especial commissioner"
| It was humiliating expedient, due to
the fact that the House of Representa-
tives was locked up.
On Mr.. Hale's explanation that this
| was preliminary step the amendment
was agreed to.
| HOUSE.
There was full attendance in the
House to receive the return of the
/ tariff bill, which was to sent the Senate
| March 81, ninety EIGHT days ago. The
| galleries were also we'll filled with
spectators. Mr.. Lewis was on his feet
clamoring for recognition as soon as
the journal had been approved, but the
chair announced message from the
Senate. Amid burst of applause
from the republican side, Secretary
Cox, of the Senate, then announced
the passage of House bill 379 Qhe tariff
| billy, upon which the Senate requested
| a conference.
Mr.. Dalzell and Mr.. Lewis both
claimed the attention of the chair as
soon as the message from the Senate
had been read. Mr.. Dalzell had a
special order from the committee on
rules to present and the Speaker was
disposed to recognize him but Mr..
4 Lewis loudly demanded to be heard on
matter of the highest privilege, affect.
ing the integrity of the House.
Mr.. w. A. Stone and several other
republicans called vehemently for the
| regular order. There was great deal
| of confusion. Mr.. Lewis was gesticu
lating wildly in the area in front of the
Speakers chair. At last the chair de-
sided to hear Mr.. Lewis who proceeded
in an excited manner to declare that
the House was disorganized body
| without legality and that constitution
ally it was dissolved. He continued
amid many Interruptions and calls for
the regular order. Mr.. Lewis appealed
with a great show of courtesy to his
'peers" to desist. When the republic
cans laughed at his Characterization of
them he turned and remarked that per-
haps he hattered them beyond their
deserts.
At last the Speaker put an end to Mr..
| Lewis's speech by ruling that he had
not presented q question of privilege.
The gentleman having stated his
proposition, namely, that this is not
| House," said the Speaker, "the chair
rules that he does not present ques-
ton of privilege"
Mr.. Lewis attempted to appeal, but
the chair declined to entertain the ap-
peal Mr.. Lewis thereupon subsidized
and Mr.. Dalzell offered the order
agreed upon by the committee on
rules. 1t provided that Immediately
upon its adoption it should be in order
to move to non.concur in the Senate
amendments to the tariff bill and agree
to the conference asked for by the Sen.
ate with provision for the appointment
of conferees and the REMEMBERING of
the paragraphs of the bill.
Mr.. Dalzell explained that the pur-
pose of the order was to hasten action
on the bill, to avoid delays, and to i'm
mediataly send the bill to conference.
There were about 800 amendments, and
the sooner the conferees began work
the sooner would an agreement be
reached.
''If we adopt this order and send the
bill to conference, will opportunity be
given to move concurrence at future
time?" asked Mr.. Swanson.
"That depends on the action of the
House" replied Mr.. Dalzell.
Mr.. Dalzell yielded twenty minutes
to Mr.. Bailey, the minority leader.
Mr.. Bailey in turn yielded portion of
his time to MIR. McMillin, of Tennessee,
and Mr.. Swanson, of Virginia. The
former tried to offer an amendment to
the special order setting aside to-mor,
row for the consideration of the Senate
Cuban belligerency resolution and Sat-
urday for the consideration of the bank.
ruptcy bill, but Mr.. Dalzell said he had
not yielded for the purpose of amend
ment.
Mr.. Swanson contended that the
House should have an opportunity to
vote on such of the amendments as
they now desired to act upon. Mr..
Bailey said if the minority had been
given assurances of a reasonable time
for debate when the conference report
was presented to the House the
adoption of the special order
would not have been antagonized.