Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1894 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

The Senate, ‘Tuesday, after an hour’s discussion, decidied to continue the debate on the tariff bill until next Tuesday, when the bill will be taken up by para-» graphs. An executive session of fifteen minutes was held after which Senator Mitchell askpd that a resolution of his in reference to the Chinese treaty be lai j over until May 3. Senator McLauriq then addressed the Senate on the tar ill bill and was followed by Senator Smith, who spoke in opposition to the incomj tax. At the conclusion of Mr. Smith’j speech the Senate adjourned. The galleries of the House were packed, Tuesday, in anticipation of the fight over the new quorum-counting rule. Mr. Catchings withdrew the rule reported from committe last Thursday and substituted a new report as follows: Amend rule 15 by inserting between clauses 1 and 2 the following as clause 2 and change the number of clause 2 to clause 3: Upon every roll-call and before the beginning thereof the Speaker shall name two members, one from each side of the pending question, if practicable, who shall take their places at the clerk’s-desk, tertell the names of enough members who are in the hall of the House during the roll-call who do not respond, when added to those responding, to make a quorum. If a quorum does not respond on the rollcall then the names of those noted as present shall be reported to the Speaker, who shall cause the list to be called from the clerk’s desk and recorded in the journal, and in determining the presenceof a quorum to do business those who answered present and those so reported shall be considered. Members noted may. when their names are called, record their votesnotwithstanding the provisions of clause 1 of this rule. Amend clause 1 of rule 8 by adding this to the following words, and on a roll call should he not vote he shall answer “present” so as to read every member shall be present within the hall of the House during Its sittings unless excused or necessarily prevented, and shall vote on each questio n pu t un 1 ess he had a direct person al or pecuniary interest, in the event of such question, and on roll call should he not vote he shall answer “present.” After a discussion about the time to be occupied by debate, the discussion of the substitute began. At the expiration of the limit set the vote was taken. The Republicans all voted in favor of it and the rule was adopted—2l2 to 47. Mr. Reed was immediately surrounded by his friends and given an ovation. After an avalanche of reports had been submitted the House went into committee of the whole on the consular and diplomatic appropriation bill. At 4:40 p. m. the House adjourned. Senator Caffery arose to a question of privilege in the Senate, Wednesday, and denied certain allegations against his official conduct in the New York Post. Commander Dickens, who acted as the official representative of the United States, and as an escort of the Duke of Veragua during his tour of the country last year, was granted permission to accept a decoration from the King of Spain. The venerable Senator Morrill spoke in opposition to the tariff bill and was given unusually respectful attention. In spite of his eighty-four years Senator Morrill spoke vigorously for sixty-five,minutes. Senator Turpie spoke on the tariff at length. He defended the income tax proposition. In conclusion the Senator said that the opponents of the bill had opposed the putting of wook on the free list on the plea that It Would check the development of high grades of sheep, but for himself he preferred that the people of the country could have cheap blankets and cheap clothing than that they should have fine southdown mutton to eat. It was not a question of which bill (the Senate or House bill) was the better, but whether any reform bill would receive the support of a majority in Congress. It was not to be forgotten that the bill now before the Senate was the official act and deed of the Democratic party, and as such was entitled to the support of every member of the party who occupied a seat in either House, not only jn its final vote, but at every stage in its progress. He was jjo-tgiftod with thc- prescienee to know the Tate of the bill, whether it was to pass or fail, but whatever happened he was not going to predict defeat and death for the Democratic party. To sow and not to reap; to stand for long years in hope and expectation, not to bo realized, was the rule in reform from which the noblest characters had never been exempt. Justice might bo delayed, baffled, even betrayed and wounded, but it would arrive at last

Speeches in oppssltion to thetariff bill were made by Senator Cameron and Mr. Quay. An 6:10, after an hour’s executive session, the Senate apjourned. Wednesday’s session of the House was entirely devoted to the consular and diplomatic appropriation bill. Incidentally the Hawaiian policy came up, the Van Alen appointment was discussed, Wanaamakcr’s gift of 5400,000 to the Republican campaign fund in 1888 was referred to. many unpleasant personalities were ex-, changed, and altogether the day may bo said to have been fruitful in its production of campaign literature. Mr. Wise, ol Virginia, made a speech in which he challenged the right of Mr. Reed to claim the credit for the idea of counting members to make a quorum. The originator of that idea, ho asserted, was John Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, who fourteen years ago proposed a modification to the rules designed to take into account in determining the presence of a quorum of members present but refusing to vote. On that occasion Mr. Reed had, with groat vehemence, denounced the proposition. Ho had urged that it was not the physical presence of a majority of the members which tno constitution had contemplated as a quorum, but a majority present and participating—a thing, added Mr. Wise, sarcastically, which Thomas B, Reel has not done for a month. Mr. Grosvenor concluded the debate for the day and the House adjourned. Senator Perkins occupied the greater part of the day in a speech against the tariff, in the Senate, Thursday. Senator Galllnger’s resolution calling on the Secretaries of the Treasury and Interior for lists of clerks appointed, promoted and reduced, was passed. At 5 o'clock eulogies in memory of the late Representative Enochs, of Ohio, were pronounced, and at 5:15 the Senate adjourned. The House, Thursday, continued the consideration of the consular appropriation bill. At 4 o’clock half the members diasppeared to attend the first ball game of the season. Representative Springer made a speech In which he lauded Secretary Gresham and spoke of him as a great statesman. An attempt to vote on the Lacey amendment to 1 the pending measure disclosed no quorum, and after a roll call the House adjourn**’-