Immediately before the adjournment of the Senate on Tuesday last I entered a motion to reconsider the vote whereby a provision was incorporated in the sundry civil bill appropriating $5.000.000 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. I did so after the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations had made a point of order against a proposed amendment submitted by myself appropriating $75.000 for the payment of the expenses of a commissio. to study the commercial and industrial conditions of China. Japan. and other Asiatic countriesa measure which passed the Senate some time agocoming from the Committee on Commerce after mature consideration. and which had had some consideration in the other House. a favorable report having there been made on the bill. This morning I desire very briefly (because I am very anxious that this bill shall pass) to call attention to the delightful piece of fiction that we have in our Manual. known as Rule XVI of this body. Had not the suggestion been made to me that the present able and courteous and always fair Presiding Officer of the Senate (the President pro tempore in the chair) had written that rule.