DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL


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 Mr. RomaNow. I unqualifiedly accept the statement of the Senator from Vir-
ginia that he did not have in mind these particular projects, and that he opposed
the amendment; but the truth of the matter is that if the amendments should be
agreed to it would so change the general law and that these projects could not
be carried on, and if it should not be agreed to they still could be carried on.
 In my judgment that is a complete answer to the point of order made by the
Senator from Colorado, Mr. Adams, that the amendment offered by myself is
not germane to the provision to which it is sought to be attached. If the
amendment I have proposed should be agreed to, it would modify the com-
mittee amendment so that as to these two projects already commenced it might
be possible to continue them. It is true that their continuance is not made
certain by the provisions of the amendment, but it is also true that if the boards
proposed to be created, after they have made their studies, report that the
projects are feasible and worthy-if, in other words, the reports of the boards
are favorable-then the President will have an authorization for these projects
to the extent that he may allot $10,000,000 for the one and $9,000,000 for the
other for expenditure during the fiscal year.
 I do not know why I should take more of the Senate's time in discussing
 the point of order. It seems to me clearly established that the Senate has the
 right to amend this provision if it chooses to do so; that it would be unreason-
 able to say that the committee may report an amendment constituting general
 legislation, as almost everyone concedes, and that that provision should not be
 subject to modification by the Senate itself. It is the well-established rule
 that even though general legislation may be incorporated in a measure by this
 House or the other House, or by a committee of this body, if the provision does
 constitute legislation it is subject to amendment just like any other provision.
 The only limitation on the right to change it is that the changes must be ger-
 mane td the subject matter of the proposed legislation.
 Mr. CLK. Mr. President, I desire to enter a point of order against the
 committee amendment.
 The PsenmiNo Orrinc (Mr. Hatch in the chair). The point of order made by
 the Senator from Missouri against the committee amendment is overruled.
 Mr. CLax. I respectfully appeal from the decision of the Chair, and I suggest
 the absence of a quorum.
 The PWmnIDIN Omie. The clerk will call the roll
 The legislative clerk called the roll, and the following Senators answered to
 their names:
 Adams, Ashurst, Austin, Bachman, Bailey, Barbour, Barkley, Benson, Bilbo,
 Black, Borah, Brown, Bulkley, Bulow, Burke, Byrd, Byrnes, Capper, Caraway,
 Carey, Chavez, Clark, Connally, Coolidge, Copeland, Cousens, Davis, Duffy,
 Fletcher, Frazier, George, Gerry, Gibson, Glass, Guffey, Hale, Hastings, Hatch,
 Hayden, Holt, Johnson, Keyes, King, La Follette, Loftin, Lonergan, Long,
 McAdoo, McGill, McKellar, McNary, Maloney, Metcal, Minton, Murphy, Murray,
 Neely, Norris, O'Mahoney, Overton, Plttman, Pope, Radcliffe, Reynolds, Robin-
 son, Russell, Schwellenbach, Sheppard, Shipstead, Smith, Steiwer, Thomas of
 Oklahoma, Thomas of Utah, Townsend, Truman, Vandenberg, Wagner, Walsh,
 Wheeler, and White.
 The PBIDINo Oriosn Eighty Senators having answered to their names, a
 quorum is present.
 Mr. CL.aa. Obtained the floor.
 The PmseoNGo Oniom. Before the Senator from Missouri takes the floor,
 will he permit the Chair to make a statement as to his ruling?
 Mr. CLAaK. Certainly.
 The PMummmo Owrrxa The Senator from Missouri made a point of order that
 the committee amendment amounted to general legislation. The Chair over-
 ruled the point of order made by the Senator from Missouri because title II of
 the bill as it came from the House of Representatives contained many matters
 of general legislation, and in such a case the rule laid down by Vice President
 Marshall is stated thus:
 "Notwithstanding the rule of the Senate to the effect that general legislation
 may not be attached to an appropriation bill, still when the House of Repre-
 sentatives opens the door and proceeds to enter upon a field of general legislation
 which has to do with a subject of this character, the Chair is going to rule-
 but, of course, the Senate can reverse the ruling of the Chair--that the House
 having opened the door the Senate of the United States can walk in through
 the door and pursue the field."