New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-24
DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.
WEDNESDAY, February 81. 1872


Mr.. Young rose to question of privilege
He said: Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen of the
House of Representatives,. l desire to
make personal explanation. in order to
relieve my distinguished friend from Jefter
son of any false impressions he may have
entertained in regard to my desire to place
him in the Speakers chair. On Tuesday
evening made it a point to be punctuaiiy
in the House-accOrding to ADJOURNMENT
at halfpast six o'clock, for l knew that
members, previous to that time, had been
indulging freely in State House champagne,
and l did not know what effect 1t might
have on them, or What it might incline them
to do. On entering the House discovered
pretty Jolly set Of fellows, and among them
some Of my friends who had but recently
been made ''glad to get out of the Wilder
ness" They whispered in my ear that
Speaker Brewster had done worse than any
other Speaker; that he had adjourned the
House without calling the roll. My distin-
guished and highly esteemed friend from
Jefferson was among them and was most
anxious to convince me that he was my
especial friend and admirer. He had often
before tried to impress upon me
Mr.. Brewster's unftness for the chair,
but now he was more in earnest than
ever: and l soon learned that some
body under the influence of the aforesaid
champagne was running a huge joke
on nv very distinguished friend and
scholar. Of course did not like this, and
to shield him from the full force of this
cruel joke, conceived under the inspiration
of the sparkling Krug, l made motion, in
fun of course, that Mr.. Murray take the
chair, and, unfortunately, my very distin
guished friend and scholar from Jefferson
suffering from a very serious attack OF
Speaker on the brain, understood that had
called him to the chair, and, so un-
Outstanding, rushed frantically for
the Speakers chair and actually sue
ceeded in planting himself there
to the great amusement of all who could
enjoy joke, even at the expense OF one
who is not inclined, even under the influence
of champagne, to be a joker. desire to
repeat, Mr.. Speaker, that did not nominate
my distinguished friend and scholar from
Jefferson Ior Speaker, as that gentleman
supposed. NV motion was to elect Mr..
Murray Speaker, and when that motion
was made had fully entered into the spirit
of fun that had evidently taken possession
of everybody but my grave and reverend
friend from Jefferson, and sir, say here,
before would nominate my distinguished
and egotistic friend, would take my car
petbag and go back to COncOrdia parish.
Mr.. WOrrall, of Jetferson-I also, rise to
a privileged question. will reply to the
remarks made by the gentleman from Con
.cordia in as brief a manner as | possibly
can. He has insinuated about - the gentle.
man from jefferson 7" Now, am free to
confess that am 8" the gentleman from JEFF
ferson" alluded to. will state to the gen
tlemen of the House why took the Speak
.ers chair did not take the chair on the
motion of the gentleman from COncordia,
but ON the motion made by Mr.. Matthews
He made the motion that take the chair
but before that was asked if l would agree
to take the chair, and call the meeting to
order. 1 replied, most certainly would il
the present Speaker did not call the House
to order again. The motion was put, and
almost unanimously adopted. His motion
was, ~ move that DR.. WOrrall be elected
Speaker" and as | said, it was unanimously
carried, and l now call upon Mr.. Matthews
to verify my statement. l ask him
Mr.. Matthew'S call the gentleman to Or
der. l wish to correct his statement. l
made a motion to some few friends near me
that Mr. Worrali take the chair, but no such
motion to the House, or in an official or pub
lie manner. | did it in a jocular way and
as burlesque. thought the whole thing
q joke, and am surprised that the gentleman
from jefferson should consider it serious,
and bring the matter into the House.
Mr.. Worrall-Well, Mr.. Speaker, in order
to test and settle this question l move that
the Speakers chair be declared vacant, and
call for the yeas and nays.
The Chair was sustained by an almost
unanimous vote.
Mr.. Barrett rise to privileged ques-
ton. Some time ago offered resolution,
which has appeared upon the journal of
this House, relative to the gentleman from
Jefferson (Dr. Worrall). The resolution
called for his censure by the Speaker of
this House for acts that he had committed.
That resolution passed, and l can prove it
by the journal of this House. Now, sir
want to know why that gentleman was not
arraigned before the bar of this House. l
move that the resolution be enforced, and
that the gentleman be ar, aligned before the
bar of the House, and that the Speaker give
him the reprimand that is due him.
The Speaker--If the House will allow me
l would like to make statement. The
gentleman from Orleans (Mr. Barrett) did
offer resolution requiring the gentleman
from Jefferson to be arraigned before the bar
of the House for certain acts which he did
as an editor.
wish to say to the members that in the
opinion Of the Speaker the House can not
hold the gentleman responsible, according
to parliamentary rules, for an affair he did
outside the bar of the House. Now, the
crime for which the gentleman has been
ordered to be arraigned before the House
was committed as an editor, and do not
think the House ought to censure him. He
did nothing as member Of the House, but
as an editor.
The gentleman from Jefferson rose to a
point Of order when that resolution was
offered, substantiating the statement l
have just made-that the obnoxious affair
was done as an editor outside the House,
and not as a member, and if the Speaker
had heard him he would have certainly
decided the point of order well taken and
correct. The resolution passed, and the
House has right to call it up; but ask
the members to restrain from so doing as
it will look now like malicious thrust at the
gentleman, and l hope the House will ex-
cuse the Speaker from performing such an
unpleasant duty.
The Committee on Ways and Means asked
that their time be extended, in order to
allow them to report.
Mr.. Garstkamp-Now, Mr.. Speaker, OBJ
iect to allow the committee any further
time. They came in here not long ago and
asked further time; it was granted; and
now they come back and say they are not
prepared to report. We have but five or
six working days, and are near the end of
the session. 1t has been the object to bring
these important bills before the House on
the last nights of the session, and rush
them through without giving the members
time to examine into the merits OF the bills.
Now, sir, l object to allowing them any
further time. They say, they want the bill
printed. l object, because it takes up so
much time. We can not get bill printed
in less than three or four days, and some
times it takes weeks. l am entirely OPP
posed to such proceedings. When bills
contain ninety to one hundred clauses. 1
want to read the bill through. | want to
examine its merits. If it is all right, then
let it pass; if not, let us amend it In such
manner as to make it acceptable. Now,
think the committee should have had the
bill printed when they submitted their re-
Al rban tho resolution was