Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-10
Exciting Scenes in the
House. .
Washington, June 9.

la the house. to-day IIunton moved to lay on
| the table Blaines motion to reconsider the vote
for printing the testimony taken before the Judi
| ciary committee.
Page of Cal suggested that the motion be with
| held until the gentleman from Maine should be
present.
Blaine at that moment entered the hall in hot
| haste and with the declaration Of Here am
Buckner of Missouri raised the question OF con-
| sheraton, claiming that private business being
before the house under rules, it was not in order
! to interpose other business.
| In the course of a parliamentary discussion
over this and other points of order Blaine insisted
| that under the ruling of the Chair yesterday he
was rot to be deprived Of the control Of his own
motion.
| The Speaker pro TEN (Cox) read from the re-
| port Of yesterdays proceedings to show that
| Blaine himself had stated that if he could not
call up the motion to reconsider yesterday, he
would lose the parliamentary right to which he
| was entitled.
Blaine asked Hunton whether he insisted on his
| motion to lay on the table.
| Hunton replied that he did.
| Blalne-And you decline to accept my amend
ment.
Hunton-I have told you before what I was
willing to do about that.
| Blaine then fell back upon the assurance of the
speaker Yesterday, that he (3laine) would not be
deprived of an opportunity of calling up his mo-
| ton to reconsider.
| The Speaker pro tenn. - The only assurance
| given by the chair was that which has been read
| from the record, and that was IN accordance with
| the rules.
Randall reminded B 'ane that in entering his
motion to reconsider, the other day, he (Baine)
had taken advantage of llunton's omission to
| make the usual motion to reconsid der and lay on
| the table.
Blaine-How did take advantage Of it. | went
| and asked the clerk about it,
Randall know exactly that.
Blaine-Well what advantage did take
| Randall-You took advantage OF Mr.. Hunton'S
emission to make the usual motion. L admit THAT
YOU could do that.
| Blaine Was that any more advantage than
acting under any rule of the house.
| Randall-One moment. Having taken that adj
| vantage submit that the motion of the gentle
| man from Va is entirely within the practice and
entirely within due courtesy, also in taking sd-
| vantage to day of the gentleman from Me- in
| moving to lay his motion on the table. Now, as
| to the Caldwell telegram, l understand the gen
leman from Va. to be willing to let the telegram
| 90 into the proceedings for what 1t is worth.
| Blaine-l could not go for more. (Laughter)
| Randall do not yet understand that the gen.
teman from Va. objects to the telegram going ill.,
| Blaine-But called the attention of the gentle
man from Pa to the fact that neither the chair
| man of the Judiciary committee nor the chairman
| of the subcommittee has ever yet animated or
| given to the House any advice OF that telegram
| Randall-Will the gentleman from Name ask
| the House now that the telegram be embodied in
|
| Biaipc-Yes | am after that very thing, and
| want the official telegram tine gentleman from
| Ky. QNnott) after keeping In his pocket days
| (lndis nant calls to order from the democratic
side, seconded by the loud hammering OF the
Speaker) gave it, as | understand, to the Associa-
| ted Press, but has never given it to the House.
| Glover of Mo-, and other democratic members
rose to a question of order. but Blaine held his
position, and in the midst OF great uproar and
| confusion, asserted that all the members on the
| a si of
| After several stirring and exciting scenes in the
| House, which the audience IN the galleries
cheered, Kissed and applauded, without the least
regard for the Chair TO preserve ORDER the House
set itself down to the calming operation OF voting
| by yeas and nays, the republicans resorhng to
| the plan of withholding their votes so as to de-
feat any action. The republicans did not persist
in the policy of Withholding their votes, and conse-
| quently MIR. Hunton's motion to lay on the table
was carried by vote of l26 yeas to 81 nays.
The Speaker pro TEN. required the gentleman
| from Name and other mem oers who were stand
ing to take Seats and added that the gentleman
from Maine out of order and no one knew it
| better than himself
| Blackburn demanded to be informed whether
| the utterances of member delivered out OF order
should he published in the record.
| The Speaker pro TEN. replied that there was no
rule on the subject. When he gave the House
| the assurance yesterday tina. he would recognize
| the gentleman from Maine to call upon his mo-
ton to reconsider, he did not mean TO preclude
nor could he preclude any other member from
moving, at the proper time, TO lay the motion to
reconsider on the table. How, ne asked, could
he take the gentleman from Virginia Oft the
| floor?
Blalne-The gentleman from Va easily
| make his motion otherwise
| Hunton- called for the regular oder
Wilson of Iowa, rose, and was informed that
| the motion was not dcbaablc he said, however
he only desired to raise the question of the con-
sideraion this business, for he d,d not believe
the majority of the House would shut of the gen
| teman from Me- from q hearing.
| Speaker-Thc objection comes too lac
| Wisou-llow so?
| Speakcr-Because the motion to lay on the Ia
BILE is pending.
| Southard-I desire one word in explanation Of
| what took place yesterday; the gentleman from
| Maine insisted yesterday on calling ND his motion
| to reconsider, and one of the reasons alleged by
| him why be should have that right was that he
would lose it if he did not make it then.
| Blaine-And the Chair assured me otherwise
| Speaker-Thc Chair did not assure you other
| wise; the gentleman states what the record does
| not show.
Southerd-IIe has lost the floor. and has no
| right to claim it to-day.
| Kesson renewed the point of order made by
| Buckner that under the rules of the House only
private business was in order to day, and there
| lore il was not in order to call up this matter of
| general business.
The Speaker overruled the point of order.
| Blaine (fercely) -On what ground
| Speaker-The Chair is not bound TO give any
| reason.
Blainc--I never heard Speaker refuse to give
the reasons for his decision.
The gentleman is out Of order now Applause
on the dem. sdel
| Baine-Hsve you any reason?
| Speaker-The gentleman has no right to make
a cooquy with the House.
Baine-The Chair does not seem disposed to
hear colloquy.
The Speaker finally put the question to the
| House on Hunton's motion, and as Garfield called
for the yeas and nays, they were ordered.
The republicans then resorted to the plan of
Withholding their votes so as to defeat action by
want of quorum.
After the roll was called, but before the an
parliamentary inquiry, when Blaine Immediately
| started 10 his feet and objected
Springer suggested to Blaine that he was en-
tireiy forgetting his position and the Speaker pro