New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-04
KNoTTs CRUSHING DEFEAT.

KNOTTS CRUSHING DEFEAT.
YESTERDAYS EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN THE HOUSE
wASToN ATTACK ON MR. BLAINE, AND A RE-
BUKE BY NEARLY THE WHOLE HOUSE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
w,suNGroy. Aug. 81 Proctor Knott has made
Tho most conspicuous failure in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes during the present session OF Congress
When he came to Washington, in December last, the
nreiudces of the House and of the people through
ont the country were strongly in his favor lie was
remembered as a genial member of the Mild Con-
ers possessed of literary tastes and droll wit, ana
although he was then very modest and retiring IN
his manner he gained the goodwill OF every one
who knew him. When, therefore, he was appointed
by Speaker Kerr to the craftsmanship OF the Com
mttee on the Judiciary the selection was generally
approved although many of Mr. knotts most mt
mate friends had previously failed TO discover that
he possessed any especial qualifications for that po
siton To the country at large he was chiefly known
as the author of his famous speech on Dnuth when
did more to advertise that then promising town on
Lake Superior and the Northern Pacific Railroad
than half dozen paid articles in the newspapers
like those of Vice-PreSident ColfaX.
When Mr. Knott made his first speech in the House
this session the galleries all attended, and the
members on the floor gathered about him, expecting
TO hear something brilliant or at all events witty
Everybody was disappointed. The Chairman OF the
Committee ON Judiciary did not attempt to be
funny and while he displayed very few arts of the
orator. he failed to supply forcible presentation OF
his ease. His subsequent speeches during the pres
ent session of Congress have gained him nothing
in reputation popularity AS leader
of his party Mr. Knott has been equally
unsuccessful His committee charged with
several very important Investigations, which, if con-
Quoted with that judicial fairness and marked abil-
ity which is expected to distinguish the inquiries OF
the Law Committee of the House. would certainly
have added to the reputation not only of the COM
nittee as a whole, but especially to that OF ITS
chairman. But Mr.. Knott early in the session DIS
played such narrow craftsmanship IN his methods OF
investigation, and many occasions was appaI-
emily so unfair in his treatment of those who were
involved that he lest the respect especially OF his
poitlcal opponents and of those who regardless of
party desired to see fair play. All this eliminated
during the investigation of Mr. Blane's connection
with the sale of $4,000 worth OF the bonds OF the
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Company to
-the Union Pacific Railroad Company HIS treat
ment Of the ex-Speaker on that OCCASION and cs-
pecaly the he pursued in regard to the Cald-
well dispatch, not only destroyed the confidence
which some Republicans still retained in his dispo-
stion to treat even his political opponents fairly
but brought down upon him the condemnation of
many of his party friends in the House and OF his
constituents in Kentucky.
Mr. Knots friends, especially since the Cincn-
natl Convention, had been extremely anxious that
Mr. Knott should be exOnerated by the committee
Of which he was chairman from all charge of III
tended wrong, and had interested themselves to
secure such report all the members of that COM
mittee would consent to sign. That report was pre-
pared by Mr. Hurd of Ohio, and was presented to the
IL. aa.,r ~ tEaC
Of every member Of the committee. The under
standing between the Republicans on the commit
tee and Mr.. Hurd was that the report should be
adopted without a division, and that no speeches
should be made upon it, 1t is only fair to Mr. Knott
to say that nc was not a party to this agreement;
but as the report completely eXonerated him, the
Republicans did not suppose that he would desire to
say anything upon it. As soon as 1t was submtted'
Mr.. Knott, TO the CONSERVATION OF the minority OF
the committee, took the floor and began an elab-
crate defense of himself in which he reviewed much
Of the testimony relating to Mr. Blaines connection
with the sale of bonds referred TO, and at
tackled the ex-Speaker with more bitterness
than he ever had done when Mr.. Blaine himself
on the floor Soon after he began, il is reported
at the Capitol, Mr. Frye went over to his seat and
begged him not TO make 1t necessary for him Frye
TO reply but to allow the report to be adopted with
Ing but continued his speech for an hour and hail.
the indignation Of the Republicans increasing with
almost every word he uttered.
At the close of his speech Mr. Frye took the floor,
and made one of the post savage attacks upon the
Chairman OF the judiciary Committee which has
been heard i'll the House for many a day and which
was the more crushing because it was richly de-
served 1t is almost impossible to describe the
scene. but it was one which will long be remembered
by those who witnessed it, Mr. Frye was followed
by Mr. Hale of Maine III the same strain and ne by
the other Republican members of the committee
who each in turn expressed his desire to withdraw
his approval from the report.
Then Mr.. Hurd made brief speech defending the
report itself, but not attempting to excuse Mr. Knott
for his course to-day, and ended by saying that "a
majority of the committee desired it he should
move to recommit the report, in order to give the
minority an opportunity to submit their views sep
aratey to the House. This was more humilatng to
Mr.. Knott than even the speeches Of Mr. Frye and
Mr, Hale; and although he attempted to show his
brayado by asserting his intention Of standing by
everything he had said, his overthrow was 80 COM
plete that the scene at length became rather ptia-
Die one. The recommlttal was carried by two
'hirds vote, . majority Of the Democrats voting
Win the Republicans. and only nine members of