Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-17
GEN. SHIELDS.

Scene IN the House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l4.-The House was a
scene of great confusion for awhile to-day
over an effort to get bill considered to put
Gen. James Shields upon the retired list un-
der the rank and pay of brigadier general.
This oft-repeated effort on the part of Gen.
Shields friends in his behalf has sipnally
failed each time, not on direct vote of
either the House or Senate, but because of
some parliamentary loophole which was
availed of by those who opposed the meas-
ure, and yet who feel that they dare not vote
against it. The pending measure was orig
inally introduced in the House, and, after
strong debate last session, passed and sent
to the Senate, where it was amended and
now comes back for concurrence by the
House. The effort to have it brought up to-
day was made by
GEN. BRAGG, OF WISCONSIN,
but it was promptly nipped in the bud by
Mr.. Harry White, of Pennsylvania, chronic
objector, who on this occasion interposed bv
raising point of order that as the bill DO
vlded for an appropriation it could only be
considered in committee of the whole. White
objects to about everything that is offered in
the House on general principles, but his ac-
ton to-day seemed to be backed up by more
specific reasons. Not being in favor of the
bill from personal considerations, which he
declined to state, and yet, not being disposed
to oppose it directly for
POLITICAL REASONS,
he resorted to this method of having it de-
feated. The point of order raised by him
created great commotion. It was generally
understood that if the bill went to the COM
mttee of the whole at this late day it would
be equivalent to defeat. The Democratic
members gathered around White and i'm
plored him to withdraw his objection. and
the Republicans, not to be outdone by the
other side manifesting in disposition to
favor the soldier, shouted to White to, sit
down and not press his point of order.
Several members, among whom were Gen.
Bragg, Gen. Butler and Mr.. Franklin, of
Missouri, openly and strongly appealed to
him to withdraw. Gen. Shields, they said,
was
A TRUE UNION SOLDIER
and they were surprised that White should
object to Congress giving this substantial
of his valiant services. White
replied that to be consistent he must insist
upon his point. He had voted against the
bill last session and would vote against it
now. This little speech renewed the dis
order. The crowd around White increased,
all talking to him at once. White. however.
his usual obstinacy throughout.
MIR. Franklin was especially loud and demon
strative. In vain did the speaker try to re.
store order. The repeated pounding of
his gavel vas totally undecided, and
THE SCENE WAS DIssRAcEFUL
in the extreme. Mr.. Briggs, of Pennsyl-
vania, arose to point of order, very appro-
priately propounding the question whether
this was common country town meeting or
the House of Representatives of the United
States. To this several members responded
in concert, ''give it up" Finally the Re-
publicans took White in hand They raised
such hue and cry against his conduct, de-
handing that he should remain quiet, that
be was at last forced to take his seat, not,
however, withdrawing his objection.
THE POINT OF ORDER
being well taken, the speaker was COM
PEELED to make ruling accordingly, and
the bill goes to the committee of the
whole. AS there are nearly four hundred
bills now on the private calendar ahead of
this bill, there is not a shadow of chance
that it will be reached in this Congress.