Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-23
House.

House.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-After PRAYER by the
chaplain the speaker, as is usual, directed the
clerk to read the journal of yesterday, where
upon Mr.. Bowman rose to question of priyi-
lcge relative TO the disgraceful proceedings
which had occurred in the House yesterday.
The speaker said the chair would prefer that
the gentleman should wait until the journal
should have been read
Mr. Bowman said it was on that point
that he wished the speaker to rule. A rule of
the House stated that members should not be
held to answer or be subject to the censure of
the House for anything said in debate if further
debate or business had intervened. He desired
TO know whether the reading of the journal
could be construed as such intervening busi-
ness as would shut of further proceedings by
the House for the gross violation of its dig
nifty.
The speaker said the reading of the journal
would take from the House none of its privi-
lego.
Immediately after the reading of the journal
Mr.. McLane rose to question affecting the
dignity of the House, and called attention to
the scene of disorder which stook place
ON the floor yesterday, and which he
characterized as offensive, derogatory and dis
creditable to the House as q parliamentary
body He called upon both offending MEM
to relieve themselves of that otfenSe by ample
apology.
No response having been made by either of
the members Immediately concerned, Mr.
Bowman rose to present what he called sub
stantial proposition. He spoke of the scene
of yesterday as a crime and as an insult offered
to the House, to Congress and to the country
There was not, he said, man present who did
not yesterday hang his head in shameSand did
not regard that scene as Il personal disgrace,
and all over the country and the whole world
people were reading this morning of the pot
house brawl, the House quarrel and the fight
(fists) only prevented by force, that took place
yesterday.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, suggested that per-
haps both offending members were now will
ing to make an apology, and if SO they ought
to have an opportunity at once
Mr.. Haskell suggested that other members
had been guilty of conduct equally worthy of
censure.
Mr.. McLane insisted on his question of priv
ilegc and offered a resolution requiring the
two offending members to apologize to the
House. In the course of McLane's remarks
he recognized that most of the members pres
Cnt Yesterday were partly responsible for the
scene of yesterday. To that remark Mr.. F.
Wood, of New York, took exception and said
he had interfered in the discussion yesterday
and endeavored to confine it TO the funding
bill. He also characterized the scene as the
most shameful exhibition that had ever taken
place on the floor.
Mr.. McLane, without concluding his re-
marks, said he would ask the gentleman from
Iowa (Weaver) if he were now willing to
make an apology.
HASKELL of Kansas, objected TO that proceed
ing and declared that, i'll his opinion, the
house would rather make an apology to the
country than to have suffered an adjournment
to take place yesterday without action to try
to cast off of its own shoulders the oboquy
that belonged there and single out the mem
bcrs as scapegoats for its own sins.
Mr. Bowman again took the floor and quot
cd the remark of Mr.. Wood as to the charac-
ter of yesterdays incident, adding that if the
two offending members had been two boys
lighting on the sidewalk they would have
spent that night in the Toombs and have been
brought before the police court in the morn
ing. He felt that the House should now take
action that would be affirming in the future.
He would therefore offer resolution of ex-
pulsion, punishment which would only be
commensurate with the offense.
After further discussion in the same vein,
and after the reading of an extract from the
Congressional Record covering the question of
the offense, Mr. Bowman's resolution was
read declaring that for the gross breach of
privileges, rules and decorum in the House
the two members be expelled.
Mr.. Brown moved as substitute that spe-
cial committee of three be appointed, to re-
port without delay what proceedings should
be taken by the House.
Messrs. Regan and Converse indicated some
errors in the reports of the Congressional
Record that were not very material.
Mr.. Blount suggested that Mr.. McLean's
resolution be modified so that the two men,
bers be permitted, instead of required to make
an apology He understood that both gentle
men desired to do so. The resolution, by Mr..
McLean's consent, was modified accordingly.
Mr. Harris, of Virginia, made point of
order and argued that the precise words for
which the two members are held to answer for
must be set out before they could be censured
or expelled. 1t would not do to refer generally
to thirty printed pages of the Record
Mr. Bowman argued that there was nothing
in the point, as the offense was not the words
but the actions.
The Speaker overruled the point of order
After further discussion the question was first
taken on the substitute offered by Mr.. Brown
referring the matter to a select committee.
The substitute was agreed TO, 90 TO 43.
Before proceeding further an op
portunty, on motion of Mr. Congcf,
was given to Mcssrs. Weaver and
Sparks TO make any statement they chose.
Mr.. Weaver took the floor and said: "Of
course there can be two opinions as TO the
necessity and propriety of apology for what
took place yesterday to the House. No one
regrets the occurrence more deeply than myself,
know that it is.yery rare that ever lose my
temper at all either in public debate or private
life. 1 did not intend to do SO yesterday, and
can only say what is understood by every
member of Congress, that the language used
nv me Yesterday was wholly nnjustifiable un.
der the rules of the House and under propriety
of debate, and it was entirely out of order. |
am not only willing but anxious TO say that