The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-22
To-Dav's Dispatches.
XLvI CONGRESS.
HOUSE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22-After PRAYER
the speaker. as is usual directed the
clerk to read the Journal of yesterday.
whereupon Bowman rose to aquestion oI
privilege relative to the disgraceful pro
ceedings which had occurred ia the House
yesterday.
The speaker said the chair would pre-.
ter the gentleman should wait until the
Journal should have been read.
Mr., Bowman said it was on that point
that be wished the speaker to rule. A
rule OF the house stated bers should
not be held to answer nor bs subject to
censure Of the House for anything said in
debate, if further debate or business had
intervened. He desired tot know whether
the reading OF the journal could be con-
strewed as such intervening business as
would shut off further proceedings by the
House. for the gross violation s)f sits dig
nifty. The Speaker said the reading Of the
journal would take from the House none
of its privileges:
immediately after the reading Of the
journal, McLaos, as a question affecting
to the scene of disorder which took place
on the floor yesterday, and which he char
acterlzed as ohsnsiye, derogatory and dis
credltable to the house as a parliamentary
body. He called upon both offending
members before any other business was
entered on to relieve themselves OF that
offence by ample apology. No response
having been made by either of the mem
bers Immediately concerned, Bowman rose
to present what he called a substitute pros
position. He spoke Of the scene of yestsr-
day as a crime and as so insult offered the
house of congress and tbs coun-
try. There was not man
present who did not yesterday hang his
head in shame, and did not regard that
scene as q personal disgrace, and all over
the country and the world men were reading
this morning of the pot house brawl. The
gambling house quarrel aud fight With
fists (only prevented by force) that took
place yesterday Mr.. Harris of Va, sug
gested perhaps both offending members
were now willing to make an apology. and
If so they ought to have an opportunity st
once. Mr. Haskell suggested other mem
bers had been guilty OF conduct equally
worthy of censure.
MIR. M. Lane insisted on his question of
privilege and offered resolution requiring
two offending members to apologize to the
House. In ths course of MeLans's re-
marks, he recognised that most of the
memb bers present yesterday were partly
responsible for the scene of yesterday.
To that remark +. Wood took exoep-
ton. He had interfered in the discussion
yesterday and endeavored to copfins it to
the funding bill. He also characterized
the scene as the most shameful exhibition
that ever had taken place on the floor.
Mr. McLane, without concluding his
remarks said he would yield to the gentle
man from Iowa, Mr.. Weaver. if he were
now willing to make an apology.
Mr.. Haskell. of Kansas, objected to
that proceeding and declared tnat in his
opinion the house should rather make q
apology to the country than having suf-
tered adjournment to take place yesterday
without action, than to cast of its own
shoulders the obloquy that belonged there.
and single out the members as scapegraces
for lts own sins,
Mr.. Bowman again took the hoor and
quoted the remark of MIR. +. Wood as to
the character of yesterdays incident, ad
ding if two offending members had been
two boys fighting on the sIdewalks. they
would have spent night In
the tombs and be brought before a
police court in the morning. He felt the
house should now take such action that
would be a warning in future. He would
therefore offer resolution Of expulsion, a
punishment which would only be com
mensurato with the ofense.
After further discussion in the same
vein. and after reading Of the extract from
the congressional record covering the
cues ion of offence, Mr.. BowmIn's resolu-
tion was read declaring that. for gross
breach of privileges, rules and decorum OF
the house, the two members be expelled.
Mr., Brown moved as a substitute that a
special committee of three be appointed to
report without delay what proceedings
should be taken By the house.
Messrs. Regan and Converse Indicated
some slight errors in the congressional
record.
Mr.. Blount suggested Mr.. McLone s
resolution be modified so that the two
members be permitted, instead OF rsqnir-
ed' 10 make an apology lie understood
| both geutiemen drsired ~ 10 -.
The rescIuti ~, ty Mr.. McLAur's con =
sent. was modie ii accprdiuEiy.
| Mr. Harrir, OF Virginia, made polnt oi
order ana argued that the precise words
| for which tie two members are held &c
answer must be set cut before they
| could be censured or expelled It won q
rot do 10 refer generally to the
printed scord
Mr.. Bowman said the point was pointless'
| as the offence was actions, net words.
| The speaker overuled the point and Mr
Rrown's substitute referring TO seleel
com mittee) was agreed to. 20 to 43. Ar
lonnortunity was given. Mr.. Sparks anc
Mr. Weaver, on motion OF Mr.. ConGer e
make any statement they desired.
MIR Weaver stated his deep regret a
the occurrence of yesterday, and admitted
his language was wholly ungentlem maniy
and f,r it he made his apology, hu uoiy
to the Hose.
tSnarks said he used language yesterda.
that corficted with the rules OF the nous
and was uuparliamentary: He teit h'
owed an apology to the house and there
fore rendered it.
Mr. Singleton (Iils) then moved to tabl
the whole subject:
Conger demanded yeas and nays sayIn
,be country would not be better saHs
fed to have the matter investigated an
arcnned entirely, The yeas aud nay
resulted, yeas l04. nays Al 30 the SUI
, ieot ia laid on the table.
AZ 2:35 the House adjourned to Jan
uary 5.
SENATE
/ WASHINGTON. Dsc. %. Senator Nc
mauds objected there was no quorum, gu
J Morgan's resolution was taken up oeclal
ing the president of Senate not consstu
I tionaily authorized to count the eieo'oi
) votes. SO as to determine what votes sna
be received aud counted ana WIZ
rejected. Senator Morgan made
long speech.