Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-25
THE CONGRESSIONAL MUDDLE.
Exciting Times In the Lower House.

The filibustering in the House continued
yesterday over the resolution offered by
Mr.. McLane, to discharge the committee
on revision of the laws from further con-
sideration Of Mr.. Townshend's bill, and
refer it to the committee of ways and
means. As the journal of Mondays pro-
ceedings had not been approved, the
speaker, instead of ruling himself that the
journal of Tuesdays proceedings could
not therefore be read, indicated that he be-
lieved such to be the proper construction
of the law. and left the question to the
House. 1t decided that the journal should
not be read. About two hours time was
consumed in discussion of this point. Mr..
McLane then rose to question
of privilege, and moved the adop-
tion of his resolution. Another
hour was consumed in discussing the
question of privileges, and the House finally
decided it to be one. Then the filibuster-
ing began in earnest. Short speeches
were made by several members. Mr.. Oscar
Turner appealed to the House to cease it's
fOolishness. He said that the tariff men
were in an evident majority, and when the
bill introduced by Mr.. TOwnshend was
reported back to the House it could easily
be referred to the committee of ways and
means. Mr.. Mills spoke for a few mo-
ments about the high tariff, which he said
was enriching the rich and making poorer
the poor.
Judge Kelley of Pennsylvania charged
that Mr.. Townshend had evaded and
violated the rules of the House and the
law, in smuggling his little bill to revise
the tariff into the bosom of the committee
on revision of the laws under a deceptive
title.
Mr.. TOwnshend wanted to know whether
the member from Pennsylvania intended
to insinuate anything. But when the
Illinois representative had got thus far he
was dragged into his seat, and bloody
| scene was thus possibly averted.
At the conclusion of the speech making,
and after Mr.. Townshend had explained
the reasons which induced him to move
his resolution, Mr.. McLane moved the
previous question. DilatOry and filibus-
tering motions followed until nearly 7
| p. M, when the House found itself with
out quorum. The doors were locked and
| the sergeant-a alarms and his deputies were
| sent in quest of absent members. The
scenes enacted while the House was wait
ing for quorum were of the most ridicu-
lOus and, in some instances of q disgrace.
| full character. Among the first to ap.
pear was General Bingham, and his excuse
was that he had gone home to dine. The
House refused to excuse him, and he stood
in imminent danger of having the penalty
imposed. Mr.. Steele, of North Carolina, dis
turbed the dignity of the House by recitins
"Tam OShantar" when arraigned at the
bar, amid jeers and cat calls. Mr.. Frost,
of Missouri, created sensation by ap.
pearing in the custody Of the sergeant
,& c,n I,
having been dragged from supper party.
The scene was intensely amusing and HIGH
ly enjoyed by the crowded galleries. The
contest finally resolved itself into ques
tion of endurance. Mr.. Blackburn shout.
ed that he would stay twelve months be-
fore he would yield. and one motion after
another to adjourn was made, the yeas and
nays being demanded on each.
Some excitement was created on the
floor by 4 dispute between Messrs. Black
burn and COffrOth. The latter was ex-
postulating with the Kentuckian about the
tariff, when he said he would rather be a
traitor to the Democratic party than a
traitor to his country. Finally the lie
passed, and Blackburn reached out fol
COtfrOth, when members, sitting near, arose
and parted the disputants.
| Blackburn in his wrangle with Coffroth,
it seems, declared that Randall was 4
traitor to his party. when Coffroth replied
in the language already quoted. Black
burn sprang to his feet and cried, ''You
lie you lie you lie !" At half-past II
o'clock the sergeant-at-arms appeared at
the bar, having in custody Messrs. Robe
son, Mills, Hooker and others, all
in full dress, and who had been
guests at a supper given by the
ex-secretary Of the navy. The party was
received with applause. The incident varied
the dry monotony of the roll-call. At t.12:15
the House adjourned. The struggle will be
continued. MIR. Nicholas, of Georgia, gave
notice that he would oppose all dilatory
| motions.