New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-13
ANIMATED DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

SlcctlOn disturbances.
ANIMATED DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
rxTnANroUs LEGISLATION on Appropriations BILLS
-INpRPExDENT DEMOCRATS WHO CONDEMN THE
POLICY or STARVING THE GOYERNMENT-A DIS
ORGANIZED PARTY.
inv TELEGRAPH THE TRIRuNE.l
wAsmINGToN. Feb. 12-For couple OF hours
to-day the House was the scene of an animated dc
bate which recalled some of the episodes OF the eX-
fra session. To-day. as on those occasions, mem
b,rs of both parties were wide awake, ana the
marty lash was freely applied by the Democratic
leaders 10 keep their followers In line. The lash
was laid on, however. to-day in VAIN.
The House was IN Committee OF the Whole to
CONSIDER the revision of the rules. The particular
rule under review was one under which. as con-
strned bv the Speaker the Democratic caucus man
ayers were enabled TO attach to the appropriation
bills last Spring the political "riders" for the re-
neal of the election laws. Several amendments
were proposed to-day the effect of any one of which
would be to prevent the House from attaching any
extraneous legislation TO general appropriation
bill.
Ono of these amendments was proposed by Mr..
Speer. of Georgia, an Independent Democrat MI
spcer began speech in support of his amendment.
At the end of five minutes, when his time had eX-
pired, Republican member was recognized, ana
immediately yielded his time to Mr.. Speer.
Mr. COffroth of Pennsylvania a stalwart Demo
crat objected to this, and thus, as hc had the
power TO do under the rules of the House. succeeded
in silencing Mr.. Speer for the time being Such an
instance of unfairness very rare. and it excited
the resentment of some of Mr.. Coifroths party
friends eyen
In the course of the debate Mr Specr found an
opportunity TO finish his speech, and he told his
democratic brethren" as he styled them, some
hat gafflh
measure the evils to which the course pursued by
the Democrats at the extra session might lead.
Among the results which might be expected. he
said were anarchy and the repldatiOn OF the Ma
tional debt"
During the delivery of this speech the Democratic
leaders were very uneasy. Mr.. Atkins tried to in
terrupt the speaker, who put him down very sud
denly. Mr. Speer is one of the youngest members
of the House. and when Mr.. Mcmahon, of Ohio, who
aspires to be one of the Democratic ring-rDasers,
rose to crack the party whip he was very patroniz-
ing in his treatment of his young friend from
Georgia"
Mr.. Speer promptly retorted that he hoped that
bc was one whose follies would cease with his
youth"
Mr. Mcmahon made nothing by his attempt to
whip-in the p.ucky Georgian not even when he
dec arcd that II the amendment were adopted the
Democratic party would be required at once to
furl the flag of rctrenchment and reform"
Mr. Mills Of Texas. and Mr. Whitthorne, of Ten
nessee both supported the amendment offered by
Mr. Speer as modified by General GaIficd's amend
,nent which provided that il should be ID order 10
strike out any sum of money appropriated in any
b.. and insert " less SUM-" Mr. Mills was espe-
cally severe IN his denuniation of the caucus rule
OF the Democratic party.
Mr. Lowe of Alabama, also offered an amendment
o. for cla
ported it by speech.
A somewhat amusing feature of the discussion
WAS n passage between Mr.. COnger, of Michigan,
and Speaker Randall. Mr.. COnger asserted that in
the Constitution of the late Southern Confederacy
there was provision which prevented extraneous
legislation on appropriation bills lie congratu-
lated the Speaker on ms i'll turning the Con-
federates in this Congress away from principle
which they had embodied in their rebel COnsttu-
ton and after placing himself at their head, III per-
suadiug them to follow him III solid ranks III
crusade that very principle
EMr Randall, in reply denied that the Confederate
Constitution contained any such provision as Mr..
Coneer had described. He then explained the fea-
ture of the Constitution to VI hch Nj. Congcr had
referred.
Mr.. Conger appeared to think that the Speaker
had the advantage of him in his knowledge of the
Confederate Constitution, and did not pursue the
controversy.
During this episode the ex-VIcePresident of the
Confederacy sat b., attentive but silent listener
Neither he nor any one of the dozen Democrats on
the fioor who served in the Confederate Congress
opened their mouths either to confirm the state
ments of their Northern ally or to dispute the asser-
tions of the Michigan Representative.
General (arfeid's amendment was lost. but IFS
opponents had little reason TO exult for they won
hy bare majority. The vote was III Tor TO ~
apainst nalf-dOzen Democrats voted with the
an amendment was then offered by General War
ner. of Ohio which, after some modification, was
acceptable to the Republican leaders lhis amend
ment was adopted by vote Of l24 TO ~. The neg
alive votes were all Democratic, but about twenty
Democrats voted with the Republicans III the af-
irmatIye. =,
last vote was taken. As soon as the result was an
nounced the Democrats hastened an adjournment;
in order TO rally their scattered and shattered
forces.
Mr. Blackburn, of Kentucky. He may be rcmem-
bered as the same high-spirted gentleman who, IN
the extra session, laid down the gage OF battle"
and informed the country that the Democratic party
did rot intend u stop until It had wiped on the
last vestigc of war legislation. Mr. BlackDurIs
crest Is not so high now as IL was tnen, anu ne
seemed to bo glad enough to be allowed to retreat
to-day after q defeat, owing TO detection Ia
his own party. r..
the Whole to-day is agreed 10 by the House, it Will
not be the power Of that body hereafter to change
existing Nv provision hll
except so far as a law may be changed by reduc-
ton of the amounts OF money provided for by exist
ing law and covered by the bill.
DEMOCRATIC FRAUDS IN LOUISIANA.
A PROBABLE SURPRISE To DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S
THEIR TAcIT CONSENT TO PRINTING REVIEW
OF THE LOUISIANA FRAUDS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBJSE.l
WASHINGTON Feb. 12.-Democratic Senators will
probably be surprised tomorrow morning to learn
10 u.l.ich flou nit