Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-02
ToWr-hanj. 'yCIerk

r. W Townshend of Illinois is one OF tn
younger Democratic Congressman. 1t is his
distinction that he is the only person who
ever served as page in the House and after
ward became a member, and he is afflicted
with an over-weening sense Of his superior
abilities. Few members introduce more
original bills to die in committee than he,
and few more frequently attempt TO direct
proceedings in the House and get snubbcd
for their impertinence He is vain, ambi-
tious, meddlesomc, feeble and offensive. On
"Wednesday last Mr.. Townshend introduced
a bill which bore very simple title and pro-
posed to amend a section of the Revised
Statutes. No one suspected the real purpose
of the bill, which was to admit free of duty
salt, paper, printing machinery and types,
and various chemicals. The bill simply pro-
posed to repeal the section referring to it by
number. On Mr. TOwnshend's motion the
bill was referred to the committee on the Re-
vision of the Laws, whereas, being tariff
BILL 1t should have gone to the committee
on the WAYS and Means The former COM
mittee would favor the bill; the latter was
not likely to. 1t soon became known that
tho opponents of the present tariff were
chuckling over TOwnshend's SUCCESS in de-
ceivins the House into doing what it had 50
often, when the members understood what
was proposed, refused TO do. Therefore, as
soon as the journal of Wednesdays proceed
ings had been read, attention was called to
the fact that bill proposing TO amend more
than thirty sections of the revenue laws had
been, in violation Of the rules, referred to the
committee on the Revision of the Laws, and
forthwith struggle began to secure an ap-
propriate reference of it. Conger, Garfield
and others insisted that Townshend had de-
ceived the House, and as the contest grew
warm the charge was made that Townshend
had, with intent, deliberately deceived the
| House in order 10 give to the committee on
the Revision of the Laws Jurisdiction of
subject over which under the rules it had no
control. Garfield, after the filibustering at
tempts had been continued at great length,
characterized certain motion as absurd and
intimated that the House had been grossly
deceived by Townshcnd. At this. Towns
hend, in towering rage, inquired whether
Garfield intended to charge him with dccep-
| ton.
My words" said Garfield, dcfianty,
''were clearly delivered. have a good,
strong voice. The gentleman must have
heard what | said"
In a voice quivering with excitement, and
in the midst of derisive laughter on the Re
publican side, Townshend said Then the
gentleman intended to say that | attempted
to deceive the House,"
Garfield, replied: 81 said that the House
had been deceived by the gentleman
with bill upon which nothing was written
| to give any notice of its contents. The title
might have been expressed as well in Arabic
figures"
The confusion in the House increased to a
tumult Townsllend became livid with
passion, and Kissed between his clenched
teeth: IF the gentleman insinuates here
| that | intended" -- the rest of the defiant
declaration was lost in the loud laughter on
the Republican side Garfield added to the
excitement by asking with sneer; ''lIas
the gentleman any weapons about him :"
The merrimcnt on the Republican side in
creased. and the Democrats became excited.
Above the din there arose from Townshend's
mouth, the words:
81 want the gentleman TO understand that
| am his peer. If he insinuaes that have
deceived the House for dishonest purpose,
| say to him that he has been guilty of a
wilful and deliberate falsehood."
The exact language could hardly he heard,
so great was the uproar, and Garfield ended
the debate by saying with dignity after
that indecent exposure Of the gentleman's
person and mimi have no more 10 say"
The upshot of the controversy was the
withdrawal of the bill from the Committee
on Revision, and its reference 10 the Com
mittee on Ways and Means