New-York tribune., 1880-02-15
FARcICAL PROCEEDING IN THE HOUSE.

FARCICAL PROCEEDING IN THE HOUSE.
A SESSION FOR DEBATE-oNLY FEW MEMBERs
PRFsENT-DEMoCRATs STRUGGLING AGAINST
DOING ANYTHING-DIsTRIBUTING SPEECHES AT
THE PUBLIC EXPENSE.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Feb 14.-Probably as farcical q
proceeding as any IN which the House OF Represent
atives ever INDUCES is one of its sessions " for
debate onyr On such an occasion the House di-
itself entirely Of its legislative character and
functions and becomes simply debating society.
About the only members who make their appear
ance are those who never miss an opportunity to
air their eloquence and who seldom get chance to
do SO III the regular session of the House.
Yesterday it was agreed that the House should
meet to-day but that legislative business OF any
kind should be done. The restriction really seemed
quite unnecessary for thus far very little eglsla-
tive work has been done this session.
The House. to be sure, has made show OF dong
something during the last six weeks, in revising
its own rules When that work was begun so expe-
rienced legislator as Mr.. A. H. Stephens expressed
the opinion that it could be completed in n week or
ten days at the furthest. Six weeks have passed
and more than one-haf of the revision still remains
to be gone over.
A feeling of uncertainty prevails among the DEM
ocrats. and they have constantly struggled against
doing ANYTHING. They have not even passed the
bill to nav United States Marshals what is due them,
notwithstanding the promises freely made by Chair
man Atkins and other leading Democrats, before
Congress met, that an appropriation should DE
promptly made.
When the House met this morning there were
about thirty members present. AT no time In the
day did the number exceed fifty, and it dwlndled
steadily until the hour of adjournment. when about
n score we're in their seats. In the galleries there
were Just enough spectators to make the chamber
appcar more lonely than If all the seats had been
empty.
Under these inspiring conditions Mr.. Bright, OF
Tennesse read his speech on financial questions
Mr. BrI ght is a very earnest man in his manner Like
most Southern orators his language IS rather tropi
cal so to speak, and his style OF delivery partakes
of the tragic. 1t not quite clear what MI
Rrigbt was driving at today but he appeared to be
in favor of repudiatmg the National dept
by calling in the bonds and paving them
of with fiat money, in order to punish the money
oligarchy" and at the same time to relieve the dis
| tress OF the oppressed people =.
| MIR Bright seemed to enjoy the occasion I'M
| mpnsely He is the kind of a man whose el0quence
! always reminds himself Of Henry Clay.
| Mr. De La Matvr took the floor after the Ten
ncssee orator had finished his harangue T OF
some time Mr.. De La Matyr has been busy with
| speech on financial subjects. night or TWO ago
| he found relief by delivering ii at GreenDack
! meeting Baltimore. LUIS was II
! for the members who were present to-day, ana IN
/ mercy both to himself aud to all who were present
| he asked leave to print" This leave was sc-
! rordoI with cheerful alacrity and unanimlty
| beautiful 10 behold
| Sir. DE La Matyr then yielded the floor to the
Hon. Ebenczcr b. Finley. OF Ohio. Mr.. Finley Is
! statesman who is Consumed with a desire that
| the bountcs of soldiers shall be " equal
! led" lie mauc spcech on 'hdt sl"ic0' ~
! Mr. Morgan T. WISE Of Pennsylyania. made a
long specch in wnich he advocated the elevation OF
the Commissioner of Agriculture to the dignity OF
| a Cabinet Minister. 49, ~, - c.,
Mr. Wise describes himself in the Congressional
| DIRECTORY as one of corporation organized III
| philadelphia composed Of some of the ab,eSt men
m the State. which issued The Grochbdck HGdtd IN
| Ie75p II therefore goes without saying that the
| speech in favor of giving the President cOnstl-
! t,Itional agricultural adviser was an able one
| MIR HAYES of Illinois. made financial speech
! Before ne got through Mr.. Chlttenden who had
| already listened to more financial hereSy than he
could we'll endure in one day, became very uneasy.
lie obtaincd the tloor and made one of his charac-
| teristic and earnest speeches. "
| Tho colloauv which elNued between him and Mr..
Uavcs was exceedingly spirited, and was much en-
iovcd hy the few survivors of the DAYS proceeding-
| An the speeches brought III to-day, whether de,
hvrred or not will now be printed and distributed
| ot the public expense.