The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-12-28
as q liars on the floor of this house.
Spafks-equally excited-You are q scoun-
d.ai ord a ~vill;o,, W4 ~

Spafks-equally exclted-You are Q scoun-
drel and q william.
Weaver t~hereupon, amid a great uproar, left
the place where he was standing and advanced
menacingly towards Sparks, but both were
surrounded by members who prevented them
from getting to close quarters and made them
put on their coats, which each was in the act
Of taking of as he advanced.
The greatest confusion and disorder pre-
vailed on the floor and In the galleries, but in
the midst of it the speaker took the chair and
called upon the sergeant alarms to do his
duty. just then, however, there was moth
ing in particular to be done by that official, as
the combatants had been removed by their
respective friends, and there was no danger of
their assaulting each other.
After the disorder had subsidized the COM
mittee rose and the house adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-After prayer by
the chaplain the speaker, as is usual, directed
the clerk to read the journal of yesterday,
whereupon Bowman rose TO a question Of
privilege and referred to the disgraceful pro-
ceedings which had occurred in the house yes
terday.
The speaker said the chair would prefer
that the gentleman should wait till the journ-
al had been read.
Bowman said that it was on that subject
that he wished the speaker to rule. A rule
Oh bil6 llOuSC SgdGCu Ouot CLuuC SuOulo "
be held to answer nor be subject to the ecu
sure of the house for anything said in debate
when business had interviewed. He wanted
to know whether the reading of the journal
could be considered as such intervening bust
ness as would shut of further proceedings by
the house for such gross violation of its dig
nifty.
The speaker said that the reading of the
journal would take from the house none of
its privileges.
Immediately after the reading of the journ-
al McLane, as a question affecting the digni-
ty of the house, Gated attention to a scene of
disorder which took place on the floor yester-
day, and which he characterized as offensive,
derogatory and discrcditable to the house as
a parliamentary body. He called upon both
offending members before any other business
was entered, 10 relieve themselves OF that Of
Tense by ample apology.
No response having been made by either
gentleman Immediately concerned, Bowman
rose to present what he jcalled a substitute
proposition. He spoke of the scene of yester~
day IS IA crime, and as an insult TO the house
of congress and to the country. There was
noS, he said, a man present who did nat yes
Lerday hang his head in shame, and did not
regard that scene as a personal disgrace. All
over the country and world men were read
ing this morning of that gambling house
quarrel, and fight with fists only prevented
by force, that took place yesterday.
Harris, Of Virginia, suggested that pc hars
both offending gentlemen were now willing
to make an apology, and if so they ought to
have an opportunity at once.
Haskell suggested that other membe.s had
been guilty of conduct equally worthy of
cenSure.
McLane insisted on his question Of pr'Yi-
lara and pffarnI a raSOlDtipn rpnupSfjnp the
two offending members to apologize to the
house.
In the course of McLane's remarks he said
that he recognized that most of the member
present yesterday were responsible for the
sceiie.
To that remark Wood, of New York, took
exceptions. and said he had inlerfered M the
discussion yesterday and endeavored to con-
fine it to the funding bill. He also character
lied The scene as the most shameful exhibit
ton that had ever taken place Oh the floor
of the house.
McLane, without concluding his remarks 5,
said that he would yield 10 The gentleman
from Iowa, (Weaver) if he was now willing
to make an apology.
Haskell objected to hat proceeding, and
declared that in his opinion the house should
rather make an apology to the country 70"
having suffered au adjournment to take place
yesterday without any action, and trying to
lift of its own shoulders the obloquy that be-
longed there. and not single out members as
scape-goats for its W sins.
Bowman again took the floor and quoted
the remark of Wood as to the character OF
yesterdays incident, and added that if the
two members had been Two boys fighting on
the street they would have spent a night il
the Tombs and be brought before the police
court in the morning. He felt that the house
should now take some action that would be
warning, and he would, therefore, offer a res
olutiOn of expulsion, a punishment which
would only be commensurate with the of
fence.
After further discussion in the same vein
and after reading all extract from the Opgre
sional record covering the question of the Of
Tense, Bo" mans resolution was read declar
ing that for a gross breach of the privileges
rules and decorum of the house the two mem
bers be expelled.
Brown moved as a substitute hat a specia
committee of three be appointed to repor
without delay what proceedings should be ia
ken by the house.
Regain and Converse indicated some Sigh
errors in the record.
Blount suggested that McLane's resolution
be modified so that the two members be 'pel
mitted' instead of " requested" to make a
apology, as he understood that both gentle
men desired to do so.
The resolution, by McLane's consent wa
modified accordingly.
Harris, Of Virginia, made a point of orde
and argued that the precise words for whicl
the members are held to answer must be st
out before they could be censured or expell
ed.
Bowman said hat the printed record wa
pointless, as the offense was in actions III
in words.
The speaker overruled the point.
: Browns substitute referring the matter
a select commitree was agreed TO by a vote
80 to 43.
An opportunity was given to Sparks IAN
Weaver, on motion of Conger, to make al
statement they desired.