Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-23
SACRAMENTO, THURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER %,

stated that members should not be held to answer,
nor be subject to the censure Of the House for y
thing said in debate il further debate or business
had intervened. He desired to know whether the
reading of the journal could be construed as such
intervening business as would shut off further pro-
eeedings by the House for gross violation Of its dig
nifty?
The Speaker said the reading of the journal
would take from the House none of its privileges.
Immediately after reading the journal, McLane,
as question affecting the dignity OF the House,
called attention to the of disorder which took
place On the floor yesterday, aud which he charac-
terized as offensive derogatory and dscreditable to
the House as n parliamentary body. he called upon
both the offending MEMBERS before any other bust
ness was entered into to relieve themselves of that
offense by an ample apology.
No response having been made by either member
Immediately concerned, Bowman rose to present
what he called substantive proposition. Hespoke
Of the scenes OF yesterday a crime and an in
suit offered to the House, to Congress and to the
country There was not he said man present
who did not yesterday hang his head in shame and
did not regard that scene as personal disgrace !;
and all over the country and the world men were
reading this morning of a pot-house brawl, gam
bling house quarrel and fight with fists (ony pre-
vented by force), that took place yesterday.
Harris of Virginia suggested that perhaps both
the offending members were now willing to make
apology, and if so, they ought to have an oppor
tunty at once.
Haskell suggested that other members had been
o,,,iltv n conduct eot,aIly u orthv NJ oans,sre
McLane insisted on his question of privilege. and
offered a resolution requiring the two offending
members to apologize to the House. In the course
of McLane's remarks he recognized the fact that
most of the members present yesterday were partly
responsible for the scene.
To that remark F. Wood of New FORK took excep-
ton, and said he had interfered in the discussion
yesterday, and endeavored to confne it to the fund
ing bill He also characterized the scene as the
most shameful exhibition that ever had taken place
on the floor.
McLane, without concluding his remarks, said he
would yield to the gentleman from Iowa (weaver)
if he were now willing to make apology.
Haskell of Kansas objected to that proceeding
and declared that in his opinion, the House should
rather make an apology to the country than (aving
suffered adjournment to take place Yesterday with
out action) try to cast from its own shoulders the
obloquy that belonged there, aud single out mem
bers scapegoats for its own sins
Bowman again took the floor and quoted the re-
mark of Wood to the character of yesterdays in
cident, adding that if two of the funding members
had been two boys fighting on a sidewalk, they
would have spent night in the Tombs and be
brought before the Police Court in the morning
so1t tl,,
would be warning. He would therefore offer a
resolution for expulsion--a punishment which
would only be commensurate with the offense
After further discussion in the same eein and
after reading an extract from the Congressional
Record covering the question of the offense, Bow.
mans resolution was read, declaring that for gross
breach of the privileges of the rules and decorum
OF the House the two members be expelled
Brown moved as a substitute, that special COM
mitee Of three be appointed to report without delay
what proceedings should be taken by the House.
Reagan and Converse indicated some slight errors
in the report of the Congressional Record
Blount suggested that McLanes resolution be
modified so that the TIVE members be " permitted -
instead Of required" to make an apology He
understood that both gentlemen desired to do SO.
fed accordingly.
Harris of Virginia made point of order, and
argued that the precise words for which members
held to answer must be set out before they could
be censured or expelled.
Bowman said the point was pointlcss, as the of.
Tense was actions not words.
The Speaker overruled the point.
Browns substitute, referring to the selection of
committee was agreed to-so to A.
Opportunity was given Sparks and Weaver, on
motion of Conger, to make any statement they de.
sired.
wEAyER's APOLOGY.
air. Weaver took the floor and said OF course
there can be no two opinions as to the necessity and
proprety OF apology for what took place yester-
day to the House. No one regrets the occurrence
more deeply than | do myself. know it is very
rare that ever lose my temper at all, either in
public debate or private life. l did not intend to
do so yesterday, and | can only say to the House,
what is understood by every member and the coun-
try, that the language used by me yesterday was
wholly unjustifiable under the rules of the House
and under the propriety of debate and that it was
entirely out of order. | am not only willing but
anxious to say to the House that am sorry used
make my apology humbly to the House.
Such conduct is wholly unjustifable l
feel that as deeply as anybody else
can. 1 wish to say further that l had
borne myself through the long running debate, as
thought, with good humor, and the offensive
language used just before the close Of my last
remark in reply to the gentleman from Missouri
(Air. Blandl and was wholly unexpected by me.
At the time l thought the whole difficulty was
settled. do not wish to raise question as to who
was TO blame. Not at all. l say that whether |
was to blame or he was to blame, we were both to
blame. The conduct unjustifable, and 1
apologize for my part of it to the House. ask to
be excused.
THE APOLOGY OF SPARKS.
Sparks then took the floor and said "During
the great confusion which existed in Committee Of
the Whole yesterday l used language that l well
know to be in conflict with the rules of the House.
do not this occasion feel disposed to speak Of
the part taken in this confusion by other gentlemen
of the House. know that my language was in
conflict with the parliamentary rules of this House
Ifeel that owe apology, and hereby tenderit "
THE SUBJECT LAID ON THE TABLE.
Singleton of Illinois then moved to table the
whole subject.
Conger demanded the ayes and noes, saying the
country would be better satisfied to have the matter
investigated than droppei entirely.
call for the ayes and noes resulted: Ayes 10l,
noes A. So the subject was laid on the table.
On motion of F. Wood, it was ordered that when
the funding bill is next taken up all general de
bate upon it shall be limited to one day.
Clymer, from the Appropriations Committee re.
ported the army appropriation bill tit aDpropristes
s26 l90,So0 against s26 AIS, 800 appropriated for
| 1SS0.l Ordered printed.
| The House adjourned till the 5th of January.
SAN FRANCISCO TTRMS.