Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-17
hewitt AND THE PxESS.
The Pittsburgh Members Support the

hewitt AND THE PkEss.
The Pittsburgh Members Support tho Re.
porter.
In the House at Harrisburg yesterday
Mr.. Ruddiman stated that David Palmer,
a correspondent f3r the Pittsburgh Conn.,
mercial Gazette, had abused the privileges
Of the House and had assailed and insulted
tine speaker (Mr. Hewitt and the chair
man Of the appropriation committee (Mr.
HalD in a communication written to that
paper, in which he had said the speaker
had referred the Pittsburgh riot damages
bill to the wrong committee for the pur-
pose of strangling it. Mr.. Ruddman then
presented preamble aud resolutions ex-
pelling said Palmer from the floor of the
House, but rendering the Commercial
Gazette the use of q reporters desk for any
responsible and truthful person in the
place of said Palmer.
Mr.. Ruddiman supported his resolutions
in speech, and Speaker Hewitt defended
himself from what he termed the SANDER
and malignity of the article.
Neil, of PHILADELPHIA, made . violent
speech against Palmer when Mr.. French
asked Speaker Hewitt why the riot bill
asas referred to the appropriation commit
tee and the border raid bill to the commit
tee on ways aud means. Why discrimi-
nate against Allegheny county in that
way? To this Mr.. Hewitt said he saw
there was a disposition to criticise him,
and if persisted in he would take occasion
to go into the history of the riot bill of in
famous memory. He said the insinuation
that he Disseminated against Allegheny
county was infamously false, and he had
referred the bill to the appropriation CON-
mittee without any feeling whatever in
the matter. He declared before high
heaven and that honorable body that he
never entertained a thought ON the sub
ject other than was honorable, and his
committees were made up to the best of
his judgment and without reference to
prospective legislation. He thought it had
come to q pretty pass if character of fifty
years could be destroyed by the single
stroke of the pen of a man who had aban-
doned pills for the quill, and that this in
dividual could gloat over his fiendish
work.
Mr.. French, of Allegheny, expressed
| surprise that Mr.. Ruddiman should have
| introduced such resolution and that it
should be seconded by minister of the
gospel, Mr.. sNeill. He claimed that the
reporter had right to criticise the action
of any public officer, and said he could
not understand why the Allegheny relief
bill was referred to the committee on ways
and means. II was no wonder that the
Gazette, the stalwart paper of Allegheny,
was Indignant Oh this subject. Allegheny
! has always been in the ffont, and 335, 600
people were looking over the Allegheny
mountains to see whether this Legislature
would do them justice. Mr.. Wolfe raised
the point that the gentleman was not con-
filming his remarks to the question.
Then ensued running debate be-
tween Messrs. French, Wolfe, Welch
aud others. Mr.. Hall denounced the
reference made to himself. Mr.. Hill, OF
Indiana, expressed surprise at Represen-
tative Neill calling such respectable
paper as the Pittsburgh Commercial Ga
zette "a filthy sheet. Mr.: Lowry wanted
the matter referred to a committee. Mr..
Myers of VenangO thought reporters and
papers frequently said things they ought
not to say, still, he questioned whether in
the present temper of the House it would
not be better to refer the matter. Mr..
Wolfe wanted Mr.. Palmer to come before
the bar of the House and make state.
lnent, and Mr.. Faunce regretted the intro
ductiOn of the resolution, saying that il
the practice was followed up by every
member it would keep tho House busy all
the session. Mr.. Niles did not agree with
Mr.. Wolfe in calling the reporter before
the House, and Mr.. Clark was anxious to
refer it to a committee. Mr.. Ruddiman
said it was grave matter, and the House
should vidicate its speaker if it tOook the
entire session.
The motion to refer the resolutions to a
committee was adopted by a vote of 93 to
81, and after considerable confusion the
following committee was appointed
Messrs. Colborn, Nebinger, Niles, Bierly,
and Hackett. The discussion occupied the
entire forenoon, and when it was disposed
of the House was ready to adjourn.
The committee to whom the expulsion
resolution was referred held a meeting
with closed doors, none being admitted
but members of the Allegheny delegation,
Speaker Hewitt and DIR. Palmer. The Al
| legEeny members sustained DR.. Palmer in
most Of his statements, which were dc.
nounced by Mr.. Hewitt as false and libel
GUS in every particular. The committee,
after an exciting session, adjourned until
this morning at 9:3O o'clock.