The weekly miner., 1881-02-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.

appropriation bill to the house, when it was
passed with only one negative vote.
Covert reported back the agricultural ap-
preparation bill, which was then referred to
the committee of the whole.
A controversy then arose as to priority of
business. Cox desired to call up the reappor-
tionment bill, Reagan the river and harbor
bill and Sparks the Fitz John Porter case,
while Ganlo wished to 60 10 the business OH
the speakers table.
Frye, however, cut out all these PROPOSE
tions by calling up the resolution reported
from the committee on rules, providing that
when the morning hour is dispensed with
that one hour shall be set apart as the time
during which members have to pass bills on
the calendar by consent, five objections to be
fatal to the consideration of any bill.
noisy discussion ensued, which at one
time became very acrimonious and angry, be-
tween Blackburn and Frye.
Blackburn denied he had received notice
of any meeting of the committee on rules at
which this proposition had been considered,
and inquired Of Frye whether a quorum of
the committee mad been present.
Frye replied there had been no quorum
present, but he had been instructed to submit
the proposition to the absent members. He
had not been able to find the gentleman from
Kentucky.
Blackburn replied that he had been present
| at every roll call of the house, and it was not
his fault if the gentleman could not find him.
He proceeded to explain his understanding
Of the matter, when he was sharply Inter
| rupted by Frye, who said the gentleman un-
| derstood the matter perfectly we'll.
Blactburn-The gentleman will under
| stand better.
Frye-How better?
B-Does the gentleman say there was
majority Of the members of the committee
present when this rule was considered?
| F-The gentleman understands what l
| said, loesn'v he? l stated the fact that was
called to meeting of the committee on rules;
| hat there were but two members present,and
chat the gentleman was not there; was i'll
structed to submit the rule to the absent
| members, and could not find the gentleman
from Kentucky. Why he should charge me,
at least by implication
| B-I never deal in implications; always
use direct assertions; l stated to the house it
was not my purpose to reflect on the gentle
man in any way for the report of the resolu-
| Lion, but also stated that was not present
| at the meeting of the committee at which
| the proposition was considered, had never
been called to such meeting, and had never
seen such resolution, though in my place
every day.
F-Suppose that should turn out to be all
tue?
B-Does the gentleman question it?
FL am going on with my suppositiol.
| B-DOes the gentleman question it? Will
he have manliness enough to answer that
question?
The speaker stated that the gentleman from
Maine refused to be Interrupted.
Frye, continuing, repeated his former state
ments.
The dialogue between Blackburn and Frye
| ,,rl; ;ol, had haap arrnI trv,
then ceased.
Townshend raised the point of order that
the resolution, not coming from quorum o
the committee, was not in order. 1t ha(
T been represented by the gentleman from
p Maine that 1t was reported from the commit
tee, when it was not.
Frye--What does the gentleman mean? l
was reported from the committee.
Townshend-The gentleman represented
that it was reported from the committee, ant
, he now contesses that it was reported will
the consent of only two members.
Frye- did not confess anything of tn
kind, and the gentleman must be dull to un
: | derstand it so.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Blackburn and Frye being applauded whe
. taking their stations as tellers, they cordial
:, shook hands.
a Adjourned
: WASHINGTON, Feb. 1O.-Reagan instance
France, while territory considerably small
er than Texas, gave $l0,000,O00 year to in
prove her rivers and harbers. Here was
country stretching from ocean to ocean, wit
!. 5O,OOO,0OO people, with larger resource
= sprlnging from fields, forests and mines, tina
G any other country under the sun. Yet a
American congress is haggling over $4,000
q 900 for improvements of water transport;
K tion, while American railroads, as matter {
e private enterprise, gave $1OO,O0O,OOS simpl
II for repairs. The iil-natured, ungenero,
it tliEgs at the committee on commerce for di
e charging its duty to the country were beneat
b his contempt. Cox had meant to make
e fling at hun personally, but he could genera
o ly afford to let the gentelnan's darts ia
harmless from a shield which he could nevt
penetrate, because of that sense of rectituC
which sprang from duty. The gentlema
IT from New York had last year appealed to Il
A committee for 81 900 for improvements
J. Harlem river.
Y, Cox said it had never been charged again
& him, even by implication, that he had pu
ID sued his private interest at the expense OF Il
s. general government.
le Reagan-Does the gentleman intend to a
p sumo, by implication, that l have done SC
< l demand an answer.
1t The answer not being satisfactory, Reaga
le said Cox was the most polite slanderer he ha
ar ever seen. and was a man capable OF makil
l. false charges within parliamentary rules.
Sc Cox lin an irrltated manner)-When IL
rt gentleman left the house years ago he left
ut with parting shot at me because stood |
lie the eunion-[applause and Kisses, in the mid
lie of which Reagan made some angry remar
about the gentleman from New York being
demagogue of that Lype.]
Cox made humorous apology to the hou
y. 20 for his retorts.
er Page said the Pacific coast had been mo
y unfairly treated, and if it were his fortune
= participate in the organization OF anoth
~ house and in the election OF a presiding OF
W Ger, he would vote for one who would reco
nize that there was country west of Il
Mississippi river which ought to be conside