The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-16

the other day of a House adjourn
ing for the session without the
formaIity OF a vote of thanks to
the Speaker. Such thing is almost,
if not entirely unknown. The fail
ure to bestow this poor compliment
upon Keifer was not on account of
forgetfulness, nor because of studied
neglect, but solely for the reason
that such a vote could not have
been carried, and out of cOnsidera-
ton for the feelings Of the man he
was spared the humiliation of see
ing and hearing himself officially
declared the most Objectionable and
unpopular Speaker the House had
had. The Washington correspond
ent Of the Philadelphia Times tells
the story so plainly that we repeat
it below:
The fact that the House adjourned to-
day without passing the usual resolution
Of thanks 10 the Speaker excites much
comment here, and has highly displeased
Mr. Kefer's special friends, as well IS
given much ehagriu to the Speaker him
self. Congressman Morrison, of Illinois,
tonight explained the reason of this
omission on the part Of the House. DE
said that il had been the practice to have
such resolution come from some mem Der
to the party opposed to that to which the
Speaker belonged; that on this occasion
Blackburn, of Kentucky, had the reso u
ton of thanks in shape ready TO present
for the action Of the House. The fact
becoming knOwn among Blsckburn's
democratic colleagues that i was bis pur-
pose 10 preaent The resolution, be Was Hd-
vIsed that II be offered il the extraordinary
spectacle would be witnessed of violent
opposition 10 its adoption, and that such
opposition would be successful. Gov.
Curtin, Of Pennsylvania, McLane. OF
Maryland, and others had Rvowed their
purpose of declaring the Speakers course
toward them, and his general course OF
rulings, which they allege 70 have been
in gross violation Of the rights OF the
minority, as deserving Of q resolution OF
ton. Being advised of this determine
ton, Black burn p0cketed the resolution
Of thanks, and while at the other end Of
the Capitol Senator Davis, president of
the Upper House, was complimented ~
the thanks OF thai body, and by unan-
imous vote, the House adjourned without
81 much as o ''thsnk you" to Speaker
Keifsr.
The only thing that could have
been more humiliating than this
failure to thank the Speaker, would
be a resolution of condemnation.
What makes the matter more pain
full to the sighted officer, if he is a
sensitive person, is the fact that this
is one of the most disreputable Con-
crosses the country has ever been
cursed with, so disreputable in fact,
as to win the names Of "thief,
rogue" "spendthrift," "robber,' %
and kindred terms of deserved re-
preach. To have such a House de-
decline the accustomed mark Of re-
spect to its too worthy Speaker,
was twice branding him with
shame. And yet Mr.. Keifer was
unworthy the formal thanks OF
even this plundering House. His
election was disgrace to Congress,
his elevation to the exalted position
being for the sole purpose of pro-
noting jobs, and helping along the
steals; and faithfully did he
perform the service put before
him by the shrewder, but no
more corrupt members whose will
ling tool he was. From his first act
IN the selection of the committees,
down to the very day of adjourn
ment, Keifer showed he was ignor-
ant Of parliamentary law, ridicu-
lousy partial in his rulings, brutal
in his instincts, and unfair and I'M
gentlemanly generally. His own
party, outside those who made him
their tool, despised him for his par
tisanship, were ashamed of his ig-
nOrance, and blushed at his roguery.
Scarcely week of the iong session
has passed in which the Speaker has
not openly been taken to task on the
floor of the House, and criticised and
berated as no Speaker had ever been.
The democrats ought to labor for the
denomination of Kelfer, when, if
the republican party carrying so un-
sayory load, cannot be beaten in
the next House, truly the people
have gone mad, and made corrup-
ton in high places matter for re-
vxror ~