Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-30
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, May 30.-House-
The journal of yesterday having been
read, Mr.. Springer objected to its ap-
proval on the ground that it omitted
all reference to two very important
motions which he submitted and to
appeals which he made from the
Speakers refusal to entertain them,
He had the official report on the sub.
ject read, and then moved to have
the journal corrected so as to include
these two motions which were to lay on
the table the report of the Committee
on Rules, and to re commit the report
with instructions together with the
Speakers refusing to entertain them
his (Springer's) appeals from such
refusal and declining to entertain
them.
The Speaker directed the
Clerk to read the rule govern
ing the case to. the effect that
every motion made to the House
and entertained by the Speaker shall
be entered on the journal, and he said
if the Clerk had journalized those mo
tlOns and appeals he would have acted
improperly. Mr.. Springer pointed
out similar cases in the House, where
motions not entertained were jour.
nalized. He argued that the motions
were proper, and should have appeared
on the Journal, which should show
correctly and truthfully what was
done, even though the journal might
then contain a condemnation of the
man who sat in the Speakers chair.
Indignant calls to order on the Re-
publican side, and deOlara-
ton by the Speaker that the
gentleman was not in order. l have
right to speak. If am not in order
let my words be taken down.
The Speaker-The Chair can very
we'll afford
Mr.. Springer attempted amid the
excitement and confusion to proceed
with his remarks, but was told per-
emptorially by the Speaker that the
Sergeant-at-Arms would be directed
to force him at least toidesist.
The Democratic members gathered
around Mr.. Springer, giving him aid
aud encouragement, while many of the
Republican members we're also on
their feet, protesting angrily against
Mr.. Springers course. Mr.. Springer
informed the Speaker defantly that be
would not be taken from the floor.
Mr.. Humphreys-Y You can and will.
l can do it myself. Laughter.
Mr.. Springer-It would take
larger pattern than you to do it.
[Continued laughter.
The Speaker-The Chair can very
well afford to allow the gentleman
from Illinois to make improper re-
marks in so far as they apply to the
Chair alone, but it is quite another
tLing when the gentleman undertakes
to destroy the dignity of the House by
his own conduct. [Applause by the
Republicans
Mr.. Springer-That has been already
destroyed.
Mr.. Reed-That is so,by your side Of
the House.
The Speaker-Any proper motion
that the gentleman may wish to make,
relating to a correction of the journal,
will be entertained by the Chair and
submitted to the House. The Jour-
nal Clerk, in omitting motions that
were not entertained, proceeded ex-
actly in accordance with the rule.
Mr.. Knott, after some further col
loquy, made a constitutional argument
in support of Mr.. SpriLger's position.
He had as high a respect for the
Speaker as any member, yet he could
not say the Speaker was infallible or
incapable of making mistake. When
he refused to entertain the motion,
that was perfectly legitimate in such
refusal, he (KnOtt) could not say the
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