Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-25

THE FIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
The Democrats Warned to Bring
Five Days RatIOns-The Republic
cans Three short OF a QuOrum-A
Quiet DaV I'm the SenaGe-BIaiue
aud the Foreign Affairs Commit


WASHINGTON, May A.-Iu the House, the
request Of the Senate for the return of the
per cent. land bill was acceded to.
Mr.. Calkins, Of Indiana, rising to ques-
tion OF personal privileges, sent to the
Clerks desk and had read that portion of a
letter, written by Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York,
to MIR. Manning, of Mississippi, which
charges that the Committee on Elections
refused TO investigate the charges of for
gerry preferred before that committee.
Mr. Randall, OF Pennsylvania, contended
that the letter failed to show that the gen
tlemsn from Indiana (Mr. Calkins) had
been alluded to in any relation.
The Speaker ruled that the matter did
present question of privilege.
Mr.. Calktns then stated as long as the
charges against the committee were confined
to newspapers, he had not noticed them,
but when they were made by q member of
Congress, It was a reflection on every mem
Der of the committee. Probably it was not
so intended by the gentleman (Hewitt), but
nevertheless 1t was a reflection which
ought to be refuted at once. The
Committee on Elections had never failed
to inquire into the truth of any charge
made before it.
A long and noisy discussion then arose as
to the action of the committee, Mr.. Ather-
ton, of Ohio, claiming that it had refused
to investigate the charges OF forgery, and
Mr. Calkins denying that statement. Both
these gentlemen were frank in their state
ments, and proceeded in perfect calmness
and good temper, but the greater number
| Uf members on both sides were ex-
cited, and the interpretations in the
debate caused such confusion that It was
next to impossible to understand the points
made by the principal debaters. The House
was unusually full, and nearly all the men,
bers were on their feet, many OF them speak
| ing at once. The confusion increased as the
| time passed, and at II O'Clock the House
| was in an uproar, which only abated when
Mr.. Calkins demanded of his friends that in
spirit OF fairness Mr.. Atherton should be
allowed TO take the floor.
Mr. Reagan, of Texas, objected.
TLen Mr.. Dibble, of South Carolina, arose
| to question OF privilege, but his opening
remark failing to present such question,
| objec ion was made to his proceeding.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, then took the
/ fl 'Or with another question of privilege.
He disclsimed any Intention of making an
unjust charge against a member Of the
| Committee on Elections, and stated that in
| writing the letter, which had given rise to
| the debate, he had based it's declarations
on 'he minority report, the petition OF MIR.
/ Dibble and assertions of the Democratic
members of the committee. As one OF the
read the affidavit of G. Smith, a United
| States Supervisor of Elections. Objection
| was made, but the Speaker ruled that the
affidavit might be read. 1t simply charges
interlineations, erasures and omissions In
| the testimony taken in the contest between
MackeY aud O'Connor.
Mr.. Hewitt continuing, submitted that
that was a sufficient basis for the very mod
] crate statements which he made in his
/ letter. He asserted that the whole matter
| should be recommitted aud the charge of
| forgery investigated. II that were done, he
would be no party to any filibustering opera
/ tiOns to keep any man from a seat, even
| though be thought he was not entitled to It.
/ But so long as the truth was not admitted
in evidence, he was sure the people would
| sustain the Democratic party in resisting to
/ the last extremity any effort to strike at the
| right to free representation. Applause on
| the Democratic side
Mr.. Calkins then reviewe briefly the evil
| dence in the case, and read affidavlts in ex-
Dlsnation and denial of that filed by G.
! Smith, and the presentation of the facts in
which the m1jOrity of the committee relied,
and elected several rounds of applause from
| his party friends. In conclusion, he said.
ct is said that the Democratic party is jus
titled in its hlibustering, because
some of the testimony is questioned.
| II the Democratic party can stand
on such a footing, we can afford
to stand on the great constitutional rignt-
which for ninetythree years has never be-
| fore been -determiuing by a
msjority vote of This House who is elected
| TO y seat In this chamber" The matter was
then dropped, and Mr.. Calkins called up the
contested election case of Mackey VS..
| 0'COnnor.
FlHbustering again began, the votes on
dilatory motions and to adjourn showing
| three less than a quorum, except on the
motions to adjourn, which was voted down.
! During the roll call on dilatory motion,
Mr.. Walker, of Pennsylvania, who was
seated in the rear of the members seats fell
in fainting fit and was laid upon a sofa.
Mr.. Walker soon recovered power sufi
ciently to vote.
Matters then remained in Stat,t quo for
about an hour and half
| The Sargeant-at- Arms was not dispatched
for absent members, and those present
killed time as well as they were able IN con-
versation and reading until five o'clock,
when Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana, stating that
he would call up the election case to-
morrow, aud advising members to bring
five days rations with them, moved to ad-
journ.
The motion was agreed to, and the House,
at five O'Clock, adjourned until tomorrow.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
| In the Senate, Mr.. Logan reported favor
ably from the Military Committee, and asked
immediate consideration of the House joint
resolution aDpropriating $l6 600, 900 10 sup
ply the deficiency in appropriations for
army pensions for the current fiscal year.
He explained that the deficit had
arisen in consequence of the increased
clerical force having facilitated the
work of the department beyond the amount
estimated in the original $4,000, 900 esti-
mate for the year. Passed.
Under an order of the calendar, the Sen
ate took up the Senate bill for the relief of
the officers and crew of the United States
steamer Monitor, who participated in the
action with the Confederate irOnclad Merr,-
mac in March, 1862 The amount of the
| appropriation is stated at the actual value
| OF the Merrimac at the date of the action,
not exceeding 100000. Passed-Yess "a,
nays %.
The bill providing for the extension and
enlargement of the Washington water works
at an estimated expense OF 81, 100000 was
passed.
Adjourned.
Mr.. BLAINE ASKS PosTPoNEMENT.
Chairman Williams, of the House Com
miitee on Foreign Affairs, received a note
from Mr.. Blaine last evening, that he had
| been called to Cincinnati upon important
business, and requesting postponement Of