Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-30
EXCITING DAY AT TIE CAPITOL.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA. CONTEST
DlsoRDERLY SCENES IN THE HOUSE.

The journal OF yesterday having been read, Mr.
Springer objected to its approval, on the ground
that it omitted all reference to two very import
ant hJtions which he had submitted and to ap-
peals which he had made from the Speakers re-
fusal to entertain them. He had the Official
report on the subject read from the Congressional
Record, and he then moved to have the journal
corrected so as to include those two motions
which were to lay on the table the report OF the
committee on rules and to re-commit the report
with Observation-Disclosures with the Speakers re.
fus1ng to entertain them his (Springer's) appeals
from such refusal, and the Speakers declining to
entertain them
governing the case to the effect that every motion
made TO the House and entertained by the Speaker
!, snali oe entered on the Journals and he said that
II the clerk had JOurnaliZed these motions and
Appeals ne would have acted improperly.
EXCITING SCENES IN THE HOUSE.
Mr. Springer pointed out similar cases in the
recent proceedings OF the House, where motions
that were not entertained were journalized. He
argued that the motions were proper ones, and
should have appeared on the journal, which should
show correctly and truthfully what was done,
even though the journal might then contain q
condemnation OF the man who sat in the Speakers
chair. Indignant calls to order On the republican
side; and declaration by the Speaker that the
gentleman was not in order.]
have right to speak. II am not in order, let
my words be taken down.
The Speaker.-The chair can very we'll afford
Mr. Springer attempted, amid excitement and
confusion, to proceed with his remarks; but was
told peremptorily by the Speaker that the SER
geant-atArms would be directed to force him, at
least to deSiSt
Democratic members gathered around Mr..
springer giving him aid and encouragement, while
prOteStlng angr1ly against Mr.. Springer's course
81, Mr; springer informed the Speaker, def1antly,
1nat ne could not be taken from the floor.
Mr.. Humphrey.-YOu can and Will can do 1t
myself. [LaughteEl
Mr.. Springer.-It would take a larger pattern
than you TO do it CONTINUED laughter.l
The Speaker.-The chair can very well afford
10 allow the gentleman from Illinois to make i'm
proper remarks In so far as they apply to the chair
alone, out IL IS quite another thing when the gen.
tleman undertakes to destroy the dignity OF the
House by his own conduct [Applause by repub-
Mr.. Springer-That has been already DESTROYED
!Ithat Is So" said Mr.. Reedl by your side of the
The Speaker.-Any proper motion that the gen.
tleman may wish to make relating to the correction
OF Ine journal Will be entertained by the chair
ana. and submitted to the House. The journal clerk in
Omlttlng motions that were not entertained pro-
ceeded exactly in accordance with the rule
MI: Knott, after some further collOquy. made a
er's position. The command OF the Constitution
was plain and peremptory that each House should
keep a journal OF its proceedings II that meant
took place during its session, every motion made
ana every ruling on it should be reduced to writ
ing ]ourna! implied complete and truthful
Journal The fact that motion was out of order
was no reason why that motion and the ruling
upon IL snouid not appear on the journal On the
contrary, IL should be recorded as precedent for
the future. II nothing was to go on the journal
except when the Speaker chose to entertain it then
one In WIZ OF the speaker and not the Constitution
was the redress and what would then become OF
the provision OF the Constitution which REQUIRED
fully recorded? Had it come to this that the arh
trary will OF the Speaker, right or wrong. was tn
supersede and override the Constitution? He had
f0rt thn Or1n
Der had yet he could not say that the Speaker was
!nlaliloie or Incapable Of making mistake. When
the Speaker refused to entertain motion that
was perfectly legitimate ia such refusal he Knett)
could not say that the Speaker was not mistaken
Saa. On Ihe contrary, he saw that the Speaker was
from the decision of the chair.
Ihe Speaker admitted the accuracy OF the gen.
efai proposition, stated by Mr. Knott but repeated
ea tne journal clerk had acted strictly In obedi
Mr. Burrows asked Mr. Knott whether II he had
made maf,an nm "a while Hd1ne} Just speaking and had
entertained, he would say that that motion shouId
appear on the journal
MT Knott thought it unnecessary to answer
sucn question. [Derisive laughter from republic
cans.l 'p""A
IN, Mr. Burrows-That's the very case, and would
Mr. Haskell argued that the journal was to con-
tain the proceedings OF the House-tO be record
Oi tne thlngS done by the House. motion that
was not entertained could Certainly form no mart
OF the proceedings OF the House.
THE MOTION TO CORRECT THE JOURNAL RFJRcrEn
After further remarks by Messrs. Kasson, Kelley
and Randall, the motion to correct the journal was
rejected-yeas SO, nays 14
Mr. AILLER's OPENING SPEECH INTERRUPTED
Mr. Miller then started with the opening OF his
speech in the contested election case of Mackev
against OConnor, but had not finished the first
sentence when the attention of the Speaker was
called Dy democratic members to the fact that the
journal had not yet been approved.
proceeded tho
withheld their votes, there was likelihood OF the
failure OF quorum; but an active hunt after re-
son ana Morse, who were paired, carried out their
promise 10 vote, II necessary to make a quorum
IN l46 yeas and nays, 80 that the journal
Mr. Miller then proceeded with his speech in
favor OF the report OF the elections committee in
tue case OF Mackey against O'COnnOr.
LITTLE JOKERS
In the course OF his speech Mr.. Miller caused
some amusement by an exhibition of the tissue
ballots-which he called slittle jokers"-by which
democratic frauds are said to have been COM
mltted IN south Carolina He gave an illustration
the close northern disttcts it might be convenient
for democratic candidates to understand the game
The District i'm Congress.
THE WATER SUPPLY BILL
The Senate bill to increase the water supply OF
the District can be reached only in the House ont
of its regular order in three ways: 1st, by unani
nous consent; I'd, by suspension of the rules.
and Sd, by making it special order On the third
Monday OF any month, II the District committee
SO instruct and the committee is called, any mem-
per OF the committee recognized can move to sus-
pend the rules and pass it On the first Monday OF
each month any individual can ask for the pas
sage OF the Dill II he gets the Speakers recogni-
plan to secure action on the BILL He is not certain
measure He Will at the first chance ask for an
other District day, which, II accorded by the
house, Will AFFORD the opportunity to bring the
Oil up, when 1t will require only majority vote
to pass it
EXTENSION OF THE FISHING SEASON.
The Senate yesterday concurred in the House
joint resolution extending the fishing season in
the Potomac river, in this District to the 18th of
June, 1882 The extension was necessary on ar
count OF the backward weather and frequent rains
Wnlch Kept the iish from coming up the river
CLAIM OF WILLIAM sYPHAx.
Mr.. Butler, yesterday, presented to the Senate a
petition from VIM. Syphax Of the District, COM
planning that when the board OF public works
came in a new sidewalk with curbng. gutterinp
etc. had been laid tnfront OF his premises at cost
to him OF between $500 and $500 that they were torn
up and he was allowed only $144 65 for Old mate
rial; that the material was used over again and
blocks were lad In the carriage way for which
he was charged - 81 per front foot. The assess
ments against him, he alleges, were excessive and
he prays for read1ustment Referred to District
committee.