New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-16
CONFUSION IN THE HOUSE.

WAsHIxGroN March 15.-The indIlgent disposi-
ton of Speaker Keifer has impeed him to allow
members latitude in debate which has been grossly
abused by some members of the House and has led
to frequent confusion and disorder in the proceed
ings. The Speaker evidently realized this to-day
when, aftcI pounding his desk with the Gavel for
some time in a vain attempt 10 silence Mr.. Money,
of Mississippi, who persisted N making speech out
of order he said with asperity that hereafter
when members tried to impose on the Chair and the
House in defiance of the rules and efforts to pre-
serve order the Char would at least take pains to
reprimand them
Mr. Money took his seat, but the word reDri-
mand" rankled in his bosom. He went to the
official reporter and had the Speakers remarks
written out and then he took counsel with ex-
Speaker Randall and others of his party friends,
and they encouraged HIM to rise to question of
privilege" The Mississippi statesman proceeded
with his remarks until the Speaker stopped him,
ald said that he must confine himself TO an eX-
planaton and vindicaton of his own course, and
that reflections on the Chair would not be per-
mtied This reused Mr. Money, who declared that
he would not quietly submit to the reprimand of
the Speaker, which he considered as outrageous"
Cries of Order" Order" and Take down the
words" were heard from the Republican side, while
the Democrats applauded their champion Half
the members were on their feet and all was confu-
sion.
The Speaker emphatically reiterated his declara-
ton that he should not hesitate TO reprimand any
member who might persist in violating the rules of
the House. after heing called to order. Messrs.
Kenna, McLane and others demanded ito know If
the Speaker held that he had q right to repri-
iuand" any member without an order of the
House. and again the Speaker reiterated that he had
a right to and would do 80. Mr.. Money was at last
allowed to finish his remarks, the point of which
was that as the resolution upon which he had en-
deavored to speak one designed largely to bene-
fit suffering people in his own district, it was an
outrage not to allow him to make speech in favor
of it, in order that his constituents might know he
was not unmindful of their interests. After much
more confusion and bandyng of words between tue
Speaker and several Democratic members the
House adjourned with everybody in ill-humor.
The Speaker did not seem inclined to yield
an inch CT the position he assumed ap-
peared to assume-that he has the right
formally to reprimand a member for breach
of parliamentTy decorum. His friends say
that he did not the word "repri-
mand" in the sense of executing judgment for
violation of the privileges of the House and that he
will so explain. On the ether hand the Democrats
insist that he did use and mean TO use the word
"reprimandn in its technical sense, and they declare
that they will in every possible way resent this
arbitrary and unlawful assumption of authority.
The indications now are that troubles Will thcken
about the Speaker unless he shall take occasion
to disavow the intention ascribed to him by
Democrats, for they have. the power to make
his future as presiding ohcer a very
stormy one. Conservative and thoughtful men in
the House of both parties while, they, regret the
affair Of today, say that II IT shan result IN
putting stop to the scenes of confusion and disor
der which have so often prevailed at this session, it
Will be fully worth the price paid for it,
While it is generally believed by Republicans
that Mr. Randall was the moving spirit behind the
scene Of to-day he carefully avoided any personal
participation in it and not IN his seat while 1t
was In progress.