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

The SPECTACLE was presented
the other day of a House adjourn
ing for the session without the
formality of 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. helfer's special friends, as well as
given much Ghagriu 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 it 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 resdy TO present
for the seton Of the House. The fact
becoming Known among BlSckburn's
democratic colleagues that it was his pur-
pose 10 present the resolution. be was ad-
YIBed that If be offered it the extraordinary
spectacle would be witnessed of violent
opposition to its adoption, and that euch
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 TO have been
in gross violation Of the rights OF the
minority, as deserving Of resolution OF
condemnation rather than Of cOmmendA-
ton. Being advised of this determine
ton, Black burn pOcketed 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 that body, and by unan-
lmous vote, the House adjourned without |
20 much as q ''thsnk you" to Speaker
Keller.
The only thing that could have
been more humiiiating than this
failure to thank the Speaker, would
be a resolution Of condemnation.
What makes the matter more pain
ful to the sighted officer, if he is a
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-
prOach. To have such a House de-
decline the accustomed mark OF re-
5pect to its too worthy Speaker,
was twice branding him with
shame. And yet Mr.. Keifer was
the formal thanks OF
even this plundering House. His
election was a disgrace to Congress, |
lis elevation to the exalted position |
'eing for the sole purpose of pro-
noting jobs, and helping along the
teals; and faithfully did he
perform the service put before
i'm by the shrewder, but no
more corrupt members whose will
ing tool he was. From his first act
n the selection of the committees,
lown to the very day of adjourn
nent, Keifer showed he was ignor-
mt Of parliamentary law, ridicu-1
ously partial in his rulings, brutal
n his instincts, and unfair and I'm
'entlemanly generally. His own
'arty, outside those who made him
heir tool, despised him for his par
isanship, were ashamed of his ig-
torrance, and blushed at his roguery.
a week of the iong session
las passed in which the Speaker has
lot openly been taken to task on the
DOR of the House, and criticised and
Grated as no Speaker had ever been.
he democrats ought to labor for the
examination of Kelfer, when, if
De republican party carrying so IN
aYory load, cannot be beaten in
be next House, truly the people
ave gone mad, and made corrup-
ION in high places matter for re-