Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-31

NIT resolution, at the first opportunity,
which will recite the action OF the Speaker
in refusing to entertain Mr.. springer's sp-
peal from his (the Speaker's) decision yes
terday, and declare in effect that in the
| Judgment OF the minority the Chair ruled
arbitrarily, and, in so doing, violated not
only the rules of the House of Representa-
tives, but the Constitution of the United
States.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, the regular journal of
yesterday having been read, Mr.. Springer.
| OF Illinois, objected to it's ap-
proval on the ground that it omitted
all reference to two very important motions
which he had submitted and to the appeals
which he had made from the Speakers re-
fusal to entertain them. He had the official
report on the subject read from the Record,
and he then moved to have the journal cor
rected 50 as to include those two motions,
which were to lay on the table the report of
the Committee or Rules and to recommit
the report, with instructions, together with
the Speakers refusal to entertain them,
his (Springer's) appeals from such refusal,
and the Speakers declining to entertain
them.
The Speaker directed the Clerk to read
the rule governing 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 that II the Clerk
had iOurneliZed those motions and appeals
he would have acted improperly.
Mr.. Springer pointed out similar cases in
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 correct
ly 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 Republican side and a declaration
by the Speaker that the gentleman was not
in order have the right to speak. II l
am not In order let my words be taken
down.
The Speaker-The Chair can very well
afford
MIR. Springer attempted, amid excitement
and confusion, to proceed with his remarks,
when he was told peremptorily by the
Speaker that the Sergeant-at-Atms would
be directed to force him, at least, to desst.
Springer. giving him aid and encourage
ment, while many Republicans were also on
their feet protesting against Mr.. Sprin er's
course.
Mr.. Springer informed the Speaker (de-
fantly) that he could not be taken from the
floor.
Mr.. Humphreys, of Wisconsin-You can
and will. l can do It myself. Laughter
Mr.. Springer-It would take larger psJ-
tern than you to do it. CONTINUED laugh
ter
Tne Speaker-The Chair can very well
afford 10 allow the gentleman from Illinois
to make improper remarks in so far as they
apply 10 the Chair alone, but it is quite an-
other thing when the gentleman undertakes
to destrC the dignity OF the House by bis
own conduct. [Applause by the Republi
cans
Mr. springer-That has been already de-
stroyed.
Mr.. Reed-That is SC; by your side of
the House.
The Speaker-Any proper motion that the
gentleman may wish to make relating to the
correction of the journal will lie entertain
ed by the Chair and submitted to the House.
The Journal Clerk, in omitting the motions
that were not entertained, proceeded ex-
actlY in accordance with the rule.
Mr.. Knott, of Kentucky, after some
further colloquy, made a constitutional
argument in favor of Mr.. Springer's posi-
ton. The command of the Constitution
was plsin and peremptory that each house
should keep a journal of its proceedings.
If that meant anything 1t meant every trans
action which took place during its session.
Every motion made and every ruling on it
should be reduced to writing. The
journal implied q complete and truthful
journal. The fact that motion was out OF
order was no reason why that motion and
III ,,,lfp chn NJ IN ba
Journal. On the contrary, it should be re-
corded as a precedent for the future. II
nothing was to go in the journal except
what the Speaker chose TO entertain,
shen the will OF the Speaker and
not the Constitution or the rules
would be the law Of the House.
Where was the redress, and what would
then become of the provision of the Con-
stitutIon which required that the proceed
| ings of the House should be truthfully re-
corded? Had it come to this that the arbi-
trsry will of the Speaker, right or wrong,
was to supersede and override the Constitu-
ton? He had as high respect for the Speaker
as any other member bad. Yet, he
could not say that the Speaker was
infallible or incapable of making a mistake.
When the Speaker refused to entertain a
motion that was perfectly legitimate, in such
refusal he W Knott) could not say that
the Speaker Was not mistaken on the con-
trary Che said), the Speaker was mistaken,
| because the rules give the right OF appeal
| from decision of the Chair.
The Speaker admitted the accuracy OF the
general proposition stated by Mr.. Knott
| but repeated that the Journal Clerk had
acted strictly in obedience to the rule.
Mr.. Haskell, Of Kansas, argued that the
| journal was to contain the proceedings OF
| the House, to be a record OF things done by
| the House A motion that was not enter
taiued could certainly form no part of the
| proceedings OF the House.
After further remarks by Messrs. kasson,
Kelley and Randall, the motion to correc'
he journal was re ejected-yeas SO, nays ia
Mr.. Miller, OF Pennsylvania, then started
with the opening Of his speech in the con-
tes ed election case Of Mackey against
O'Connor, but had not finished the first
sentence when the attention OF the Speaker
was called by the Democratic members to
The fact that the journal had not yet been
approved. They demanded the yeas and nays
ON the question Of approval. As the vote
proceeded, and as the Democrats withheld
their votes, there was a likelihood OF the
failure of a quorum, but an active hunt
after Republican absentees, and the fact OF
Messrs. Wilson, of West Virginia, aud
Morse, of Massachusetts,, who were paired,
carrying out their promise to vote, If neces-
sary, TO make quorum, resulting in l46
yeas and nays. so that the journal of yes
teruay was apprOVeu.
Mr.. Miller, OF Pennsylvania, then pro
ceeded with his speech in favor of the re-
port of the Election Committee In the case
of Mackey against O'COnnor. In the course
of his speech Mr.. Miller caused some amuse-
ment by an exhibition of some tissue ballots,
which be called "little iokers," by which
Democratic frauds are said to have been
committed In South Carolina. He gave an
illustration of the use made of them, and
suggested that In some of the close North
ern districts 1t might be convenient for
Democratic candidates to understand the
game.
The discussion was continued by Mr..
Davis of Missouri. against the report, and
nv Mr.. Paul, OF Virginia, In favor of it.
Much Of Mr.. Paul's speech was directed to
discussion of the readjustment policy in
Virginia, to the praise of the Readiusters
as an honest party, and to q criticism OF
other Southern States in connection with
their debts. In fact, he declared that Vir-
pinia was the only debt-paying State Of the
late Southern Confederacy.
The latter assertion was denied indig-
nantly by Mr.. Carlisle, of Kentucky, who
declared that the State of Kentucky had
never scaled her public debt to the amount
of one dollar, and had never proposed to
do so.
The assertion of Mr.. Carlisle was traversed
by his colleague, Mr.. White, who reminded
him that certain counties in Kentucky had
refused to pay their debts. II that was not
reputation, what was its
Mr.. Tillman, of South Carolina, also de-
c'ared for his State that 1t was the Republi-
can party there which had repudiated the
debt, and that it was now being paid under
the rule of the Democratic party.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. PauPs speech,