Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-18
A FIELD DAY.
Exciting and Noisy Scene in the
House Yesterday.
Robesoa's Report to Increase the Size OF
The Committees Creates Trouble
Speaker Kiefer in Hot Water
A Presiding Officer,
BUT NOT A DICTATOR WANTED.
s,eaal DsspaseA . the Ressser.

Es,eeIaI DispoteA 10 fhe Register.
/ WGsHISGroS, January lT.-As soon as the
! call of the committees in the House was
concluded. Robson. chairman of the Com
mittee on Rules called up his report to in
crease the membership of the committees,
and called for the previous question. I'm
mediately a scene OF confusion ensued,
such as has not been witnessed since the
closing days Of last session.
A dozen members were on their legs
shouting "Mr. Speaker" vainly trying to
obtain recognition, and cries OF '0h, no"
were heard from all parts of the House
Making himself heard with difficulty Robe
son said whom the previous question was
ordered he would extend time for all the,
debate desired. BUT was met with cries OF
s'yote it down" from all quarters, and Mr..
Robinson. Of New York moved to lay the
| whole matter on the table, but the motion
I vas lost.
The confusion increased, aud Mr.. Hutch
ms, of New York, in i sarcastic, biting lit
lie speech alluded to the incongruities Of
the committees the members Of which he
characterized as 80 misplaced members,
misplaced sgaiust their will" and declared
that the House wanted a presiding officer,
but not a dictator.
Kasson followed in a similar strain, max
ing several sharp and cutting stsbS in his
cool, caustic way.
Reed sustained the Speaker and ridiculed
Orth's proposition, and Mr.. Kelly moYedto
lay the report on the table, but the motion
was lost. sad after several Intellectual at
tcmpts to amend, the House adjourned.
q.
associated Press.
WASHINGTON, January 1.-THE call OF
the committees being concluded, RObeSou
called up the report OF the Committee on
Rules increasing the membership OF the
various committees Ot the House He
stated the thirteen committees whose MEM
bership it was proposed to increase, had
before them now nearly ninety per cent OF
. ali the business OF the House. As Mr..
. Robesou concluded his brief remarks, he
I demanded the previous question.
B A storm or''Oh Nos
cai:c from sll parts Of the chamber, snd
; TIE confusion Yas very great. Three or
: four members speaking 81 the SAME time,
; and several others being IN their feet with
! Parliamentary inquiries. Mr. Robson
declared his intention wa, to baTe the
| previous question ordered and then give
/ fuIlpst pnasible debate, and further stated
he wished thereby to cut OIL amendments.
"Then let us vote it down cried several
members. while Robinson OF Massachusetts,
I said. Il hone the gentlemen Will not un-
! 1ertske 10 nut on this house for guidance
the voice ot the Committee Ou Rules. Have
! We not any
Rights Here ns Ncmber<:''
Robeson insisted on his demand for the
! previous question, but Robinson, of New
. So-k, before the question could be sub
n,ittrd. moved 10 lay the whole subject on
the table The motion was .oSt-Yeas %;
noes Ia.
Mr.. RObeson then stated that on behalf
! of tie Committee on Rules, he would re-
cede from his position and withdrew the
demand for the previous question.
Mr.. Page offered an amendment that the
| Committee on the improvement OF the
Mississippi river shall not have authority
10 report appropriations on that subject.
Mr. RObeson said there was no intention
10 give the committee that power.
Mr., Kelly offered an amendment TO strike
out the clause increasing the membership
of the WAYS and Means Committee.
| Mr.. HutChins opposed the report OF the
COMMITTEES on Rules. lie spoke IN VEN
| of sarcasm, and pointed out what he called
| tho inCopgruities OF the existing formation
OF the committees. Ifthe House did not
increase the membership OF the committee,
those
- Gentlemen slightea
might saw. when they looked on the BEAM
ing face OF the gentleman from New jersey
| IRSbcsnnl whats good enough for him, Is
| ,oCd enough for me-" IL the committees
were increased still they might sing: Fifty
misplaced members We, misplaced all
| against our wills" The Speaker had
placed ten members in the Committee on
| Militia. and invited grumblers to step up
| and bid for a vacant place. The conSola-
| ton in the matter was that MASSACHUSETTS,
! Pennsylvania and Ohio had
Not Been Forgotten.
They had been travelling so long in the
nolificsl wilderness, they had been SO long
| left on. in the cold. il was refreshing 70
see at last modest merit and worth so rich
! ly rewarded. There were but two courses
| t0 be pursued: Either let the work done q
for uought, or leave il as it is. He did not
believe IN adding a new structure to an old
building. The Speaker had too much
mower and he, not the House, controlled
LEGISLATION. The committees should be ap
nTinted by the House, aud the Speaker
4 should be the preSluinS O!uScit
Not n Dictator
and arbiter of the legislation OF the whole
American people. -,
Mir. Kasson also opposed the report OF tho
Committee on Rules. He advocated
measure by which the House should o.
charged with the duty of appointing the
committees 1t would be no disrespect tC
the Speaker. He had done duty, alway:
} embarrassing, imposed upon him by the
rules. Such q measure would relieve him
from that embarrassment, and that induce
nent TO bribery by the offer of places II
the election of Speaker, and should be done
away with OF once and forever. ZAP
: plause.l Every Speaker ought to be re
: ! moved from the temptation.
Mr.. Orth offered IS substitute for th'
) Committees report, his amendment for tht
: election at the beginning of each Congress
Of the commission charged with duty as
signing the membership OF The committees
In Offering the substitute he disc!aimed any
intention of interfering with the
Present Organization
of the House in one way or other. Neithe
did he intend any diSreSpeCt to the occu
| papt Cf the chair, or any infringement OF
the rights which naturally belonged to him
Mr.. Reed, member Of the Committee OF
: Rules, said he would vigorously proteS
against Mr.. Orth' proposition II ne lnoush
there was any danger OF its being adopte<
by this or any other House. Think OF th'
Committees Of the House going to Com
. mission Think OF the
Log Rolling There Would BE
10 have a Commission elected in order &
favor particular measures. Heidi not be
7 IieYe that any material interest OF tn
country WAS liable to be destroyed or IN
iured by any committee appointed by TN
Speaker. Every action OF every commit
tee had TO undergo the scrutiny OF tn
House. Personal grievances existed IL
every legislative body, He Reed did no
concur entirely with his committe'
i'm regard 10 the increase
i'm committee membership. Neither
did he believe the committees should De
appointed without regard to the geograph
icsl divisions. lie believed the business
Of individuals, and not where they slept
ought TO be considered in determining OIL
what committees they shoald serve.
Mr.. Kelly said his ambition fer CongreS
.ionsl life had been abundantly gratiteC