National Republican., 1883-03-07
KEIFER's DEFENSE
Reviewed and Rent TO Some Extent by Con.
Il. v, BOyntOn.
The Speakers Most Positive Denial Pro
nounced Absolutely False.
III Me Eiior.


committee of correspondents, charged under
the authority of the speaker and subject to
his directions with administering the rules
regulating admissions to the press gallery of
the house, to comment upon the defense
which ex'Speaker Keifer attempts to mako
in your issue of yesterday morning of his mex
cusable conduct in crowding the press gallery
on Saturday night last with promiscuous
crowd Of sightseeing outsiders, both men and
women?
The facts are these: The rules Of the house
place the press gallery under the exclusive
control Of the speaker For number of years
past committee of correspondents has been
charged with enforcing these rules, being, of
course subject to his orders There are
ninety-six representatives of the press of the
country who do daily work in this gallery.
The numbers of visiting editors and those
doing special work connected with the closing
days Of the session increased this number to
about one hundred and five. Extraordinary
facilities for telegraphing had been
provided for the immense work which
the last night session would require. The
rules of tho gallery exclude all except those
who do actual press work. The friends and
families of correspondents were refused ad-
mission by the press committee, so carefully
The gallery will seat less than fifty, and has
standing room for about as many more. The
fact that nearly all found it necessary to be
part of the timc in tho senate gallery, at
other times in tho clerks offices watching the
progress Of the great crush of important work
done, gave fair room in the gallery for the
work of correspondents.
A large number left after the passage Of tho
tariff bill to start their evening work from
their city Offices and had not reached the gal,
lery for the nights work when 10 was thrown
open to the public by u trick OF the speaker
and Immediately filed. AS correspondents
arrived they found 1t impossible to
gain admittance, and those who were on
the ground early and had taken their
seats were insulted by congressman, and
in some cases by the women they
brought in with them, for not giving
up their desks to ladies. 1t was
not until the sightseers had become tired
of the circus and left for tho city that the
driving work demanded of the press on such
an occasion could begin. The whole affair
was an outrage never before attempted by any
speaker. Although Gen. Keifer tries to make
it appear that it was the work of Mr.. Mcken-
zie backed by the unanimous vote OF the
house, the fact is Mr. Mckenzie did not sub
nit his resolution in form that would have
opened the gallery to the public, and the
speaker took 1t upon himself to help
a different form from which Mr.. Me-
Kenzie made it. Even in this doc
tored shape, and declared passed by
the speaker without dozen members know
ing what had been done, the resolution would
not have accomplished its purpose unless the
speaker, Doorkeeper Brownlow, and Assistant
Doorkeeper Austin had taken personal part in
constructing it as opening the gallery and en-
forcing it. The motion, even in the amended
form which the speaker assumed the power
TO give it, was in view of the terms of his own
rules regulating the press gallery one wholly
improper for him to entertain, as much so as
would have been one to admit the crowd to
the seats about the desks of the speaker, the
clerks, and the official reporters.
Such are tho facts upon which the cores
pondcnts acted in denouncing the eX-speaker
In regard to his defense it is misleading
throughout, absolutely false in tho most
material parts, and such as plainly to disclose
that he had not fully recovered from the
temper and condition Of Saturday night. To
protect himsefhe tries to sneak in behind the
ladies and mako 1t appear that the cores
pondents held themselves superior to mem
bers' wives This cowardly slur he reports in
various forms, among Others this:
desire simply 10 say that the grievance chiefly
Of Is that hssS ms%peIs rs b,a 3i sne ~ PRES
ladies, who were, by the unanimous vote OF the
house, granted the privilege OF seats where they
An hour before Mr.. Mckenzie made his
motion, as shown by the Record, the following
took place on the floor:
Mr. Belford. ask that may have the atten-
ton OF the house for one moment. desire tc
state that the wives OF q number OF members o
congress are deslrous of witnessing the closing
scenes of this house. They cannot secure seals III
the galleries. therefore ask unanimous consent
that they be permitted TO occupy seats Oh the fool
OF the house,
several members objected.
Mr. Belford Then, Mr. speaker desire to In
qure whether they are not permitted 10 be OH the
floor under the rule?
The speaker. They are not.
Did tho house and the speaker "feel that
they had rights superior" to members >
wives and their lady friends" and did they
consider "thoir dignity as very severely
taxed" by this attempt to admit them to the
abundant vacant space on the floor in rear Of
the seats2
This resolution of Mr.. Belford was entirely
proper, and it simply proposed TO do what has
often been done by the house ON similar occa
sions.
The ex-speaker continues:
All that part of the preamble and resolutions
which purports 10 have been adopted by q meet.
ing of the members OF tho press, which relates tc
the refusal of the speaker TO grant the request Of
Mr.. J. c. Burrows, of Michigan. TO be recognized
for the purpose OF making II motion to turn oui
of the reporters seats the wives Of members and
other ladies is absolutely alse. If Mr., Burrows
q
the unanimous vote of the house II would have
been great farce. To have succeeded IN getting
an order 10 direct the sergeautRt-arms 10 iOfCDly
or otherwise take these ladies from the reporters
gallery, after they had been admitted by tile order
OF the house, would have been more than q farce.
Mr.. Burrows was never foolish enough to seek ~
obtain unanimous consent of the house TO cause
the ladies to be turned out after being admitted
and never. so far as know, sought the floor for
that purpose.
Here different case from that which
existed is assumed for the purpose of making
denial possible. The correspondents did
not seek to have the Indies cleared out of the
galleries. but their movement was an mt.
tempt TO have the order rescinded, so that
the gallery would be kept In working order
during the closing session Of Sunday fore
noon. The ladies had gone before the attempt
was made Mr.. Burrows did 90 TO the speaker
and asked to be recognized for this purpose
and was fatty refused, and the refusal was
given with a warmth and lack of dignity
entirely in keeping with his previous actions.
His assertion that the wives and lady friends
of members would not have obeyed an order
of the house unless force had been used tc
execute it is an attack which comes with q
poor grace from one who is arraigning cor.
respondents foralleged inclvllity to the ladies
If they were ladies in whose case an order OF
the house requesting them to leave "would
have been moro than q farce" the CORE.
spendents would have been justified in the
feelings which the eX-speaker untruthfully
attributes TO them. Again, says Gen. Keifer
The course, vulgar, and proane language which
is attributed 10 ine has, of course, no foundation
IN Ia 1ns tIgRll.