The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-03-01
Our Washington Letter
From our Regular Correspondent
February 22d. 1884

could not be found. A call of the
House was ordered, and the Sergeant
alarms despatched his deputies for
the truant members who were sum-
moned in haste to the capitol. AS
fast as they arrived each was conduct
ed to the bar of the House where the
Speaker asked him to give an excuse
for absence, without leave, from the
sittings of that body. This procedure
occupied the whole night, it being no
expeditions work to extract from their
fastness 40 Congressman scattered
throughout the city. Many were found
at places of amusement, or participant
ing in fashionable gayeties, and gave
an account of themselves in full dress
suits. There was great deal of mer-
riment over the situation, although
Mr.. Speaker Carlisle admonished the
House to maintain a dignity in keep
ing with the gravity of the matter A
number of Democratic absentees were
also brought in, and the excuses offer
ed were such as sickness, important
business, engagements, hunger, or ig-
norance of the fact that the body was
III session. A motion being made to
excuse each in turn, Mr. Browne of
Indiana, grew disguised at the trivial
| ity of the excuses, and said any kind
of an apology should not be received
as sufficient Said decorum should
characterize the proceedings of de-
Lucrative assembly representing intel
ligent constituencies all over the coun-
try, that he was deeply ashamed of the
manner in which this thing was being
done. Said, also, he felt Inundated
that the Speaker had to preside oyer
this body at time when everybody
on both sides, seemed disposed to bring
the proceedings into contempt. He
wanted his constituency to know that
he seriously protested against these
shameful scenes.
An exciting, angry colloquy ensued
upon the question of excusing Mr..
Barnum of Pa, who admitted be left
the House after the contest began.
The Democrats voted against excusing
him, and Mr. Lamb of Indiana, moved
that he be fined five dollars Mr. His
cock championed vigorously the cause
of Mr.. Barnum and the Republicans,
saying, You want to fine the gentle
man because he is derelIct. Where are
your own IS members more than a
quorum? "
The Chairman Of the WAYS and
means committee replied, "They have
not been skulking away like your men
and refusing to vote" Mr. Morrison
then walked quickly to the bar of the
House where Mr.. His ;ock was gestic-
ulating violently, surrounded by an
excited crowd dherents and oppon-
ents-and the services of the Sergeant
alarms had to be called into requisi-
ton to secure some degree of order
Oil was poured upon the troubled
waters, however, by Mr.. Lamb with
drawing his resolution to fine Mr.. Bar
mum, who was then excused, and the
House settled down into comatose
state in which it remained for six
hours, by which time the needed num-
Der of men had arrived. The resolu-
ton to make the pension bill special
order for the Dist, was at once carried
by a vote of Us to 80, and the wake
worn legislators adjourned.
In spirit of serious and dispassion-
ate inquiry, the Senate has given al
most the entire week to the financial
debate, involving the relation of the
funded debt to the national banking
system. Almost every Senator has
contributed to the discussion and a
bill is likely to pass that body to-day,
that will reflect its mature Judgment.
! This measure, on account Of its Dem
cratic origin, would have a better
! chance Of success in the House than
one sired by a Republican, and at the
same time it is III its principles not
unlike the schemes most in favor of
the Republican side. The bill is crit
icised in some quarters as inadequate,
but it will no doubt serve at least a
temporary purpose.
The American Prohibition Convent
lion is now being held in this city.
While advocating prohibition, this so
ciety is against secret organizations
and will not affiliate with the secret
orders of the temperance cause. An
other body also in session here today,
is the National Democratic Convent
ion to decide the time and place for
holding their next nominating con-
ventiou for President and Vice Pres
ident.
There are at present stored at the
warehouse of the ST. Paul Storage and
Forwarding company, No. 3S1 East
Third street, two chairs that are more
| than 200 years old. They are of the
old Roman style; narrow seats, very
high backs, aid are finely finished.
One of them is said to have been used