New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-16
A FARCE IN THE HOUSE.
AN INCIDENT IN THE MANNING CASE.
MR. CURTIN's EFFORTS TO HAVE HIM SWORN iN--A
FATAL POINT OF oRDFR.

NR CURTIN's EFFORTS TO HAVE HIM SWORN INA
FATAL POINT OF oRDFR.
rBY TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON Feb ia novel farce was played
before a large aud apprecatiye auulehce !"
the House of Representatives, late thls "i.ei
noon. The performance was highly SUCCESSFUL
as well as extremely enjoyable' ou'
will not be repeated. Inc cheI ".oi'
were Mr.. Curtin. of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Man.
niro Of Mississippi. Mr.. Manning may be re-
nembered as the man who, when Congress as
sembled. occupied q lofty pedestal of vir-
the from which he serenity looked down
and declared that he would scorn to take
advantage of certain so-caled Ger
fifcate" of election unless the House should
beforehand "yindicate" il. To MIR. Manuings
surprise and disgust he learned this morning that
the House, having taken him at his word, was
likely to decide that ii could not afford to do
thing which he had virtuOusly explained was too
mean for him to do This was so different a pros
pect from the one Manning had mentally bargained
for that he became not only exasperated'
hut desperate Messrs. urtin Black
burn, Tucker and a few others who
sympathzed with him laid plot 10 circumvent the
House, and by a grand coup d. etai have Manning
placed i'm the seat which he is anxious to occupy,
although il is generally believed to belong 10
another man. Mr.. Manning was delighted WIN Ihe
scheme and at consented TO play ms parI. Inc
Speaker it seems was not let into the plot, but IL
was known several hours beforehand by great
many Republicans.
As the last hour of the debate approached Messrs'
Curtin. Manning, Blackburn and several other
Democrats were observed in close consultation at
the rear of the hall. When the chairman of the
Elections Committee rose TO move the previous
ouestion the group suddenly broke up. MI. Cur
Tin hastily came forward, followed by Manning,
who sank into vacant seat midway down the
aisle leading toward the Speakers desk. Mr.. Cur
tin claimed the floor as he said, TO withdraw
resolution offered by him on Wednesday to recon-
NIT the case with instructions. He seemed con-
siderably agntated. and Manning, who sat few
feet away, looked flushed and anxious not 10 say
sheepish.
MR.. CURTIN APPEALS FOR MANNING.
Mr. Curtin had only FIVE minutes in which TO
,lay his part in the farce. He spoke with great
energy of the authority and potency of a certificate
of election under the broad seal of a sovereign
State" and denounced as outrageous the PROPOSE
ton TO deny the right of representation" to the
people of a Congressional district. After speaking
in this strain about three minutes Mr.. Curtlns eX-
citenent increased and raising his. voice as ne
strobe toward the open in front OF the Speaker
he exclaimed that he now presented General
Manning al the bar of the House, bearing the GER
great State and demanded that the oath be admin
istered to him. Manning still seated, and he
seemed rather relnstant to move. General
Manning come forward" shouted \ r. Curtin. with
a dramatic gesture. Manning obeyed. attended by
Blackburn and Tucker. lie soon stood beside MI
Curtin his face flushed and his hands twltchlng
nervOusy. Produce the certificate" said Curtin
impatently, with another gesture. The poor, sell
s,ultifed Mississippian fumbled in his pockets
4 - 4 hNl .t NJ or
which three months ago he said he would seorn to
offer as evidence of his title TO seat III the
House.
THE PLAY INTERRUPT d.
The once despised but now precious document
was handed to the Clerk, but at that point the pro-
ceedngs were interrupted. Mr.. Curtins remarks
had been received with bursts of derisve laughter
bv the Republicans hut time had come TO put
stop to the farce Major CalkiDs made the point of
order that the House at that very time
engaged in the consideration of the question
whether General Manning was entitled to be sworn,
and until that question was decided no other ousl-
ness was in order. Mr.. turtin scOwled amazemeht
and defiance. The Speaker who had been watching
the whole performance with apparent contempt,
here interposed. He quietly remarked that of
course he should not undertake TO administer the
oath TO man whose title TO seat the House was
a pout to decide Mr.. Curtin was uOnpussed and
Manning was crushed. He covered vislbly under
the cool cutting words OF the Speaker, ana
after a moment of irresOlution he retreated and
dropped iuto the first vacant seat he c9nld ma.
Mir Curtin also retired in dudgeoD followed by
dcrisive applause and laughter from the RePub-
leans AS he did SO the irrepresslble Beltord ex-
claimed : g Ring down the curtalnw The Repub,
Icans aud good many Democrats were in mood
to be amused and this pun threw them into con,
vulsiOns of laughter. Aessrs blackburn ana
Thicker held their ground manfully and covered
the retreat of the leading actors in the farce
An hour later the House decided by vote OF
J3g TO lO4 that Manning does not hold
"perfect credentials, issued in due form and by
lawful authority" FOrty-hye Democrats and all
the Republicans present and voting comprised the
majority. On the resolution that Manning is en-
titled to qualify and occupy seat pending the
contest on the merits the vote ninetythree Tor
and / 90 against about sixty Democrats voting III
the negative. The seat will therefore remain va
the Hnnse decides who is entitled to II.