Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-19

Lively Time ut the Close of the Debate
ON the Fitz John Porter BILL
THE SHARP DISCUSSION BETWEEN MEssRs
BRAGG AND CUTCHEON-PEACE AT LAST

BRAGG AND CUTCHEON-PEACE AT LAST.
There was exciting time in the House over
the Fitz John Porter bill yesterday. The par
tisans on both sides dashed themselves into q
passion. The debate opened playfully and
closed in all uproar. The speakers were Will
liam Walter Phelps, Governor Curtin and Gen.
Bragg, all in favor of Porter, but about half the
House became involved during the debate
Governor Curtin delivered an off-hand address
full OF characteristic points and flngs that kept
Cutcheon, of Michigan and Steele, of Indiana
the principal opponents of the bill, bobbing up
and down with questions and all sorts of inter-
ruptions. He was full of anecdotes and had
the House in an uproar of laughter. He
chaffed the opposition for getting SO excited in
fighting over battle they had never seen, and
said it
REMINDED HIM OF STORY
which an old man in his little town had told so
often that he believed it himself. It was that
while at the battle of Monmouth, though a
member of the hOrse-guardS, he fought on foot
He cut and slashed about him so, taking off a
head here and cutting Britisher in two there
that his boots were tull OF blood, when he felt a
hand laid upon his shoulder. He looked up
ana there stood Young man.
DO not make a slaughter-house of the battle
field The governor added that if Porter was
traitor he (Curtin) was, and 'if any enc wants
to call me traitor, let him say it in the CORR
DOR"
TRAGEDY AND COMEDY.
When Mr.. Curtin concluded Gen. Bragg arose
with tragic wave of the hand and claimed the
floor. The other side claimed it. Confusion
followed. Several members shook their fists
in the air. some of them walking away down in
front of the Speakers desk to do so.
A motion was made to recommit the bill
with Instructions to include one Smith in its
provisions.
mis- was ruled out on a point of order. and
another motion to recommit was voted down.
irrtated the opposition until they were at
white heat. At times his emphatic and tragic
delivery was ridiculed by the republicans, but
cutting rejoinders. When he crouched and
Missed q taunt between his teeth, the republic
cans took it up in blood-curdling groan of
I'm glad to hear you groaning, gentlemen"
left" -'-'
AN EXCITING SCENE.
Mr.. Bragg accused MIR. Cutcheon of disinge-
nuousness in his statement of the number of
killed at the second battle of Bull Run.
Mr.. Cutcheon interrupted and said the gen.
tleman was trying to ram falsehood down the
throat OF the House. He became very much
excited, and walked down in front of the
Speakers desk, and across to the other side,
shaking his finger at the orator.
When Mr.. Bragg had finished, Mr.. Cutcheon
rose TO question of personal privilege, because
he had been called disingenuous.
both sides shook their fists in the air and shout
ed at the top of their voices.
MIR. Cutcheon, waving his hand in the air
made demonstration towards Mr.. Bragg. AS
he went back to his seat MIR. Bragg followed
after him into the middle of the space In front
of the Speakers desk. Finally It was settled
that 1t was not in order to call a member disin-
genuous. Then some one suggested that 1t was
not parliamentary to accuse member of try
ing to cram q falsehood down the throat of the
House.
Gen. Bragg said he would not seek redress
there. and shook his head In threatening
manner.
AT last the vote was taken and the bill passed.
as stated elsewhere, by vote of 173 to 113.
THE MATTER SETTLED.
After adjournment General Woolford acted
as peace-maker and carried to General Bragg
an offer on the part of Mr.. Cutcheon to with
then settled.
FOUND DEAD IN HIS RoOM.-About O'Clock
last night Richard NJ. Evans, living at Ala 9th
street southwest, reported TO Lieutenant Greer q
station, No. /, that Mr. James Bede, who occu-
pied the third-door OF house Ala 9th street, had
not been seen for two or three days, and that
parties living on the lower floor had Investigated
and found his door locked and all quiet within,
Officer Work went to the house with
Harry Hutton, and forcing open the door of the
room, they found the dead body Of Mr.. Bete
lying across the bed. DR.. Crook, who was called
In, gave the opinion that death was caused by an
affection OF the heart. Mr.. Bede, 1t Is supposed
had been dead about two days when the BODY
was found, as during that time he had been alb
sent from the government printing office, where
ne had been working as Pressman. He had
himself. His partially cooked meal was sittin3
on the stove. He was an elderly man, and the
house where he lived belonged to him, thong b
where he lived alone, cooking his meals and
washing his own clothing. It ID stated that he
has no relatives In this city.