Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-23
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.

lion csiIlng on the secretary OF the navy Tor
information relative to the alleged erssures
of certain inscriptions and the dismissal of
Union soldiers at the Norfolk navy ward,
with an amendment extending the inquiry to
jismissals made at the navy yard and in the
lighthouse district at Norfolk during the
terms of the immediate predecessors of the
present secretary of the navy.
MIR. Herbert stating that the resolution was
substantially the same as that originally
offered by Mr.. Boutelle, except that it was
somewh hat broader, demanded the previous
question.
The republicans resisted. but on division
were outvoted 81 TO s4. Tellers were or
dered but the body of repub-
licans retrained from voting. and
upon the announcement of the result, Ill
10 I, Mr.. Perkins of Kansas raised a point of
order that no quorum had voted
1T is evident them" said Mr.. Herbert,
"that the gentlemen do not want their own
nterrogatious answered | withdraw the
report" Applause on the democratic side. !
Mr. Boutele-It may do so, object to
the withdrawal of the report.
Mr. Reed of Maine-The report is being
acted upon and cannot be Withdrawn.
The speaker held that as the report was
made to the House by order of the committee
the House. Applause on the republican
side.
Mr.. Reed-I suggest that the gentleman
from Alabama may allow the amendments to
be offered by my colleague.
MIR. Herbert-I have no instructions to al
low any amendment
Mr.. Reed-The gentleman can allow the
amendment to be offered.
Mr.. HERBERT decline TO allow any to be
offered Tne resolution embodies substan-
TALLY all the inquiries in the original resolu-
ton. and move a call of the House.
Mr. Boutele inquired wherhrr the gentle
man had stated that the committee had in
structed him to cal! the previous question.
Mr.. Herbert made no such statement.
MIR. Boutele-You were not 80 instructed?
MIR. Herbert made no such statement.
The repu ,icans opposed the motion for a
call of the House, but it was ordered by 4
vote of. yeas. l54: nays, 1913.
The call disclosed the presence of 296
members, there being but 30 absentees. aud
on motion of Mr.. Herbert a resolution was
adopted directing the sergeant-at-arms to ar
rest and bring to the bar of the House mem
bers as were absent without leave
Immediately Mr. Reed moved that all fur
ther proceeding under the call be dispensed
with.
Mr.. Herbert stated that the rules of the
uousa ,r.sented a reasonable t;ma for a do
bate on a resolution of this character Thirty
minutes was allowed IL for each aide after
the previous question had been called. 1t
was simply resolution of inquiry and there
was nothing to debate till the inquiry was
answered.
Mr.. Reed suggested that the committee on
naval affairs had aided an amendment to the
resolution which debate wooId show to be a
m;stake and entirely tutile.
MIR Herbert SAID tha; his side of the House
WAS entirely wilhn, TO accent the con,e-
ouences of anv mistake which might have
been made in amending the resolution. If
the inonirv mad. was futile then the answer
of tho secretary of the navy would show il
Mr.. Reed insisted that the House had the
right to debate anv resolution coming before
if and il was not for any man or set of men
to decide whether the proposition was a
proper one to be discussed.
MIR. Hewett of New York agreed with Mr..
Reed in maintaining the freedom of debate.
bur IN the present case there was nothing to
debate. The democratic side of the House
had had to maintain for many wears the
right of the representatives of the people to
discuss important political questions. and
many a time had he seen the other side of
the HOuse irving TO supnrpss a debate Ii
didn't lie in the month of the gentlemen on
the other side To taunt democrats with anv
attempt to limit debate. The House had de-
cided by its rules that on resolutions of this
sort there should be Is minutes debate pro
and con and this was justified from the fact
that this was no information on whicn an in
telliyent debate could be passed.
Mr. Reeds motion was voted down. and
after a short wait the sergeant at. arms
brought to the bar of the House Messrs Sow
den. Riggs and bingham. After being con-
sidearably yuyed bv their associates excuses
we're presented by these gentlemen. deemed
satisfactory and thav were released from cns
tody.
At 30 Mr.. Herbert thought that he had
secured a ouorum of democrats aud accord
inglv further proceedings under the call were
dispensed with. The previons question was
then ordered on the resolution. Then was
crowded into the next half hour the most ex
citing political debates that has been present.
ed to the House dur,ny the present session
The debate was opened by Mr.. Boutelle
who promised his direct speech upon the res
olution with a remark calling attention IN
the fact that the first legislation of the Honse
had been the passage. bv unanimous consent.
of bill removing the political disabilities of
ex-Confederates who had waited more than
90 wears before discovering the desire to be
placed in the line of eligibility to apnoint-
ment under the executive department of the
United States. In contrast with this he had