Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-21

vania-Thobe Talks to tho House in
His Own BehaIf-A Decision Prevented
by Republicans Not votIng-For and
Against Postal Telegraph.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 2l.-.The two
most interesting features OF the session of
the ouse Friday were personal explana-
ton by Springer, and the failure OF the
| house to take final action on the Thobe-Car-
| Isle contest
As to the first shortly after the house as
sembled Springer rose in his seat and had
read from the clerks desk an extract Of a
speech made Thursday by Kelly OF Pennsyl-
vania, to the effect that a member of the
congress which made an appropriation for
the Philadelphia centennial land who was a
member of the present congress) had claimed
| a fee of $40 900 for having inserted clause
In the bill making the loan, upon which he
could go into court and enforce its payment
| Springer said he had no doubt that he was
the member referred to. He had moved an
amendment to the centennial bill changing
the appropriation from a donation TO "A loan.
At the close of the exposition the board of
finance held that the money belonged
to the stockholders and not to
| the government. Suit was entered
by the United States and it was decided in
ney General Taft and asked him to appeal
the case to the supreme court. This was
| done, and the attorney general requested
him TO appear on behalf of the government.
He did 80, and the decision of the court be-
low was reversed and the money ordered
paid into the treasury. Ho had never asked
one cent for his professional services He
did file petition asking that his case be re-
ferred to the court of claims as to the value
of his services. The committee had reported
bill based upon his petition, but which had
never been acted upon, He hoped the. gem
tleman would retract the statement he had
male.
Kelly snid he had not meant to do an in
justice. The thing had an ugly odor when it
occurred; it not savory now. What he
meant to say was that. knowing the purport
of his own clause, the gentleman was the one
man among the 30, OOU 600 American citizens
who felt that the subscribers TO the EXPOSE
ton stock ought to be made to pay, and
hunted them till he stripped them of their in
vestment patriotic as it was.
Springer replied that if the gentleman
stated that he demanded a fee for inserting
the clause he stated what was not true. II
the gentleman meant to say that he pursued
the case with all the skill and ability Of
which he was possessed, he admitted it. 1t
was the proudest record he had made since
member of congress, and that was the opinion
of his constituents, who had returned him six
times since he made that record.
The Ihobe- Carlisle election case was then
taken up Several members spoke pro and
con, the Democrats justifying the elections
committee, and the Republicans holding that
enough had been shown by Thobe to make a
reopening of the case both just and expe-
dent. After the members had said all they
hour in which to present his claims to the
house.
He read from a communication which he
had sent to the chairman of the committee
on elections protesting against an uufavor-
able report upon his request until he had an
opportunity to examine the atfiiavitts pre-
sented by the contestee. In this communi-
cation he reterates in part the statements
contained in his affidavit filed with the com
mittee, denies the truth of some OF the afii-
davits filed by the speaker, and declares his
ability to disprove the accuracy of others il
be is granted an opportunity. He was
sorry, he continued, that the working classes
were beginning to lose confidence in the Sc.
curity of the ballot If the ballot was not
secure what did they have left9 Applause
on the Republican side He was a working
man; he did not consider it great honor,
exactly, to be a member OF this house. [Gen-
eral laughter and applause ] What he meant
was that mechanic was just as honorable
and noble as any other citizen. If every
gentleman here would rather be right than
be president these seats would be filled by
the right men. Laughter He did not pro-
pose to make any capital out Of the fact that
he was a workingman. He was not here for
favor, but for simple Justice
The previous question was then ordered
upon the resolution OF the majority of the
ommttee-which confirms the title of Car
Isle to his seat-and upon resolution in the
nature Of substitute offered by Lyman of
Iowa, declaring that the contest is Of such
Importance to the sitting member and to the
people of the country that it is entitled to
full, thorough, and impartial investigation,
and providing that the papers In the case
be printed and referred to a select
committee or subcommittee of the elections
committee which shall be authorized to in
vestigate the matter. The substitute de- |
teated-yeas, lbs; nays, 1872 Seven Demo-
crats-Bynum, Tillman, Foran, Hare, Nc !
Kinney, Shyely and Weaver-voted in the
affirmative
The question then REQUIRED on the major |
ity resolution, on the adoption OF which the |
yeas and nays were ordered. Upon the an |
nouncement of the vote it found that no quo
rum had voted, the Republicans generally |
refraining, and the case was thus left to
come up again.