The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-30
THE BLACK GAR.
REPUBLICAN SPEAKER REEDS
AUTOCRATC RULING.

couragtng Disposition 10 Fight.
WASHINGTON, d. c., January 29.--spe-
cial. Not since the exciting period provo
ked by the bitter presidential controversy of
= lsi6-'l7, has such a scene been witnessed in
the National House Of Representatives as
p that which occurred to-day when Speaker
/, Reed undertook 20 count Democrats who
r had refrained from voting in order % make
= a quorum appear. This was the day fixed
by the Republicans. and by arbitrary action
declared by the Speaker 10 be authorized by
his construction of general parliamentary
= law, 10 consider the Smith-Jackson
contested election case from the Fourth
West Virginia district. The Democrats
wanted more time, bat asserted their rights
and protested in vain. During the forenoon
and even up 10, aud in fact. after the hour
when the House had been called 20 order,
the Democrats were cOnferring as 10 the
line Of policy to be adopted. IL had been
openly asserted by Republicans that Speaker
Reed would count enough Democrats ms
present 10 exc out quorum. and the Demo
Gratis were prepared for some such unWar-
4 ranted and revolutionary action. 10 was
finally determined by the Democratic
leaders that they would resist the hasty and
unfair consideration Of these contested cases
by every means within their power.
THE FIGHT.
The fight opened upon bin of c0mpara-
tive insigniicance, one Do create three new
land districts i'm Colorado. There was no
real opposition TO this bin. but the Demo-
crats ayailet themselves OF 10 % consume
time. After the bill had been declared
] uuuunI HInpI Of D.. d
/ designated 10 take the lead, moved 20 recon- /
slider, and upon a motion 20 lay that on the /
table, demanded the yeas and nays BY .
/ legitimate and proper motions the DEM /
Ocrats obtained several roll calls, and I
at last when they could not DO otherwise .
refrained from voting. They had ascer- f.
taincd that the Republicans did not have /
quorum Of their own members in the /
| House. Then. at the conclusion of the /
reading Of the names Of the Re
publicans who had answered. Read
began TO name Democrats who had been
in their seats. but had declined a.
answer % their names. when he called,
from list he had evidently prepared. the
name Of Breckenridge, of Kentucky, that
able gentleman, statesman and soldier
sprang 10 his feet, and with face flushed
with Indignation at the outrage npOn his
rights, walked down the aisle towards
voice ringing in defiance shouted that
the act Of the speaker was unconstitutional,
revolutionary and not 10 be borne. One by
one as Democrats were named they shouted
their protests and defiance. Colonel o.
Ferrall Of Virginia made one of
the most eloquent and impressive protests
heard on the floor He declared that
the speaker had no right 10 record his vote.
and that In doing so he was guilty Of usur-
nufiQu aud ia.
Virginia alone had the right g. pass upon
his vote and his department in the House.
To them. and them alone, was he RESPONSE
bic for his voting or his presence or alb
sence, and he would not submit 10 any die
tatiOn by the speake0
An APPEAL IN VAIN.
Colonel Crisp. Of Georgia. denounced the &
act as unfair. unjust and unmanly, and he
appealed 10 the manliness. iO the manhood
Of the Speaker, and that of Republicans ON
the opposite side Of the House, Republicans
who had a. the minority on an Occa-
sOns received Just protection go
the hands Of the Democratic majority.
They should remember that at no time had }
the Democrats iniringed upon the rights OF
the Republican minority MO.sis. Diand
Of Missouri, Cooper OF Indiana, Compton
of Maryland, and other Democrats. indil- q
nanty and vigorously protested. despite 4
the effort OF the speaker tQ ignore ~
them. Hatch, OF Missouri, who has "a
voice strong enough 20 make itself 4
heard lover and above the din and ,
confusion, stated that his name had been d
read by the Speaker; that for "a week past
he had had AN honorable pair with Rock
well. Of Massachusetts: that on every Oc- F,
casion Of a vote ,he (llatch) had RETAINED Il
from voting. IN accordance with the rule, I,
Of honorable a.iiqn between men. iie mad on Il
several occasions announced his pair. and
the Record contained these announcements. 4
REED ADyERTIsEs HILL. @
Speaker Reed appealed for quiet and y
order and it was accorded him by the Demo d
Gratis. He then read "a very lengthy docu- ~
ment setting forth his reasons for his ace "a
tiOn, and for justification referred 10 a rul- p
ing Of Governor Hill. of New York when as "a
a lieutenant-gOyernOr he presided over Che 4
Senate OF that state. speaker Reed could /.
present no precedents except from state b
Legislatures. 10 IS the first time Il
in the history Of the National Congress tNai D.
any rules 0r action OF % State Legislature n
was ever offered as "a precedent for either e.
house. On the contrary, 10 has been the %
rule and custom since the foundation of the N
government for Congress % indicate rules n
n procedure and lay down precedents for n
state Legislatures and other similar bodies n
JUDGE CRISP. q
After Reed had delivered himself of his \
excuse ,iudge Crisp managed c
10 get the moor, but it was against bowling "
and hOoting and continued calls of "NOte'
from Republicans. 10 is more chan pr0ba- y
Die that Crisp would have been refused the u
privilege OF exposing the iallacy of Reeds y
position had there not been a significant e
Dreaki in the Republican ranks. Butterw0rth, p
lHIfUUufIrs I'D
and one OF the most prominent Republi- n
cans, stalked down the aisle and
obtaining commanding position in
rOnt Of the speaker, he declared tlhis Oh
: a most important question lu which the mi
Whole county is aCepiF Interested aud the Ol
Gentleman fIOm Georgia. deserves 20 De of
leard. l demand that he be heard"
This was like a sudden clap Of thunder to bi
he Republicans. They 40 once saw that
hey could not command the entire Repub- m
lean following; that some OF them were M
almost APPALLED,. at the bold and
eckless course OF the Speaker and Mr. 81
'risp was heard. ne was prepared,
md be simply ridded Mr. Reeds
miserable preteXt % Justify himself
'efore the country. BE cited pre- 81
edenis, and demonstrated that the Oh
curse Of Reed was an usurpation and AN Oh
outrage. Mr Crisp was cool and argumen- ca
dllAts Otlt u tic fA'liiN- lNNANlNliAn vi AAN
emand for "a hearing from Crisp. was I'M
'Owles. Of North Carolina. who ulshed 90 Of
he area in front OF the Speaker, and shak- ga
ng his fist threateningly shouted. "WeN til
ght for a hearing; Wen fight for it,
CARLISLE GIyEs um coUP DE GRACE. 65la
Crisp's reply TO Reed demolished every re-
OF the dcsp0iic Speaker, but il ca
here was anything len Carlisle finished IT, th
,eyel 10 Ais pnllie career as Carlisle APP va
eared 20 better advantage. in brief, W
lanly. dgniled aud argumentalive speech. ti'
e pointed out the fallacy Of Reeds posi-
ion and the dangers its adoption would 40
Fad 10. He based his argument upon the cl
Constitution, and showed that t0-day's he
ulng was clear defiance Of the organic 80
avs. Reed had % take two backward IA
tops. Hatch. who was counted by him, ma
vas paired, and OutnWaife was not in the -
I0use at the time. Just before adjourn pr
leRt Reed confessed his blunder, which ed
vas greeted with jeers by the Democrats.
McKinloy's mgtiOn % adjourn + also re- na
arded as a sign OF want 'pf nerve. Had nc
he Kpuublicau- been as united and dDtrr- ''r