Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-20
THE SILVER MEMS VICTORY.
The House journal Corrected by a Vote
of 121 to 117-Speaker Reeds Talk.


The silver men won at every point in the
House yesterday-except that they did not get
their bill considered. Mr. Mills resolution
given in The STAR yesterday. correcting the
journal, was adopted by vote of 12l to III.
After Mr.. Crisp, MIR. Butterworth and Mr..
Anderson Of Kansas had spoken on the subject
OF the point Of order raised by MIR. Cannon
, against the Mills resolution, Butterworth and
Anderson supporting the point of order, Mr..
Reed rendered his decision overruling the
point of order
THE SPEAKERS DECISION
He said that he desired members of the
House to divest themselves of the idea that
any unusual procedure had taken place in con-
nection with this bill. The reference of bills of
this kind and in this way had been a daily oc-
currence since the adoption of the present
rules. The chair desired also that the House
should know that this particular transaction
oid not take place in corner. In the regular
course OF business the journal clerk had in
formed the Speaker that among the list Of bills
TO be referred under the rules to the appropri-
ate committees was the silver bill, with Senate
amendments The Speaker had been asked
whether he had any particular direction to
make In regard to it. Knowing the bill to be
one OF grave public Importance and anxious
that he should have all possible light on the
subject the chair had consulted the demo-
cratic members Of the committee on rules
tMessrs. Biount and McMillan) and the gentle
men from Missouri and Illinois, (Messrs
Bland and Sprlnger), not for the pur-
pose OF throwing any responsibility upon III EN-,
but In order that he might benefit by any light
they might be able to give. After conversing
with these gentlemen it had seemed clear to
the chair that the rules of the House covered
the question and that his duty was to treat the
bill as he would any other measure. Accord
nOt diractaA tn la "
change In regard to the reference
The House must bear in mind that this was
not question OF politics currency; it was a
question of parliamentary law; and on the de-
cision of the House depended the carrying out
of the system of rules the House had adopted
If not satisfied with the reference directed by
the Speaker under the present system of rules
the House could change the reference. Did
this bill contain provisions which. under the
rules, ought to be considered in committee of
the whole? There was provision in the orig
inai House bill by which certain bullion was to
be purchased and certificates issued thereon.
The Senate amendment, an amendment for
free coinage, and for this appropriation was
made. Ii anything was clear in parliamentary
law it was that this bill was one of those which
would be properly considered in committee of
the whole. and this being sc it was the OBJ
vlous duty of the chair to refer it in the same
manner in which hundreds and thousands of
bills had been referred during the present
session.
The point of order raised by the gentle
man from Illinois Mr.. Cannon put the chair
in an embarrassing position, because the pro-
posed action of the House was a declaration
that an error had been made in parliamentar
law 1t was proposed to erase from the journal
a question OF fact. While the chair might have
some doubt about the point of order he felt
that it was a question the House ought to
determine. He would, therefore, overrue the
point of order and submit the question to the
House.
THE VOTE on THE MILLS RESOLUTION.
The question then arose upon Mr.. Mills
resolution. Mr.. Cannon moved to table it,
which was lost by vote of 1913 to 11S. The
question then required on Mr.. Mills resolu-
ton. and it was agreed tO-yeas 121, nays III.
At the conclusion of the roll call the vote stood
yeas lis, nays 119 A change of one vote would
be necessary to defeat the resolution by a tie
vote. and that change was made by Mr.. Fun
ston of Kansas amid the derisve jeers of the
democrats. This left the vote-yeas l1S, nays
1lS. But Mr.. Abbott of Texas and Mr. Bull
lock of Florida (whose names were not re-
corded) stated that they had voted in the
affirmative and this made the vote-yeas 12O,
nays 1lS. Then MIR. Mckinley changed his
vote to the affirmative, and the vote was finally
announced-yeds III. nays III.
Mr.. Mills asked permission to withdraw the
preamble of his resolution, but Mr.. Mckinley
objected, and the preamble was then voted
down by 109 to l21