Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-08
THE HOUSE DESPOT.
TALK WITH Mr.. SPRINGER REGARD
ING TIE RULES.
90 Sense Of pee~ncy--The Committee on
INSTRUMENTATION on Reed
Minor Mention.
lron Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON. February 7.--Mr, Springer.
Che prominent Democratic member OF the
House from Illinois. said 10 the Dispatch
correspondent today that he had becn in
Congress fifteen wears and never during
that time had a code of rules for the
guidance 81 the body been submitted 10 a
,,arti,s,n caucus. but the Republicans Ia
this House have taken a partisan view of
che case MIR. Springer also said that he
was quite certain mover IN the history of
che liovcTnmcnt had any action been
taken similar 70 that Of the Republicans In
ehis House He called attention TO the
fact that the Democrats had when
Nm control Of the House always
brought In o code az rules. and
that no one but tho members Of the
committee would see the rules before they
were submitted TO the House. They were
debated and amendments offered, and
Democrats rs well as Republicans opposed
certain provisions. Il have always OPP
posed certain rules that my own party as
Fociatos proposed" said MIR. Springer
Sometimes | succeeded in get
Oug changes, but most generally
failed Republicans demanded hearings
and changes, and they were literally and
sustv dealt with Really rules are adopt
cd for the protection Of the minority. A
majority can take care OF itself. but il Is
only fair and Just 10 tho minority that they
gho Constitution"
No SENSE OF DEcENCY.
II the Republicans had any sense of de-
coacv and fair play they would allow the
i.no-iit tho usual rights. but the tyrant
in the Speakers chair j. under obligations
fo She people who put him where he Is,
nnl hels compelled 20 do his worst SO that
fle uluulcrCrs who expect to sack the Irsa-
iu., 0i the United States may have every
safeguard thrown around them. and the
numbering can have thesanctiOn of legal
=. as Il were. There Will undoubtedly be
mourning among the taxpayers of the
itl when this Republican Congress gets
flr urh tapping the vaults where the sur
yil- IS kept. 1t anything is left in Uncle
hm's money-box ut all 1t will be
because the Republicans may not
ilr' time . empty II. The outlook for
l'.nler S. really SO magnificent that lob
ts.-f- and claim agents who are the pets
al OH. powers that be are flying into Wash
fn.'0n Ike buzzards that have scented
Ir.mA ilr The carcass Of q dead mule.
Ile House to-day considered nothing
frf routine business. The agreement be-
t.0r tho leaders Of each side Is that
l-iI r,tiou OF the rules reported by the
committee shall not como up until Mon
caI.
COMMITTEE or ELECTIONS.
The House Committee on Elections to-
gI. t..k upthe Virginia contestcd-clectiOu
.... oi Bowen rs. buchanan and gave each
ample time TO argue the case from
l.'. staudpoinis. Mr.. Chapman, from
& .'sWe~t Virginia. appeared for the con
r...sut lEowcul and made a pretty fair
r..rh. considering the very weak case
lt bis cliont has. Ex-Congressman
I,.u 7. Harris. Of Virginia. Is also one of
iDw,u's attorneys but did nOt make an
...untnf. Dir Buchanan made an aTgu-
.a4t .. about ore hour and q half in be
p 81 .f his claims T. retain his seat in
f.n,fe.s TO which the people OF the
Smith dl tuct elected Inn. lie certainly
f..u.l 10 greatly impress the kepubh-
rlu members of the Elections Commit
Geo. aad they gave him the most
..-uD-t attention. Alr, Buchanan only
claimed what the evidence and records IN
th.ct.c viii show beyond a doubt, and
b.. ,e las been ,oably presented IN every
l,.I that ho cannot fail to win if the con-
t.st B. decided 0n the merits, and partisan
lltalt4ee ls not taken. IL Is useless TO
g. into tine points made in the arguments
psfle ground has teen gone over before
orltle oulv thing the public Will be III
i.ret.d iu ls the hual disposition OF the
case.
WILSON OK REID.
The pres report ofthepoceedings Of the
li1u.aontheday that Congressman Wilson,
If w.. krr,uia. scored Speaker Reed SO
vuw.r.. fully having almost completely ig-
yor.i That portion Ol the distinguished
Democrat remarks, IL VIII doubtless be
a. utgr'~, o. Virginia people % know Just
what Dr.. Wilson said. HIS threats have
fuftht aUt0Cmtlc Speaker deeper than any
fliug perhaps yet a.medat him, though the
Nlst NIIginan was not as violent "A
some of the other Democrats who have
Indignantly protested agulus, the usurpa-
tNu of power ON the part OF the man whom
&C. majority this session have placed III
tHe chair Mr.. Wilson a. so highly honor
and respected by men on both sides Of
Che House that Mr.. Reed felt the criticism
of Al- arbitrary course more sensitlvely than
B., obey had been made by man more
Gf.u - making caustic remarks on the
lu1r Here ls the extract from the speech
which ht the bulls eye":
hal supposed that the speakership was
o. judicial position. / had IN idea that the
tn.ber was judge. had an idea that
1.D Speaker Wa, not PARTISAN. but would
,ll up 10 the old traditions and become
vfilN of his great position. Applause
ol thr Democratic side. When the
Speaker entered the char ! had hoped that
It would make a great and honorable
Speaker, and leave a great name behind
'm ln my fatal blindness / supposed
al p chastity WAS no more the virtue OF q
woman than impartiality was the virtue OF
e. SPEAKER laughter and applause on
tlt Democratic sidel. and that whatever
r-4c.. she possessed, whatever accom-
1lslments she might be endowed with,
ll.ku- that she fell from the estimation
,. msu. / had also supposed that the rules
Iu.lt uu los the experience OF the pastWerc
n'm.-t the solo huiwark TO protect the
Treasury Of the United States. 10 stop the
Of He
$50 schemes that cam" IN by the cart-load.
lpt tti, was when sat IN darkness and In
Ignorance. and before / had learned the
i.m,u,. advantage OF parliamentary
,.a. daughter l can now tell
SHAT parliamentary law Is. This es-
fuiial = that each ruling OF the
Speaker should be placardcd IN advance,
as theatrical bills ore, a. tho first and
ouls appearance" Laughter. Ii seems
that ccueral parliamentary law has made II
possible not only for q one-eyed man 10 be
d Speaker. but for him 10 be at an adyan-
-.ss. especially If the blind eye happens TO
y. toward tins side of the House, where
tIr minority sit. That Is the meaning OF
parliamentary law. ILaughter.l That Is
tI. meaning of the new dispensation
which Is 70 DO away with the rules OF the
House. Hereafter $50 members were
TODD representatives were 10 come
l-ro aud lrgislate. In the good time
coon 10 come tine Congressional Record
uld shrink into the size of volume OF
tI.e statutes, arN the statutes assume the
fza of the Congressional Record Inc
House would appropriate, il would legls,
Date L would irrigato ilaughterI, and
whatever il did 1t would never hesitate,
por mediate. nor cogitate. Laughter.
il would refund taxes TO those who wanted
them refunded IL would subsidlze whoever
wanted 10 be subsidized, and all members
would so homo with their public buildings
ln this new era. acting under general par
1ameuiary law, the lobbyist viii be IN
power IA legislation. He VIII not he Obliged
10 60 around and give checks to individual
members. What have members TO do with
lugisiations liaughter.l
Ale speaker will pas the bills; the
Speaker will approve the Journal. The
lobbyist Will have 10 come here, not TO
bother with members, hat 70 see" the
speaker. as o much more elective and
cheaper way Of lobbying. Let not gentle
Iucn on the other side hesitate to go on.
Let them press the advantage they nave
Ia. tbo l.yssttarso If finance they nave