Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-06-20
REED RULE BROKEN
A MEMORABLE DAY IN THE HOUSE YES
TERDAY.
The First Great Silver Battle-Democrats Aided by
a Handful Of Republicans Rspudiate
the Speakers Reference Of
the Silver Bill.

the Silver Bill.
WASHINGTON, June l9.-The Democrats
came into the House this morning prepared
10 fight the right Of the Speaker to refer
the Silver bill to the Committee on Coinage.
Springer, Mills, Breckenridge, and others
We're on their feet before the reading of the
Journal was approved, ready TO make
points of order. Mr. Mills, Of Texas, OBJ
jected TO its approval, on the ground that
the clerk had not read it in full. The
Speaker suggested that the clerk had only
omitted TO read such portions as IL is Gus
tomary not to read, but he directed the full
reading Of the Journal.
During the reading MeSsrs Mills and
Mckinley remained standing, anxious to
claim recognition. The latter was success
ful, and he moved that the journal be ap-
proved. Upon this he demanded the pre-
vious question, despite Mr.. Mills protest
that he was entitled 10 recognition TO move
10 correct the journal Mr. Springer, ris-
ing 10 a question of order, raised the point
that the journal contained the record of
something which had never happened, aud
which should not be in the journal. The
Speaker replied that that was for the
House 10 decide and directed the Clerk
10 call the roll The Clerk proceeded
with his duty while Mr.. Springer,
amid the applause of his party col
leagues, entered his vigorous protest, ad-
dressing the Speaker and saying: "G GU
can ignore the rights Of the representatives
of the people, but the people will pull YOU
down, sir, at the polls next November, and
your party with YOU Tho Speaker was
imperturable, however and the roll call
continued.
M'KINLEY BEATEN.
The House refused to order the previous
question-yeas l06, nays III. The follow
ing Republicans voted with the Democrats
i'm the negative: MeSsrs Bartine, De
Haven, Kelly, Kerr Qowa), Lind, Morrow
and Townsend Colorado. When the loud
Democratic applause ceased, Mr. Mills was
recognized by the Speaker He offered a
resolution reciting that the order
of reference made by the Speak
er. referring the Silver bill TO
the Committee on Coinage, Weights and
/ Measures was incorrect, under the rules of
/ the House. and was made without author
| ity under the rules, and resolving that the
journal be corrected by striking therefrom
| this entry.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, raised a point OF
order against the resolution. 1t proposed
TO strike out an entry in the journal which
recorded 4 question of fact. IL was not in
order. for the reason that, If accepted. IT
would have the effect of changing the ref
erence of bill with Senate amendments
otherwise than was provided by the rules
OF the House He proceeded TO argue
/ that the Senate amendments would
REQUIRE TO be considered in Committee
of the Whole That being so, il was
the duty Of the Speaker to refer it to
I the Committee on Coinage. Weights and
I Measures. The resolution sought TO change
something that was in the journal which
recorded the reference 10 the bill to the
| Committee on Coinage, Weights and Meas
ures under the rules. II sought TO strike
out recital of fact. He knew that there
was an interest in this legislation. He
knew that IL was an important matter.
He knew that gentlemen desired 10 con-
slider IL. and it ought 10 be considered. But
no man on the floor of this House, what
ever his views might be touching the
merits of this legislation, could consistent
I lv with his own conscience and in the lace
/ of the country vote to strike out a recital
Of fact: and by this left-handed, unparlia-
mentary method take from a committee
bill which under the rules belonged to it.
MR. MILLS CHARACTERIZED
Mr.. Cannon's position as the boldest, most
reckless and absurd position he had ever
heard maintained in a legislative body. II
showed only that a bright well-stOred,
well-disciplined mind might become be-
clouded by starting out in error and con
tinuing that course.
Vice is % monster Of such frjshtful mcin.
I That 90 le hated needs but tThc seen;
! hut seen too of. familiar with II face.
[ We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
The gentleman and his party had started
out at the beginning Of the session by as
serting before the country, by code OF
rules that one man, or triumvlrate, could
control the action of the representatives Of
/ 66. 600 900 people Under the Constitution
the journal was TO be kept by the House,
not by the Speaker or his clerks.
He was aStOnished-while the gentleman
was pursuing his argument-that the
/ Speaker had not told him as he had the
other gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Spring
err that this was a question for the House
to determine. Be charged the Republican
party with being false to its pledges on the
matter of silver.
/ The Democratic party would give the
people free and unlimited coinage Of silver.
At the hustings the people would ask the
Republicans why, when they were sent
here as the friends Of silver, they voted to
the death 10 prevent the conSummation OF
the peoples wishes and the fulillmeDt OF
their promises.
CRISP'S CUTTING WIT.
Mr. Crisp, Of Georgia, submitted an ar
onment 10 show that under the rules the
| Speaker had not the power to refer the
bill as he had done. In the course OF ms
remarks he referred 10 decision made by
the Speaker in regard to the Washington
luostofice bill, which he held was totally at
variance with the present decision.
Mr.. Butterworth controvertcd the con-
struction put upon the decision by Mr.
Crisp. and said that if he had so construed
the Speakers decision he would have voted
TO Overrule il.
In reference to a remark by Mr. Butter
worth that the Chair was always right
Mr.. Crisp. disclaiming any discourtesy
drew a smile between the remark ana that
ofthe HindOo who approached ms hldeous
god. saving: Il know that he IS ugly, but |
feel that ne is great The Speaker joined
i'm the hearty laughter that followed, ana
caused another Outburst by remarklng dry
". .The Chair hopes that personal mat
ters will not be introduced IN thlS ulSVuS-
sion ,., q.
/ MIR. Springer. of Illinois, contended the
RIGHT of the House to revise its journal and
10 make il show what majority OF the
House decided that it should show. The
pnrpose of referring the bill to the Com
mittee on Coinage. Weights and Measures
was TO prevent the House from voting on
the question Of concurrence in the Senate
amendments. The rules which, 1t is
claimed were intended to allow the ma
ior.itv TO do business. and TO produce results
that where now prostituted to the base pur-
nose of gagging the majority of the House.
An UsURPArIoN OF POWER.
Mr.. Mills. Of Texas, said that the point
ne had made was that under existing rules
the silver bill remained upon the Speaker
table. 10 be disposed Of as the House ana
not the Speaker should determloe ms
resolution did not state that something hau
been done enormously and that therefore II
had not been done at all. II declared that
the Speaker had done what the House
alone had the power TO do.
Mr. Beckenridge, Of Kentucky argueu
that if the Speaker went beyond the scope
Of his authority in his reference Of the blll
his action was not erroneous but lliegd,
and void. The action Of the Speaker had
no validity unless the House gave IL
validity. If the pending resolutions Were
voted down the reference of the bill would
be the act of the House, not Of the SPEAK
er. He who voted 10 sustain the reference
would vote 10 give IL validity. The speak
er in rendering his decision said that ne
desired members of the House to divest
themselves Of the idea that any uuusual
procedure had taken place in connection
win this bill The reference of bills of
this kind and in this way had been daily
occurrence since the adoption OF the pres
ent rules. ,,.r-,
Mr.. Cannon moved to table Mr.. Mills
resolution. On a standing vote this was
-. W for