The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-20
mind might become clouded by starting out
10 error and continuing that course.
Vice is monster Of such frightful meln,
Ihat 70 be hated needs but 70 be seen;

we nrst 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 the code of
rules, that one man, or triumvirate, could
control the action Of the representatives of
oo.oOO,OO0 people. Under the constitution
Journal is to be kept by the House, not by
the speaker or his clerks. He was aston
ished while the gentleman was pursuing
his argument that the speaker had not told
him, as he had the other gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Springer), that this was q ques-
ton for the House to determine.
PETERS STANDS BY REED.
Mr.. Peters of Kansas, though declaring
himself free coinage man, sustained the
speakers action, contending that under the
rules It was the speakers duty to refer the
bill as he had DONE
Mr.. Crisp submitted an argument to show
that under the rules the speaker had not a
right 70 refer the bill as he had done. In
the course of his remarks he referred to the
decision made by the speaker in regard to
the Washington postof1ce bill, which he
held was totally at variance with the pres
ent decision.
Mr.. Butterworth controverted the con-
struction put upon the decision by MI,
the speakers decision he would have voted
to overrule it.
Mr. Crisp suggested that if the gentleman
had done that it would have been the first
time he had ever voted to overrule the
chair.
Mr.. Butterworth remarked, smilingly,
that the chair was always right.
A VERY CRISP REPLY.
Mr.. Crisp, disclaiming any discourtesy in
SO DOING drew simile between the gentle
mans remark and the remark of Hindoo
when he approached his hideous God: "I
know that he is ugly, but feel that he is
great" This sally gave rise to hearty
laughter, in which the speaker Joined,
though in a moment he arose and said
dryly: "The chair hopes that personal
matters will not be introduced into this
discussion" Laughter.
Mr.. Springer contended for the right of
the House TO revise its journal, and make it
show what the majority of the House de-
cided that 1t should show. The purpose of
referring the bill to the committee on coiu-
age, weights and measures was to prevent
the House from voting on the question of
concurrence in the Senate amendments.
The rules which it was claimed were intended
to allow the majority to do business and
produce results were now prostituted to the
base purpose of gagging the majority Of the
House.
ONLY ONE COURSE PROPER.
Mr.. Bland held that there was no other
course open but to strike the erroneous
reference Of the bill from the journal. That
would place the bill on the speakers table
again and allow the House to get at it.
Mr.. Butterworth said that the time had
not come when the Republican party was
willing to abdicate its control over the busi-
ness Of the House. The question would be
put next fali-not in time to affect this
question.
Mr.. Mclffllin Of Tennessee But it will be
in time for this question to affect it. Demo
cratic applause.1
BUTTERwoRTHs IDEA OF THE ISSUE.
Mr.. Butperworth held that the real ques-
ton before the House was whether or not the
speaker had referred the bill to the commit
tee-not whether il was or was not properly
referred.
Mr.. Springer argued that the silver bill
was not properly. under the rules before
the House yesterday, because the business
on the speakers table had not been reached.
The debate ran along on these lines for
some further time, participated in by
Messrs. Mills, Butterworth, Springer. An
derson of Kansas, Conger. Crisp, Williams
of Illinois, Cannon, Payson, Burrows and
Breckenridge.
SPEAKER REEDS DECISION.
The speaker, in rendering his decision,
said that be desired the members of the
House to divest themselves of the idea that
any unusual procedure had taken place in
connection with this bill. The reference of
bills of this kind, and in this way, had bean
daily occurrences since the adoption of
also that the House should know
that this particular transaction
did not take place in corner. In the regu-
lar course of business, the journal clerk had
informed the speaker that among the list Of
bills to be referred under the rules to appro-
pirate committees was the silver bill with
the Senate amendments. The speaker had
been asked whether he had any particular
direction to make in regard to it.
DEMOCRATS CONSULTED.
Knowing the bill to be one of grave pub
lie Importance, and anxious that he should
have all possible light on the subject, the
chair had consulted the democratic members
of the committee on rules (Messrs. Blount
and McMillin) and the gentlemen from Mis-
souri, and Illinois (Messrs. Bland and
Springer), not for the purpose of throwing
any responsibility upon them, but in order
that he might benefit by any light they
might be able to give. After conversing
with those gentlemen it had seemed clear to
the chair that the rules of the House COW
cred the question, and that his duty was to
treat the bill as ne would treat any other
measure. Accordingly, the clerk was not
directed to make any change in regard to
the reference.
NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION.
The house must bear in mind that this
was not a question Of politics or currency.
1t was a question of parliamentary law,
and on the decision Of the House depended
the carrying out of the system of rules the
House had adopted. II 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
wholef There was provision In the orig
inal House bill by which certain bullion
was to be purchased and certificates
issued thereon. The Senate amend
ment was an amendment for
free coinage, and for this an appropriation
was made. If anything was clear in par
liamentary law it was that the bill was one
of those which would be properly consid-
cred in committee Of the whole; and, this
being so, it was the obvious duty OF the
chair to refer iJ IN the same ma nner in
which hundreds and thousands Of bills had
been referred during the present session.
PUT IN A BAD POSITION.
The point Of order raised by the gentle
men from Illinois (Mr. Cannon put the
chair in an embarrassing position, because
tne proposed action Of the House was a
declaration that an error had been made in
parliamentary law. 1t was proposed to