The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-06
THE JOKER JOKED.
Congressman Cummings Makes
a Show Of Himself.
The Failure Of His Accusations against
Speaker Reed.
Charges of Colonization " at the Kittery
NaYy-Yard Fall 10 the GrOund-BOu-
telle's CauSIic Reply.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-Amos j. Cum
from the New York Sun some time
ago to succeed Sunset" Cox In
Congress, made great fool of himself to-
day. Recently his vigilant, journalistic eye
caught sight of certificate signed by the
Kittery (Me.) Nayy-yard officials, to the
effect that greater force would be required
in repairing the warships Monongahela and
Lancaster. Based upon this, the Navy De-
partment ordered an increased force.
Now the Kittery Navy-yard is in Thomas
B. Reeds district The talented young
man from New York, true to his journal
istic instincts, saw big chance to work up
double-leaded sensation. He introduced
a resolution of inquiry, demanding to know
of the Secretary of the Navy what con-
tingeucy rendered necessary the additional
employment of men at this time in the
Kittery Navy yard.
The Democratic press, from ocean to
ocean, printed Mr.. Cummings great tex
elusive" discovery under flaring headlines.
They had caught the sharp-witted Yankee
from Maine at last. Fearful of def eat at
the approaching election, he was engaged
in colonizing his district with navy-yard
Republican employees. The Democratic
press howled with delight; it had discov-
cred the vulnerable spot on the Yankee
Achilles. AT this time an ambitious young
correspondent attempted TO interview
Speaker Reed.
81 presume you have seen Mr.. Cummings
resolution" demanded the ambitious youth.
II presume also that the Secretary of the
Navy will be forced to give some reason for
increasing the Kittery Yard force"
Reed did not wish to be interviewed by
this fedgeling, and his bright repartee
served him well.
"What" laughed he. shaking his fat
Falstaffian sides; "giye a reason upon COM
pulsion? We're reasons as plenty as black
berries, I'd give no man reason upon
compulsion."
When it became noised about this morn
ing that Amos J. Cummings intended to
excoriate Speaker Reed and rub salt into
the wounds, the floor and galleries of the
House were crowded. Mr.. Cummings
worked himself into violent fury. He
whooped, screamed and tossed his arms
about like a windmill The Democrats
were delighted. They smiled and winked
at each other, as though to say: just
listen to our young man; amt he dandy?"
When MI Cummings had taken his seat
and had been Congratulated" in due form,
| Mckinley yielded thirty minutes of the
| Republican time TO B0utelie of Maine,
| Chairman of the House Naval Committee.
] His opening remarks were rather lame and
| hating. The Republicans were fearful that
| his defense of Reed would be unSatisfac-
| tory, and the Democrats fairly beamed with
| joy But as Boutelle warmed to his subject
| and took up Cummings charges and refuted
| them seriatim by brilliant flow of lam
| guage and bright passages at repartee, the
| Republican side cheered him TO the echo.
How, them" asked he, would the col
onization at this time OF the 10000 men Gin
buckram or otherwlse) affect Congress
| siOnal election occurring in September,
| when the Maine election and registration
| laws required an actual residence Tor three
months Immediately preceding the cleo
| tion?"
| At this the Republicans roared with
| laughter. Speaker Reed shook his fat sides,
| and even Roswell P. Flower of New York
was forced to join in the laugh at poor Cum
mings expense.
He sat as if dumfounded. The Demo-
| Gratis looked toward him for some explana-
! tion, but he was dazed and the power of
speech had gone. BUutelle continued: My
| usually bright journalistic friend has at
| tempted to foist upon us very stupid
| fake"
The laugh now became general, and poor
| Cummings sat as if bewldered. He has
| suffered much in the estimation of his
| friends by this mornings performance.