Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-04
TURNS THE TABLES.
A NEAT CONCISE AND FLANK ATTACK ON
GAR REED.
Amos Cummings Introduces Significant Rssoln-
tiOn-Repu5lican Voters to be Imported
in Reeds District and Employed
in the Navy Yard.

New YORK, August 3.-The Herdlds
Washington correspondent sends the
following: Representative Cummings,
of New York, dealt Speaker Reed the
hardest blow yesterday that that gem
tleman has thus far received from a
long suffering and indignant minority.
The blow came in the form of reSolu-
tion of inquiry. 1t was aimed directly
at the Speaker, and with cruel irony
was 50 framed as to require its refer
ence to the Committee on Rules, OF
which Mr.. Reed is chairman. The res
oution. to be understood, must be read
in the light Of the following facts:
Away back i'm 1876 Congress passed
an act preventing the employment OF
additional laborers at any of the navy
yards OF the country during period OF
sixty days preceding an election in the
district wherein the yard was situated.
The purpose Of the law was to prevent
the use Of the yards for political pur-
poses, and il admitted of no exceptions
cccept in cases where the Secretary Of
the Navy certified the necessity for the
extra force. When the Naval bill pass
ed the House a few months ago, il con-
tained on appropriation Of $4,000 for
the reconstruction Of two buildings de-
StrOyed by fire at the kittcry (Me,
Navy Yard. in last January, besides the
amount necessary for the completion OF
the gunnery ship Lancaster. &c; for
repairs upon the training ship MOnon-
gahela, and for other purposes at the
same yard.
VOTES FOR REED.
On Saturday last the Daily Chronicle,
of Portsmouth, n. H., contained an adj
yertisement, signed by the Secretary Of
the Navy, calling for the immediate en-
ployment Of large force Of men at the
Kittery yard for the foregoing purpose.
The Kittery yard, it should be explain
ed, is situated in Speaker Reeds Con-
grcSSional district, and the manifest
purpose of suddenly increasing the
force by five or six hundred able-bOdied
voters receives a new Interpretation
when it is remembered that the autumn
elections, so fraught with interest to
Mr.. Reed, occur In Maine about six
weeks hence. Mr.. Cummings reSolu-
tion. after reciting in its preamble the
facts above stated, concludes a. fol-
lows:
"RcsolrCd, That the Committee on
Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire
into the necessity OF increasing the
force employed at the Kittery Navy
Yard at this time: whether the best in
terests Of the public service require that
the buildings destroyed by fire in Janu-
airy last shall be constructed; whether
the gunncry ship Lancaster should be
completed. etc. and whether the con-
templated employment or Il large force
at this time is not intended to affect the
approaching Congressional election in
the State Of Maine, rather than to sub
serve the public interests; that the said
committee shall have the power to send
for persons and papers and send sub
committee TO the yard. and that all the
expenses shall be paid out Of the contin-
gent fund of the House
IT SHOULD BE STATED
that when the appropriation for recon-
structlng the building was under con-
Sideration I'm the Senate it was strongly
opposed by so prominent Republican
as Mr.. Allison, or Iowa, is argument
being that the yard was useful OILY for
the purpose of repairing wooden ships,
a class of vessels now rapidly falling
into diSuse.
The interesting feature Of Mr.. Cum
mingS' resolution is found in its refer
encc 10 the Committee of Rules. Of
which Mr. Reed is chairman. If he
supprcSSes the resolution, thereby pre-
venting the Committee on Naval Affairs
from pursuing the investigation, he
makes virtual confession OF the allcga-
tions contained by reference in tho
resolution On the other hand, if the
Committee on Rules report favorably ON
the resolution. it will 90 to the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, Of which Mr., Bon-
tellc. of Maine: . personal friend of the
Speaker. is chairman. 1t would not be
an extraordinary thing for Boutelle to
carry the resolution around i'm his
pocket several weeks until the effect Of
the investigation, even if it were to be
made. would be practically neutralized.
The outcome of this Democratic flank
movement on Sneaker Reeds forces
will be awaited with no little interest.