Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-09-26
EXCITING SCENES
ENACTED In THE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRE-
SEHTATlVES.

THE LANGSTON-yENABLE CONTEST-A DOOR
KEEPER LOCKS THE DOOR TO KEEP THE
DEMOCRATS IN AND MAKE A QUoRuM-THE
DEMOCRATS KICK THE DOOR oPEN-THE RE
PUBLICANs FINALLY SUCCEED IN SEATING
LANGsToN.
&C, &C., SC
From the Washington correspondent of the
Richmond Times, Sept. 1Sth.I
This was the most exciting day SO far of the
Langston-V enable contest. On several occa
sons an eruption was imminent. Speaker
Reed essayed to improve upon his former re-
cord as an arbitrary tyrant by overriding the
rules. In the first place he undertook to dc
what no prior Speaker had ever even contem-
plated-that is, to proceed with regular bust
ness before dispensing with the call of the
House. When the call was concluded, the
Speaker directed the Clerk to call the roll on
tie approval of the journal. At this, Judge
Crisp sprang to his feet and declared that
under the rules only two motions were i'll
order-One to dispense with the call and the
other to adjourn. Reed in a mumbling way
undertook to say that no motion had been
made to dispense With the call. Crisp, with
warmth, retorted that the Speaker should not
trample upon the rules while he was present.
He exclaimed: "The Speaker is the servant,
not the master, of this House, and no tyrant
shall deprive me OF my rights
Reed ordered Crisp to take his seat, but the
latter continued to protest Numerous Repub-
Leans shouted Irregular order" but Crisp
would not down. He maintained his ground,
and forced Reed to recant and abandon the
position he had taken. The few Democrats
who remained Oh the floor were indignant at
previous ruling, or rather count of the
Speaker. On question OF quorum there were
less than one hundred members on the floor.
The Democrats kept an accurate tally and
yet Reed, after pretending to make count,
announced a quorum present. Col. O'Ferrall
challenged the count, and the Speaker ignor-
ed him. Then Col. O'Ferrall said there were
men on the floor ready and willing to swear
that when the quorum was counted there were
less than one hundred members present.
Reed replied in haunting voice that the
rules did not provide for taking sworn testi-
mony as to the presence OF quorum.
THE EXCITEMENT AT ITS HEIGHT.
But the exciting episodes came when an eff
fort was made to keep the doors closed, and
thus prevent Democrats from leaving the hall
Of the House. Burrows went to the doorkeep-
ers individually and gave them orders to lock
all doors and refuse Ill members egress. This
was during call of the House, it is true, but
never before had the doors leading into the
lobby been locked. The lobby has always
been considered part of the House. Within
ten minutes after Burrows had given his Or
der, Coleman, Of Louisiana, a Republican,
and Cummings, of NewYork, the we'll known
journalist, presented themselves at the door
just to the left of the Speaker desk, demand
ing egress. The doorkeeper informed them
that lie had orders to deny passage to any
member. Coleman who, though Republican,
is a Southern gentleman, fired up at once and
replied: you will not keepm in here. With
that he kicked against the door with all his
might, but it did not yield. Then Cummings
said, "Pll go out, and tanning his shoulder
against the door it gave way. Coleman.
Cummings, and several others passed out,
The broken door was Immediately repaired
and scarcely had the, doorkeepers hraced
themselves to deny further egress, when the
burly form Of the big-brained Kilgore, of
Texas. confronted them, demanding passage:
He was also denied, Kilgore squared himself
for muscular assault upon the door He
struck it with full force and the splinters flew
in every direction. Unfortunately Dingley of
Maine was on the outside just preparing to
ask for admission. The broken door struck
Kilgore deeply regretted the unintentional
blow. and apologized., Dingley accepted the
apology, and admitted that there was no au-
thority to lock that door. After that there
was no further trouble in leaving the House.
REED DENIES.
Speaker Reed denied that he had authorized