Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-19
recorded the reference Of the bill to the COM
mittee on coinage, weights and measures under

mittee on coinage, weights and measures under
the rules.
1t sought to strike out a recital of fact. He
knew that there was an interest in this legisla-
ton. He knew it was an important matter.
He knew that gentlemen desired to consider it.
and it ought to be considered. But no man
on the floor of this House, what
ever his views might be touching
consistently with his own conscience and in
the face OF the country vote TO strike out q
recital of fact and by this left-handed, unpar-
llamentary method take from a committee .
Dill which under the rules belonged to it.
MR.. MILLS REPLIES TO MR.. CANNON.
Mr.. Mills (Tex.) characterized Mr.. Csnnon's
position as the boldest, most reckless and abb
surd position he had ever heard maintained in
legislative body. 1t only showed that a
bright well-stored well-dsciplined mind might
become beclouded by starting out in error and
continuing that course.
Vice is a monster Of such friehtful mien,
That to be hated needs but to De seen:
But seen too oft familiar with its face
We hrst endure, then pity. then embrace
tLaughter.l
The gentleman and his party had started out
at the beginning of the session by asserting
before the country by a code OF rules that one
man. or triumvirate, could control the action
OF the representatives of &C. 900 900 people. Un-
der 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-thar the Speaker had
not told him-as he had the other gentleman
from illinois MIR. Springer)- that this was
question for the House to determine.
The TWO PARTIES on THE SILVER QUESTION.
He 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. Att the hust-
lngs the people would ask the republicans why,
when they were sent here as the friends of sill
yer, they had voted to the death to prevent the
consummation of the peoples wishes and the
fulfillment of their promises
Mr.. Peters (kans. }, though declaring himself
Iree 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.. BIGGs RAISES A LAUGH.
Mr. Biggs (CaL) put an interrogatory with
such vehemence as to draw forth the laughter
of the House, which was renewed when Mr..
Biggs, in perfect good nature but totally OBJ
liylous of the Speakers gavel, continued to put
his questions.
Finally the Speaker asked sternly: .'Will
the gentleman from California be in orGer?"
Il will, replied Mr.. Biggs in a meek and
pleasant voice, which again gave rise to merri-
ment.
MR.. oRIsPs ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Crisp (Ga. submitted an argument to
show that under the rules the Speaker had not
the power to refer the bill as he had done.
In the course of his remarks he referred to a
decision made by the Speaker in regard to the
Washington post Office bill, which. he held, was
totally at variance with the present decision.
MIR. Butterworth controverted the construc-
ton put upon the decision by Mr.. Crisp and
said that if he had construed the Speakers
decision he would have voted to overrule it.
MIR. 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.
Mr.. Crisp, disclaimed any discourtesy in
drawing a simile between the gentleman's re-
mark and the remark of the Hindoo when he
approached his hideous god: II 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 rose and said dryly: THE chair hopes that
personal matters will not be introduced into
this discussion. Laughter.
RIGHT OF THE HOUSE TO REVISE THE JOURNAL.
Mr.. Springer Oil contended for the right
of the House to revise its journal and make it
show what a majority of the House decided it
should show The purpose of referring the
bill to the committee on coinage. weights and
measures was to prevent the House voting on
the question of concurrence in the Senate
amendments
The rules which, it is claimed, were in
tended to allow the majority to do business
and produce results were now prostituted to
the base purpose of gagging the majority of
the House.
Mr.. Bland (do.) held that there was no other
course open but to strike the erroneous refer
ence of the bill from the journal. That would
place the bill on the Speakers table again and
allow the House to get at it.
NOT READY TO ABDICATE YET.
Mr. Butterworth (Ohio) said that the time
had not come when the republican party was
willing to abdicate its control over the business
of the House. The question would be put next
fall-nOt in time to affect this question
Mr.. McMillin (Tenn. but it will be in time
for this question to affect it. Democratic ap-
plause.)
Continuing, Mr.. Butterworth held that the
real question before the House was whether or
not the Speaker had referred the bill to the
committee, not that it was or was not properly
referred.