The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-02-12
AsHEv1LLE, N. c.. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY

age of the tobacco tax hill, he Blair ed
ucational bill and the gene raj pension
bills. The democrats were here to-day
to obstruct legislation. The whole pnr-
pose of the democratic party on this
floor was to obstruct and impede the
representatives of the people from going
forward with the business of the people,
The republican party was on the side OF
progress. The democratic party stood
as an obstructionist and nothing else.
The republican party had inaugurated
every political reform in the country sine,
1856. 1t was n vain thing to look to the
democratic party to recognize the exist
ence ofreform untilit had been forced upon
it by the action of the people. The prop
osition now made was that the majority
should take possession OF the response.
bility which had been placed upon it by
the votes of the people of the country.
Mr.. Holman. of Indiana, characterized
the proposed code as being complete
revolution in parliamentary procedure,
extraordinary in its character. He espe-
cially antagonized the clause providing
that 100 members. shall constitute n
quorum in the committee of the whole,
declaring that this provision would
place the great appropriation hills at the
mercy of a handful Of the majority. He
spoke Of various occasions upon which
resort to the filibustcring methods had
been of benefit to the country, and re-
ferred with much emphasis to the defeat
of the force bill by the minority under
the lead of Samuel ]. Randall; and he de-
clared Mr.. Randall's course at that time
would crown his memory with honor as
La, rfJc. - Il
vive.
Mr.. Payson. of Illinois. defended the
proposed code and argued the necessity
OF the rules which would give to the ma
jority power to take affirmative action.
Mr.. Hatch. of Missouri, said that he
would not attempt to argue in detail the
radical and violent changes in the rules.
He made war upon the report as an en-
tircty; he made war upon it us a change
in the system of procedure Of the house
because he thought that he could SEE
through the evil motive behind it. He
was opposed to the report III toto, be-
cause it was partisan, because it came
from the republican side of the house rep
resenting the republican party; because
it came from the majority of the repub-
lican representatives, which had whip
ped into traces the minority of their
party, and compelled them under pains
and penalties OF the party lash to ap-
prove the rules, as Il whole. He believed
in parties; he stood by his party; he
was not complaining that the rcpubli-
can organization had been strong enough
to induce some of its strongest men to
support the rules. but in that induccment
lay the danger to the country. He de
prccatcd any harsh language orephithets
addressed to the speaker of the house,
that did not include in their structures
the entire republican party. The speaker
of the house, bad as he was, was no
worse than his party.
The republican party had time and
time again sustained the speaker in his
revolutionary and unconstitutional rul-
ings. The republicans had acted well in
electing Mr.. Reed as speaker. To-day
Mr.. Reed represented more clearly and
fairly than any other man the scheme
and purpose and determination of his
party. The gentlemen on the other side
had said only the rights OF the minority
were to discuss and amend, but as far as
the democratic minority was concerned
one OF their rights was to protect the pub
lie treasury.
Mr.. McAdoo, of New Jersey, antagon-
lied the rules as giving to the speaker
right to Judge conscience of a member. to
impugn his personal honor, as well as tn
restrict his personal rights.
Pending further debate the house lin
accordance with a resolution offered by
Mr.. Springcr) at s o'clock took recess
until II o'clock tomorrow.
The debate on the rules will continue
tomorrow. At 8 o'clock the house will
take recess until & O'Clock when the
discussion on the democratic side will he
closed by Mcssrs. Carlisle and Springer.