The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-14
ROGERS OF lRKhNSlA,
TIE Speech That Drove Speaker Reed
from the Chair to the C1oAk Roou.

| Inc BDoAK0T-fOE WnAL purpose COOS inc
| gentleman rise
Mr. Roeers-1 rise to debate the motion OF
the gentleman from Tennessee. tLauRhter,l
| Mr. Speaker, the House will understand that
have been recognized this morning for the
| purpose OF debate
Mr.. Cannon-We are In love with your voice /:
| 20 on.
Mr.. Rogers-I am going on ; but as have an
| hour. and as this is the only occasion except
one during this session that have had this
indulgence, l propose this morning to so con-
duct the debate. II can, as TO bring the House
back to the Idea that this is a delberative
body. Laughter and applause on the Demo-
| cratic sidel
Tho Spoaker-The House will be In order.
| Mr. Rogers-Mr. Speaker, this is happy op-
portunity to invite the attention Of the coun-
try to the fact that we are operating under
what is called q code OF rules. So far as my
own discernment has gone. they do not seem
to bind anybody much. / cannot, exactly tell
that when operating under this new rule, which
| some distinguished writer In recent number
cd The Speakers Error" the result has been
false count and an incorrect journal
sse SSS s Ssy the 9ay se 1Srs
| close the day before that We could scarcely
breathe and 1t was very close also on the votes
,, Yesterday we had repetition Of the same
business some sort OF constitutional rule BY
which we shall be enabled to arrive at the
great diiiIcnlty in recognizing gentlemen on
the floor; 1t is very natural mistake. Doubt
less their eyes are, wandering. ~ the eyes OF
| promin ent officials do sometimes wander, from
the United States: which, 1t seems now, has
pie upon It, and the Spenker's "a we'll / do not
know but Of these two things the one might be
fore. In that sort OF way. the clerks are OF
| course. very liable to commit an error here and
Now, Mr.. Speaker. 1t does occur TO me that
We ought to have, some plan BY which We could
mature q bill in the House OF Representatives
day or two we have q resolution from the Sem
that we recall n bill that has gone TO the Presi-
dent IN order TO correct some error or to get the
then we have gentleman rise in his place e and
he can hardly do go without having his veracity
questioned and his character reflected up9nl
reference 10 which one OF two gentlemen he
was or was not. Have we not reached q curious
| the House Of REPRESENTATIVES,, presumed under
the Constitution to represent their respective
| districts and to be men OF character and stand
ing and honor and principle must have their
action questioned by another Representatiye OF
honored with the Highest place in the gift OF
the House Of REPRESENTATIVES or By the subor-
| dlnateS under him
| II this Is not humiliation II 1t is not dis
| grace to the national House Of Representatives.
then fail to apprehend the relations which
tlemen. And yet 1t Is matter Of frequent, oc:
currence that members OF this body are called
character And here we are. With all Of our our
promises under this new code OF rules, which
was 70 be an ample remedy, apanacea for all Of
thermometer. for the last two or three days at
least, at a hundred, with approximation bills
n mar fan n lnptc mt i1TNv nf
behind on the calendars. with tho promises OF
the political party wh9 a, fathers this code Of
Mr.. speaker, we had homilies here the other
day uron a free ballot and fair count Why,
House sysn sPf s f0Of tss
and applause on the Democratic side. We
cannot even manage under the best code OF
ideas, this party that is called before the peo-
pie the grand old patty or the 6. o. 2, as il
meant the good old Pharisee" party--we can
not even get an honest count OF the members
Of the House of Representatives under your
We have got Speaker, three or four clerks
at me desK or FRITZ hy naGes sup
cials-but We. cannot. get an honest, fair. and
have '' reaehed this climax Of re'orm Of a free zee
Why. Mr.. Speaker. | read an article the other
day Thich puTPorts to have been written by
InGRss M eeq 0 %ns beeVe
It was Contested Elections Laughter
have got the two ideas confused but they are
applause on the Democratic side.i 4 rienI Of
mine speaking, on that subject said that in
| order to get to Congress from the South 1t was
necessary to have three elections: First you
had to have the primary election to get he
getting that. you had to 60 before the people
and be elected by, them: and when YOU got
your certificate and came TO the House Of Rep
FpSantatiSas had TO Da elpptAi lRHiD. Il
generally We did not get elected the third time.
We may manage to do It twice but in the
| House OF Representatives, where we have got a
free ballot and fair count,w here we have 10 cor
the count Of the oIticials.we cannot get elected
ME- 50 wG fh bs1s wh
de den niH ID Contested Elections" Under.
takes 10 apologize for the Elections Commit
We'll, Of course, it could not be the Speaker OF
the House who wrote that article. ,Tha, is not
possible:, but certainly this much might be
Is not t Wholly depraTed. Tor he Apologies for
the committee, The veil Of charity is broad
But would like TO turn TO that apology. II
could find It.. IN this connection. Here is the
first part Of it:
s; nd ho ns g
auaasd DO SO, and utterly nosp.Sis ''''' 1A
That is the first part OF the apology.
| To sum up the whole situStion-
Another part OF tho apology
II may be said that present method Of determining
| election cases is unsatisfactory in results
| daughter on Democratic side
| Now. Mr. speaker, there Is another para
| graph in this article that / am reading from
| that l think is worthy of place In the history
| OF the country. 1t Is this
Its true in theory that the House. upon
may proceed TO correct all the mistakes and
uBurpatiOpR Of tho Clerk Yet in fact such
aud usurFanons have been committed in the interest
OF party and for the very purpose OF putting that
| party in power.
1t seems to me that have witnessed some-
thing OF that kind once In n while laughter on
| the Democratic side, mistakes OF that kind
made not only by the clerks but by other gem
| tlemen.
Now regard this as not only an explana-
ton. but q most Interesting apology for the
| Election Committee Of the House. Laughter
on tho Democratic aide.
They have had no difficulty. no doubt IN
finding ample and conclusive excuses. not
reasons, so far rs they We're concerned, under
tho peculiar circumstances of the case for
coQmplishing al that has been accom-
tho other, day when the election bill was on
hand and was being voted on. when every one
OF the gentlemen who had been elected by
| the House Of Representatives" voted when his
name was called and voted In support OF the
| bin there was always applause upon that side
| from their constituency and Mt tha ara