Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-04
A BLOW FROM THE MINORITY.
Congressman Cummings, of New York,
Gets Back at Speaker Reed.

Gets Back at Speaker Reed.
NEW YORK, Aug. 4.-The Herald's
Washington correspondent says:
Representative Cummings, of New
York, dealt Speaker Reed the hardest
blow Friday that that gentleman has
thus far received from long suffering
and indignant minority. The blow came
in the form of a resolution of inquiry,
1t was aimed directly at the speaker,
and with cruel irony, and was so framed
as TO require its reference to the COM
mittee on rules, of which Mr.. Reed is
chairman. The resolution, to be under
stood, must be read in the light of the
following facts:
Away back in 1857 congress passed an
act preventing the employment of ad-
ditional laborers at any Of the navy
yards Of the country during Il 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-
pose. ard it admitted of no exceptions
except in case where the secretary of the
navy certified the necessity for the extra
force. When the naval bill passed the
house few months ago it contained I'm
appropriation of $50 900 for the recon-
struction of two buildings destroyed by
fire at the Kittery Me-, navy yard in
last january, besides the amount neces-
sary for the completion of the gunnery
ship Lancaster; for repairs upon the
training ship Monongahela, and for
other purposes at the same yard.
Saturday, July 20, The Daily Chron-
icle, of Portsmouth, N. H., contained
an advertisement signed by the secretary
of the navy, calling for the immediate
employment of IA large force of men at
the Kittery yard for the foregoing pur-
pose.
The Kittery yard, it should be ex-
planned, is situated in Speaker Reeds
congressional district. and the manifest
purpose of suddenly increasing the
force 800 or 800 able bodied voters re-
ceives new Interpretation when it Is
remembered that the autumn elections,
80 fraught with interest to Mr., Reed,
occur in Maine about six weeks hence.
Mr.. Cummings resolution after recit-
ing in its preamble the facts above
stated, concludes as follows:
RESOLVED. That the committee on
naval affairs be instructed 20 inquire into
the necessity of increasing the force em-
| ployed at the Kittery navy yard at this
| time; whether the best interests of the
public service require that the buildings
destroyed by fire in January last shall be
constructed; whether the gunnery ship
Lancaster should be completed, etc; and
whether the contem >lated employment
of a large force at this time is not intended
to affect the approaching congressional
| "a, f.,t . In pfatn nf tsnf
to subserve the public interests; that the
said committee shall have the power to
send for persons and papers, and send II
subcommittee to the yard, and that all
the expenses shall be paid out of the con
tingent fund Of the house.
1t should be stated that when the ap-
preparation for reconstructing the build
ing was under consideration in the sem
ate it was strongly opposed by so promi-
mat ~ nopublioa,i as Mr. Allison, OF
was useful only for the purpose of re-
pairing wooden ships, class of vessel-
now rapidly falling into disuse.
The interesting feature Of Mr.. Cum
mings resolution was found III its refer
ence to the committee on rules, of which
! Mr.. Reed is chairman. Ii he suppresscs
the resolution, thereby preventing the
committee on naval affairs from pursu.
ing the investigation, he makes virtual
confession of the allegations contained
by inference in the resolution.
On the other hand, if the committee
on rules report favorably upon the reso-
luton, it will 80 to the committee on
naval affairs, of which Mr.. Boutelle, of
Maine, personal friend of the speaker
is chairman. 1t would not be an extra
ordinary thing for Mr.. Boutelle to carry
the resolution around i'll his pocket
several weeks until the effect of the
investigation, even if it We're to be made
would be practically neutralized.
The outcome of this Democratic flank
movement on Speaker Reeds forces vii
be awaited with no little interest.