Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-02-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. %. 1891
Speaker Reeds eminent fitness for the
position he holds. and honsrs by holding,
was never more purely demonstrated than
during the past week. when the democratic
members have been little better than a mob
OF hoodiums in both their manners and
their language. thas been openly acknowi.
edged by such democratic leaders as Rep
resentative Flower that it was their inten-
tion to delay the necessary business in the
house, such as the regular annual appro-
priation bills, in order to make it impossi-
BILE for the house to act on the amendments
to the federal election bill. after that meas
ure passes the senate, before the session ex.
pires by limitation. This is the first time
that the leaders Of political party have
had the audacity to publicly state that
they were endeavorinR to force an extra
session OF congress upon the country, and
the fact is not likely to be forgotten when
the people again get a chance. through hon
est ballot boxes. at the democratic party.
When Speaker Reed in the exercise of his
legal authority under the rules of the house
moved in opposition to the democraticP pro
gramme of senseless obstruction, it produc-
ed a scene that would have dsgraced q
ward meeting held in the toughest ward OF
the toughest city in America. Representa-
tive Mills, who. from the fact that he is the
leading southern candidate for Speaker of
the next house, should have some idea of
the respect due to the presiding officer Of
the house, showed himself to he both a
bully and a blackguatd by acting like a man
crazed from drink; he rushed down the GEN.
ter aisle OF the house shaking his fists and
shouting oaths and blasphemy that would
have caused his arrest, if indulgsd in upon
the street. He personally abused and
blackguarded the Speaker in language that
ought to bring blush OF shame to the
cheeks OF any gentleman. Amid it all Mr..
Reed was calm and dignified. The next
day Mr.. Reed said THE chair desires to
say to to the house that one reason why
he expects in due time that his services to
his country will be appreciated is because
OF the virulent attacks that have been made
upon him, the personal nature and char
acter of which this house can undsrsta nd.
The chair has endeavorsd at all times to
administer the rules of this house as he uu-
dsretood them: and as the house has sus-
tanned his decisions, the chair will continue
SO to do as long as he occupies the exalted
position to which he has been elected by the
House of Representatives. This little
speech furnishes as striking an illustration
Of unruffied dignity as was ever exhibited
a..
have resumed their tactics of leaving the
house in body to break a quorum.
Senator Vest has testified before the COM
mittee engaged in investigating the alleged
silver pool that Senator Cameron informed
him that he had specuated in silver and
thereby made some money. Mr.. Cameron
says it is true that he bought and sold sill
yer, but it was not until after the silver bill
OF the last session had passed the senate.
The election OF Gov. Hill to succeed Mr..
Evarts in the senate has excited little COM
ment here and that little is not favorable
to the senater-elect.
A number OF prominent rePublcans in
the house are in favor Of an amendment to
the Free Coinage bill. restricting free coinage
to silver of American production, and il
the bill gets before the house, which is by
no means certain. determined effort will
probably be made to have such An amend.
ment adopted.
The feeling among democrats in both
house and senate is as bitter as it was in
the most exciting times of reconstruction,
and in their desperation they are prepared
to resort to anything that promises to pre-.
vent the passing OF the Election bill.