The record-union., 1891-01-13
The House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. I'm the House,
Dockery, rising to a question of privilege,
offered a resolution reciting the fact of
the reference of his ''Silver Pool" resolu-
ton to the Committee on Rules, and the
fact that the committee refused to report
the same, and directing the committee to
report the resolution to the House for
consideration.
Dingley of Maine made the point that
| the resolution did not involve the ques-
| ton OF privilege.
He changed the phraseology of the
pending resolution so as to discharge the
Committee on Rules from further consid-
Grafton of the resolution, so as to bring it
now before the House. Mckinley of Ohio
said that whether or not the original reso-
luton involved a matter of privilege had
nothing to do with the pending question.
1t has been referred TO the Committee on
Rules, and the committee was now con-
sidering the matter. He had not the
slightest objection to the broadest investi-
CATION, but until the committee make it's
| report the motion to call the resolution
was not question of privilege.
Mills of Texas contended that the orig
inal resolution referred to the dignity and
integrity of the members of the House.
The House did not lose the jurisdiction of
| q question because it referred its consid-
Grafton to one of the committees
mine was whether it should recall the
subject. There was no doubt as to the
| power of the House. The question was
one of propriety, and this question must
be considered with reference to the length
OF time the resolution had been before
| the committee.
| The resolution had been referred on the
| first day of the session. The session was
now half gone and nothing was done.
| The House ought not to adjourn until it
eXculpated the innocent and placed con-
demnation where it rightfully belonged.
Adams of Illinois argued that the reso-
luton did not involve the question of
| privilege.
Crisp of Georgia said that there was no
express rule authorizing the discharge of
| the committee, but this was not an ordi-
| nary case. The original resolution was
| unquestionable of the highest privilege.
| If the committee refused to report the
| resolution the motion to discharge was
privileged.
The Speaker inquired if the gentleman
believed the original resolution to be one
of privilege.
Crisp replied that he had assumed that
| the Speaker had so held.
The Speaker stated that he had not On
| the contrary, in a somewhat similar case
| he ruled, and the House sustained his
ruling, that the resolution did not present
a question of privilege.
After some further debate the House de-
| cided, by vote of l4S to so, that the uues-
ton raised by Dockery was one of privi-
lege.
| During the further debate Mckinley
said the committee had desired to make
thorough investigation, but the mover
of the resolution had disclaimed any per-
sonal knowledge in the matter, and the
correspondent of the Globe Democrat re-
fused to make any statement, or even to
say who was the author of the article
The committee had an intention to 90 TO
| the bottom of the matter and to ascertain
facts enough to justify the recommends
| ton to the House.
Finally Rogers of Arkansas offered a
resolution as an amendment to Dockerey's
| resolution.
The resolution was adopted providing
for the appointment of special commit
tee of five members to investigate the al
legged connection of members of Congress
| in the silver pool and to inquire into the
ownership of Il, ,000, coo ounces of bullion
which the United States were asked to
purchase.
The diplomatic and consular appropri-
alton bin was reported and placed on the
calendar.
The House then went into Committee of
the whole on the army appropriation bill.
Stone of Mississippi taking advantage
OF the wide scope of the general debate.
entered upon general denunciation of
the election bill. In the course of his re-
marks he referred to Mr.. Lodge as repre-