St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-24
SCOTT WIKE HEATED.
He Wants Tamperers With the
journal Impeached.

OOufnaI In1podCucO.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-In the house
to-day Representative Scott Wlke, of
Illinois, offered for reference to the COM
mittee on judiciary the following pre-
amble and resolution:
Whereas The frequent falsifcations of the
journal of the proceedings of The house OF
representatives of the Fifty-first congress by
the arbitrary action of the speaker, and no
tably by his unwarrantable action on the
Goth day of February inst, in the matter OF
the count of Messrs. Turner, OF Georgia;
Clements. Crisp, Blanchard, Wilson, OF Mis-
souri,; Whitelaw, Fithian, Geary, Oates and
others members of the house, as present and
not voting, for the purpose OF making the
record show an apparent quorum to do busl-
ness when. in fact, there was not quorum
as required by the constitution OF the United
States, and when i'll fact such members were
not present within the hall of the house at
the time; and
Whereas. In that connection the arbitrary
and tyrannical action Of the presiding officer
of the house and his political associates on
the floor, on the 21st day Of the same month,
i'll refusing to allow or entertain mouon for
the purpose of correcting the Justification so
made in the journal of the proceedings OF the
previous day, so as to make it conform TO the
facts in the premises as they were clearly es-
tablished and made TO appear; and,
Whereas. These arbitrary. unlawful and
unconstitutional acts were done III pursu-
ance of plan concocted by the readers OF q
party Just overthrown by an overwhelming
aiority of the people at the polls, and Ill the
closing hours of their power TO install Tor
life into new federal judicial offices then and
there being created for that purpose, a num-
Der of the repudiaed and defeated candi-
dates of the party at that election, I'D
defiance of and against the will of large
majority OF the voters of the countrv-north
and south, as well as east and West-all OF
these unlawful and unworthy official acts
making it apparent and patent that the in
jury threatened to the liberties of the people
and to constitutional free government, by
the arbitrary and unlawful action OF the
chair. may become calamitous and 1rrepara-
Bile; and inaSmuch as there seems to be no
compulsory restraining power in existence
except through the action Of the majority IN
the respective bodies, which is usually IN
sympathy with its presiding officer; there
fore be it
Resolved, That the committee on the judi
ciary be and it is hereby instructed to re port
to the house forthwith Joint resolution for
the action of congress, submitting for ratif-
cation an amendment to the constitution pro-
viding plan for the impeachment and re-
moVal from Office with suitable penalties, or
tor the trial, either upon Indictment Or in
formation, in the courts OF the District OF
Columbia, or the supreme court of the United
States of the speaker or presiding officer OF
the house Of representatives, or the president
or presiding ODcef OIL the senate VINO
shall willfuily falsify or falsely make
up, alter or change or cause or
permit the same to be done by the clerk of
the body over which the party offending may
preside, OF by any other person. the journal
of its proceedings, either by counting and
altering therein rs present, or causing the
same to be done, the name or names of any
marlber or members who shall not in fact be
present at the time, for the purpose of max
ing a quorum or otherwise; or by any other
means or for any other purpose whatsoever.
The said amendment to the constitution
shall provide that such offense shall be a
ties by fine and imprisonment, removal from
office, and Disqualified on for holding office,
as said committee shall deem commensurate
with the character of the offense OF crime in
Dictated