Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-13
THE SILVER POOL.
TEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECIDES TO
INVESTIGATE raE NATTER.
4 Special Committee Of Five Appointed to Probe
the Alleged Scandal-Qlay Introduces New
Election Bill 10 the Senale-0ther
Washington News Of Interest.

WASHINGTON, January I'm the
House to-day Mr.. Dockery, rising to 4
question OF privilege, offered a resolu-
tiOn reciting the fact OF the reference Of
the ''silver pool" resolution item TO the
Committee on Rules, and the fact that
that committee has refused 10 report the
same, and directing the Committee on
Rules to report the resolution TO the
House for It's consideration.
Mr.. Mills. of Texas, cOntended that
the original resolution referred to the
dignity and integrity Of the members OF
the House. The House did not lose
Jurisdiction Of the question because it
referred its consideration To one of the
committees. 1t was a question for the
House TO determine whether it should
recall the subject. There was no doubt
as to the power OF the House; the ques-
ton was one Of propriety, and this qnes-
tion must be considered with reference
10 the length Of time the resolution had
been before the committee. The reSOlu
tion, he said, had been referred on the
first day of the session. The
session was now half gone aud moth
ing had been done. The House ought
not To adjourn until it had eXculpated
the innocent and placed condemnation
where IL rightfully belonged.
Mr.. Adams, Of Illinois, argued that
the resolution did not, under the rules,
involve the question of privilege.
Mr.. Crisp said that he had assumed
that the Speaker had held this to be a
question of privilege.
The Speaker said that he had not. On
the contrary. in a somewhat similar
ease. he had ruled, and the House had
sustained his ruling, that the resolution
did not present question of privilege.
BY vote of l4S 10 so, the House de-
cided that the question raised by Mr..
DOckery, to discharge the Committee
ON Rules from the consideration OF his
resolution on the "Silver pool, was one
of privilege.
Mr.. Mckinley said that when the
resolution was referred To the Commit
tee on Rules the committee supposed
that it was referred to it for purpose,
not simply to ascertain whether there
was such a publication as was alleged,
but for the purpose Of ascertaining
whether there was any foundation for
the accusation. The mover of the reSO-
luton had diSclaimed any personal
knowledge OF the matter. The two
of the St, Louis Globe
Democrat had refused to make any
statement, or even TO say who was the
author of the article on which the reSo-
luton was founded. There had been
no purpose from the beginning to sup
press an investigation. God knew, he
invited investigation. Gentlemen must
50 conduct themselves that they would
be ever ready for an investigating COM
mittee. Applause. 1t was easy to
n q in newspapers. 1t was
an easy thing TO put 4 paragraph on the
wires to the effect that this was cor
rupt aud venal body. That was done
over and over again.
Mr.. Dockery said he had no personal
knowledge whatever that any member
ON this floor was connected with the sill
yer pool prior to the passage of the sill
yer bill. His reason for offering the
resolution was that certain charges had
teen made by the correspondents OF the
GLobc- Democrat, men OF acknowledged
credit and ability. The situation was
this: The statement had been made by
Mr.. Conger. and his statement would be
corroborated by at least one other gen
tleman (Mr. GroSvenOr), that silver
pool had existed pending the passage OF
the silver bill. He (Mr. DOckery) had
no interest in this matter further than
the interest OF every gentleman on the
floor. The newspaper article reflected
upon the integrity of the proceedings
OF the House. and the House owed it to
itself 10 make this investigation.
Mr.. Rogers, OF Arkansas, offered an
amendment to the DOckery resolution,
providing for the appointment OF
special committee Of five members TO in
quire into all the facts and circumStan-
ces connected with silver pools in which
Senators and Representatives are
alleged to be interested. After discus
sion this was adopted.