Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-14
the decision stood, for the time being at
least, as the law of the case.
One of the Annoyanccs.

least, as the law of the case.
One of the Annoyanccs.
The decisions, however, have much NOR,
uniformity and consistency than would bt
thought possible under the circumstances
The system of rules under which the bust
ness Of the House is conducted, is, as iswell-
known, exceedingly complex and technical
and good many members seemed to take
delight in making sharp points, apparently
for the very purpose of perplexing the
Speaker, while others make points through
gross ignorance, or for the purpose OF
rendering themselves conspicuous by get
ting the floor for few moments, to which
the point of order entities them by the pre-
cedence which the rules provide. 1 re-
member of hearing representative make
the same point of order five times during a
single sitting.
One of the most annoying members in this
regard, at later period, was colored
member, who, because of his profound ig-
norance of the rules, perhaps, was everlast-
ingly making the most ridiculous points of
order, amusing at first, but getting to be un-
bearably tiresome by their constant reitera-
tion. These alterations between member
and Speaker, as they often become, some
times stir up good deal of i'll feeling, and
both forget the injunction not to let their
the
woman's Right to the Last Word,
however, he generally comes off victorious.
The Speaker has the control Of the floor and
can give it to whom he pleases, subject to q
few general rules Members frequently ap-
ply to the speaker to recognize them, or put
them down for speech. Sharp passages of
wit often occur, as when, on one occasion,
Cox came up to the Speaker desk and said:
"Put me down for five minutes"
81 wish to heaven 1 could put you down
for one" was the quick retort.
The only time 1 ever heard ColfaX in de-
bate was on the occasion of his leaving the
chair to offer resolution for the expulsion
OF Long, of Ohio, for alleged reasonable ut
terances on the floor of the House, in which
he exhibited the same wasterful abilities
that had characterized his administration of
the Speakers Office. He was fertile in
mental resources, fearless in the expression
Of his thoughts, fluent in language,
courteous in speech and manner, and adroit
in maintaining his own political opinions
and expressing them without exciting need
less antagonisms. recall an incident that
occurred in the closing hours of Congress
that well illustrates his tact.
How He Stopped a Long Speech.
A member from Missouri had somehow
got the floor and was consuming the time in
q long harangue on women's rights, to the
great disgust of members who wanted an
opportunity to get some bill oflocal interest
to his constituents passed before the final
fall of the hammer. But there was no par
liamentary way of choking him of, and he
would probably have kept 1t up till the last
memen: had it not been that some member
him with q request that he
would give way for moment to enable him
to offer the customary resolution for the ap-
pointment of committee to wait upon the
President and inform him that the two
Houses were ready to adjourn.
The motion being put and carried, Colfax
Immediately appointed the member from
Missouri on the committee, which not only
took him off the floor, but almost took away
his breath, and raised hearty laugh at his
expense, which, however, he had the good
sense to appreciate so soon as he recovered
sufficiently to fully appreciate the joke.
Presented With His Cid Chair.
At the time he was smarting under the
reflections on his integrity, which grew out
OF the Credit t-Mobilier exposure, and good
many were kicking at q man supposed to be
down, sale of furniture took place. under
an order of the House, at which few of us
pied by Colfax, but had got out of repair,
and had been thrown aside. We had it
fully restored, and sent it to him as testi-
moEial of our appreciation of his uniform
and it was acknowledged in let
ter that may be worth publishing in this
as characteristic of the man.
SOUTH BEND, IND,
June Z, 1878.
MY DEAR FRIENDs-I thank you sincerely
for the welcome present you have made me
of the chair occupied by me dnring my
Speakership of the House OF Representa-
tfves and which brings to my quiet home so
many recollections of the stirring and eX-
the earnest friendship which must have
prompted you to purchase for me this
valued mementc of the years of response
bility in which l was associated so closely
4 ing to remember that during ali those
eventfui years our friendship was as
warm and cordial as if VIC had been of the
same kith and kin, and still more gratifying
mains undininished on your part as it is
most cordially reciprocated by yours truly,
SCHUYLER CoLFAX.
His Family Relations.
He kept house in Washington, during all
the period of his Congressional service,
with his mother and sister, to both of whom
he was ardently attached. Left fatherless
at an early period of his life he was in a
peculiar sense the son of his mother, who
exercised a marked influence ON his charac-
ter and to whom he was specially indebted
for the almost exceptional purity of charac-
ter that marked his private life. He once
told me that he had made it an invariable
rule to hand his mother every letter re-
ceived by him from woman, and that his
second marriage was the result of his
prompting more than his own,
though his choice was not suggested by her.
His success on the platform in the latter
years of his life was similar to that which
he had received in the political arena, and
brought him increase both of fame and
fortune. The lecture on Lincoln, he told
me, had brought him a net income of $40, 900
a year for several years.
He was shining example of the posi-
bilities open TO every American citizen.
CLINTON LLOYD.
Copyright 1891 by c. Lloyd.