The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-13
THE HOUSE.
A Special Committee Appointed to Investigate
the Silver Pool"

Special Committee Appointed to Investigate
the Silver Pool"
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Dockery, rising
on Il question of privilege. in the House to-
day, offered 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 considera-
ton.
Dingley of Maine made the point that the
resolution did not involve a question of
privilege.
Mills of Texas contended that the original
resolution referred to the dignity and in
tegtity of members of the House. The
House did not lose jurisdiction because 1t
referred its consideration to one of Its conl-
mitteeS. The question for the House to de-
termine WAS whether il would recall the
subject. There was no doubt as to the
lower of the House. The question was one
OF proprlety and this question must be con-
sldeTeu with reference 10 the length Of time
the resolution had been before the committee
The resolution had been referred on the tirSt
day Of the session. The session was row
half gone and nothing done. The House
ought not to adjourn until lit eXculpated the
Innocent and placed condemnation where it
righttuly belonged.
Adams OF Illinois supported Dingley'S
view.
Crisp of Georgia said there was no express
rule authorizing the discharge Of the COM
mlttee, but this was not all ordinary case.
he original resolution WAS unQuesti0nably
OF the highest privilege. If the committee
refused tU report the resolution the motion
TO discharge was privileged.
The Speaker inquired whether the gentle
man believed the original resolution one Of
privilege.
Crisp replied he had assumed the Speaker
had so held.
The Speaker stated that lie had not. On
the contrary, in somewhat similar case he
ruled, and the House sustained his ruling,
tion of privilege.
After some debate the House decided by
a vote OF l4S to so that the question raised
by Doekery was not one OF privilege.
During further debate Mckinley said the
committee had desired to make thorough
investigation, but the mover of the resoiu-
ton dlSclalmed any personal knowledge in
the matter, and the correspondents Of the
Globe-Dem0crat refused 10 make any state
ment or even TO say who WAS the author of
the article. Tie committee had intended to
go 10 the bottom of the matter, and ascer-
tain facts enough TO justify recommends
tion to the House.
Finally Rogers OF Arkansas offered res
olutlon, rs an amendment to Doc kery'S res
oluuon, providing for the appointment of
StNN'Hi NpAlh'ltlCO VI AfN illClu belS 10 hives
tgaie the alleged connection of members If
Congress in the silver pool. and to ina,hs
into the ownership of 100000 ounces Of
silver bullion which the United States is
asked to purchase.
II was adopted.
The Diplomatic and Consular Appropria-
tion Bill was reported aud placed on the
calendar.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole on the Army Appropriation Bill.
St'ne OF Missouri, taking advantage of the
wide scope of general debate. entered upon
general denuncation of the Elections Bill.
In the course Of his remarks he referred to
Mi Lodge as representing an Oscar Wilde
type OF craftsmanship and Senator Hoar as
maternal masculinity who represented the
New England pecksniff.
G!o>venor then took occasion TO speak on
the plea OF 10 sectiunalism, brought up by
Lannon of Texas Saturday.
The debate then drifted into general po-
litical and sectional talk, in which Gros-
venor arraigned the Democratic party for
not honoring worthy eX-Confederates, and
Spinola wanted to know why Northern Re-
publlcans did not give Offices to the negroes.
Finally the Army Bill was taken up and
Bland offered an amendment providing that
none OF the app ropriations for the pay of The
army shall be paid to officers detailed 10
State colleges and institutions.
This was ruled out on a point of order,
from which Bland appealed, pending which
the Committee arose and the House ad-
journed.