Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-22
CONGRESSMAN READY TO FIGHT
Scene of the Widest Dis
order in the House.
Cries of "Treason" and ''Put Him Out
Echo Through tho Historic Chamber
The Mace Employed to Restore Order
and Quiet--stormiest Scene of the
stormy Session.

Echo Through the Historic Chamber
The Mace Employed to Restore Order
and Quiet--stormiest Scene Of the
stormy Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-To-day the
House was in riotous disorder. Nothing
like it has been witnessed in the House
for years. Ever since the Senate took
hold of the Force bill with renewed
yigor the feeling in the House between
the two parties has been bitter. The
political debates of the last week. in
which epithets have been handled across
the centre aisle with unusual freedom,
have only increased the tension, and the
moment the sparkwas struck to-day it
communicated to every man on the
floor. The result was few moments of
| fierce excitement, during which in
furiated men shook their fists in each
others faces, called each other traitors
and worse, and We're only quelled by
the mace and the sergeant-at-arms.
In keeping with the policy of delay
which the Democrats have inaugurated,
Mr.. Bland Of Missouri demanded the
reading of the entire journal of the
previous days proceedings. When it
was supposed that the clerk had finished
his task, Mr.. Mckinley moved the pre-
vious question on the approval of the
| journal.
Mr.. Bland called attention to the omis-
| sion, during the reading of the bills,
resolutions and petitions, which are
always incorporated in the journal, but
which are never read After some delay
and against the evident desire of the
Speaker, Mr.. Bland compelled the read
ing of these usually omitted details.
The question is on the approval Of
the journal. Those in favor will say
aye; those opposed no. The ayes APP
| pear to have it,
The Speaker had ratified these words
oil without moments pause and at
hreathless pace. Before he had con
| cluded Mr.. Mills had arisen. His seat is
ON one of the side aisles, some distance
from the front. In an excited tone he
asserted that the question should have
been on the demand for the previous
| question.
The gentleman is mistaken, replied
| the Speaker, with bland tirmness, and
Mr. Mckinley FASTENED into the breach
| with Il few remarks, corroborating Mr..
Reed. The Speaker held that as the de-
mand for the previous question had
been made before the reading of the
| journal had been concluded, it was
made without effect, and not having
been renewed, could not be considered.
The effect of this decision was of course
to cut off the 40 minutes debate, which
the demand for the previous question
allow.
The moment Mr.. Mills saw that he
had been caught he lost his temper.
Shaking his fist at the Speaker he strobe
turiously down the aisle, shouting for
recognition. The Speaker paid no at
tention to him.
You must not perpetrate fraud on
the House" he shouted. II demand the
right to debate this proposition. You
are Perpetrating fraud on the House,
and you know it,"
A hundred men sprang at once to
their feet. On the Democratic side
there was tumultuous handclapping,
stamping and cheering A few Repub-
licans began to hiss and call for the
regular order.
The confusion increased with every
moment, but the imperturbable Speaker
went on counting the House as quietly
as if he were watching the ripples on a
mill pond. He announced the motion
carried by vote of 122 yeas to three
nays, and then, in response to a Repuh-
lican demand, ordered the calling of the
| yeas and nays.
During all this time Mr.. Mills had
| been growing more frantic. He poured
a volume of denunciation on the Speak
er's head, and continued to shake his fist
at the Republican side.
"'rhat was sharp practice on your part,
sir, he exclaimed to the Speaker, and
then shouted to Mr.. Mckinley: 1--WE
did not expect you to lend yourself to
such proceeding. All knew YOU were
an honorable man, and we knew that he
turning around and glaring at the
| Speaker) was not
The hammering ofthe Speakers gayel,
the loud voice Of the clerk as he pro.
ceeded with the roll call, and shouts and
cries Were now added to the tumult.
Above the hurly hurley could be heard
Mr., Kerr of Iowa, frantically crying
that the proceedings were revolutionary
and that the Sergeant-at-arms should be
| summoned.
How came you on your feet ?" said
the excited Mr.. Mills.
u have as much right here as You
| have" was the loud retort. "I'hese are
reasonable proceedings and headed by
men who have been guilty Of treason
4 before"
"lou are traitor YOURSELF ex-
claimed Mr. Mills as headvanced threat
eningly down the aisle, white with rage.
You We're a traitor once and are try
| ing to be one againln cried Mr. Kerr.
"a traitOrl Do you hear me? A traitor"
You are traitor to the Constitution
and the laws of your country retortcd
| Mr.. Mills, now in almost uncomfortable
fury, You are trying to surround the
ballot box with bayonets, and deprive
the people OF the right Of representa-
| ton"
side told how the Texans colleagues
! epithets were being banded across the
House the scene was one of indescrib-
able excitement. The long haired
Martin Of Texas, who once said that
| willie he could not speak he would be
leader Of the House when it came to
fighting, left his seat in the rear and
| planted himself across the aisle in
which Mr.. Mills was raging up and
down, as if to protect his friend from
the Republicans, who We're hurrying
down into the space in front Of the
/ Speakers desk.
Gibson of Maryland was vigorously
pounding his desk with both fists and
shouting encouragement to Mills. Mar
tin Of Indiana, an eXcitable man at any
time, ran into the House from the lobby
and jumped into the heart Of the fight
| just as Perkins Of Kansas was shouting
"Put him out! Put him out"
Put him out if you can" said Mar
tin sinking Liz fist unlnr pnrlci ns, nncn