The critic., 1891-02-20
M'MILLIN AND REED.
A LIVELY EXCHANGE OF SHARP
WORDS BETWEEN THE TWO.
Spirited Struggle Of the Democrats to
Gain an Advantage--The Rise In q
BODY and Leave the Hall to Escape
Being Counted On a Vote.
HOUSE.

nights proceedings was approved.
A resolution was adopted calling on the
Attorney-General for information as to
what instructions have been given by him
TO any United States District Attorney
Marshal, Deputy Marshal or Commits
sioner with regard to the institution an
prosecution of any suits under the act TO
enforce the right of citizens to vote in the
several States.
Mr.. Cannon reported resolution for
the immediate consideration of business
reported by the Committee on the Judi
ciary, the first bill to be taken up to be
the bill for the relief of the Supreme
Court, with Senate amendments. and next
the bill to fix the salaries of United
States judges.
The question of consideration was raised
by Mr.. Breckinridge, and the House
decided by vote of yeas 1l3, nays 10, to
consider the resolution.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia moved to table
the resolution, but IL was lost by vote of
yeas 93, nays 1873.
Mr.. Cannon then took the floor, stating
that he would say but q few words as to
the merit Of the proposition.
Mr.. Mcmillan Of Tennessee inquired
whether the object of the gentleman in
saying few words was not to prevent the
forty minutes debate allowed under the
rules, after the previous question was
ordered.
Mr.. Cannon replied he would answer
frankly in the affirmative In view of the
motions. already made on the Democratic
side, under the lead of the gentleman from
cans accepted notice that that gentleman
on the Democratic side did not desire to
facilitate business. He would make few
remarks and then demand the previous
question.
Mr.. Mcmillan inquired whether it was
the gentleman's purpose to attack him
and his motives and then to move the
previous question and cut off debate.
Mr.. Cannon disclaimed having made an
attack upon anybody.
Mr.. Mcmillan said that this was prop
osition to increase the salaries of Judges
while the Appropriation bills were still
PENDING.
siiion to put the court and the salary bills
into conference If the majority wished to
do so.
Mr.. McNIillin responded that the gem
tleman had announced his programme
and had said that after talking few min
utes he would shut off debate. If that
was the programme to be pursued the
Democrats would meet it at every point.
Democratic applausel. This was prop
ostion to take care of Republican dead
ducks and was an effort to increase sala
ries while the Republican party was "ln
geripg superiluo,is on the stage" after the
people had denounced 1t.
Mr.. Cannon said that he would yield
The gentleman from Tennessee three
minutes. He wanted the gentleman to
have an opportunity to get all the bile off
his stomach.
Mr.. L. b. Taylor-Why is the gentleman
from Tennessee so excited?
Mr.. McMillin-Because ! see you pro
pose to plunder the Treasury. Demo
cratic applause and jeers from the Repub
licsn side.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia moved to recon-
init the resolution with instructions to
report ii back after the pending Appro-
priation bills shall have been passed
Mr.. Cannon-The gentleman does not
deceive even himself by that proposition.
Mr.. Blount-The gentleman does not
try totieceive anybody. The Democrats
demanded a division on Mr.. Blount's
motion and in order to save time the Rep
resentatives called for and on q standing
vote ordered the yeas and nays.
Mr.. McMillin asked for tellers on the
yeas and nays, and strenuously objected
to the Speakers refusal to entertain his
demand.
The Clerk proceeded to call the roll
and, following the precedent set last ses-
sion, the great body of the Democrats
arose and left the Hall. The vote re-
sulted-yeas, ~; nays, 150-the Clerk
voting sufficient number to constitute q
quorum, and the motion was lost.
The question then recurred an the de-
mand for the previous question, and, hav-
ing demanded the yeas and nays, Mr.. Nc
Millin, by signal of his hand. directed
the Democrats who were in the cloak
rooms to come forward in his support.
Having obeyed the signal long enough
TO accomplish McMillin's object, the DEM
ocrats once more disappeared.
The vote having been concluded Mr..
McMillin demanded its recapitulaton.
tertain on the ground that it was for the
purpose of delay.
Mr.. McMilln retorted that it was de-
lay that had never been denied by any
predecessor of the present Speaker.
Precisely" answered the Speaker,
'but the rules have been changed
Mr.: McMillin-But there is no change
IN this rule.
The Speaker replied that under general
parliamentary proceedings the right of
the demand existed, except when it was
made for the recognized purpose of delay.
This demand for recapitulatiOn seemed
to be Of that nature, but If the gentleman
thought there was an error in the call the
Chair would order recapitulation.
Mr.. McMillin denied the right of the
Chair TO criticise his actions or his motives.
III he had that right, he (McMillin) had u
similar right to criticise the Chair.
The Speaker-By no means, for the
Chair is acting in an official capacity,
Mr.. McMillin-And so am /.
The Speaker-The gentleman Is not act
ing as q representative of the House, as
the Chair Is.
Mr.. McMillin--I am not Speaker, IL is
true, but wish to call the attention Of
the Chair
The Speaker-The Chair thinks that no
possibility OF error can exist in vote OF
i50 to s.
Mr.. McMilln--Mr. Speaker, before You
ever denied recapituation--
The Speaker-But that refusal has been
passed upon by the House.
The Speaker then declared the motion
carried-yeas l50, nays S-a quorum being
noted.
The resolution was then agreed to--yeas
155, nays 4, and under its provisions the
Court bill was Immediately taken up for
consideration.
The reading of the Senate amendments
was concluded precisely at 2:30-the time
fixed for the ordering of the previous
question-and the Speaker put the ques-
tion whether the Senate amendments
should be non.concurred in.
SENATE.
The Senate to-day, after the transaction
oi routine business proceeded to the con-
sideration of pension bills, and in the
space of forty.fve minutes 1870 House
Pension bills were passed.
The Nicaragua Canal bill was then
taken up giving the guarantee of the
United States Government to the COM
Tany's4 per cent. bonds to the amount
of S100,000,000).
The bill having been read in full Mr..
Edmmds said that in the necessary alb
sence of the chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations (Mr, Sherman) it
was his duty TO take charge of the bill for
the time being, The subject was not q
new. one. The national Importance of
having the kind of interests in the Mica
rnpnn Ennal Mhinh the hill nrnvilnl fnr