The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-08
Forty ninth. Fif,iesh. Fifty frs, and Fii,y-sec-

Forty ninth. Fiftieth. Fifty first and Fiity-sec-
ond congresses.
Amos ]. Cummings, the well-known Tam
many congressman, furnishes this sketch
Crisp is always AZ ease upon the ioor Rarely
Will you fnd him absent He watches the pro-
ceedings of the House closely as the watch
dog OF the treasury. His speeches show much
thought and research. The logic is clear and
convincing. There is no striving for effect.
Assured apparently that he is right in his own
convictions, in the simplest words and most
compaet sentences ne tries to drive them into
tne minds OF his hearers. In gesture he Is forci-
pie aud illustrative. His voice is remarkably
GEAR al the opening of an argument, but,
sIalned al too high pitch, it becomes hoarse
anu threatening. Crisp never rises without
commanding the ears OF the House. Every seat
Within range of his voice is filled, and their
occupants listen IN rapt attention. Ills elo-
qusnce is found at times In the quaint simplicity
effect
"The confidence of his party in Mr. Crisp has
neen shown more than once. At the opening of
the flitIeth congress Speaker Carlisle refused to
appoint the committee on elections. His own
seat was contested by Mr.. Thuebe, and he asked
tae House 10 select the committee Each side
OF The House coneurred, and appointed COM
nlttee 10 make the selection. The Democrats.
oelng IN the majority, were 10 pick out a chair
man Upon the committee to do this were Sam
uei J. Randall, William S. Holman, General
purnes oi Missouri. General Forney, of Ala
Dalna, and others, including the writer. All
cast their eyes upon one man in locking for a
chairman Tor the committee on elections This
man was Charles T. Crisp No other name was
mentioned. lie was sent for and asked 20 accept
me place II was magnificent tribute to his
sagaelty and ability. Although he had
served only four years in the House,
MS party were urging upon him the chairman
snip OF It's leading committee. Upon the roll
OF committees OF the House the committee on
eiectioas takes precedence of the ways and
means. Crisp knew the requirements of the
place Intense application, careful inquiry
ana the power 10 cope with the shrewdest men
IN the RANKS of the opposition were necessary
AT the urgent solicitation OF his party associ-
ales the Georgian came TO the front He lost the
chairmanship of the committee on Pacific rail-
roads, TO which he was entitled by the retire
menl OF Governor Throckmorton, but gained q
place where he was ever in the eyes of the peo-
pie, ana where he became q recognized leader
OF MS party in the House.
mo one questions Crisp's judgment or his
seif-controi. At one time Speaker Reed tried
not only TO throttle him with tyrannieal rul-
lngs, but treated him with aggravating inso-
lence. 1t was In the desperate fight attending
the placing OF John III. Langston in the seat
OF Edward c. Venable. While the House was
IN call the speaker ascertained that quorum
was present, and ordered the clerk to call the
roI upon the approval of the journal The
Reed rules provided that while the House was
In cali only two motions were IN order One
was a motion to adjourn and the other to dis
peEse with further proceedings under the call
Mr.. Crisp raised point OF order, and called the
speakers attention to the plain wording OF the
rule Caught dead to rights, Reed was on fire
In moment. He tried to huldoze the Georgian,
and awakened the true Georgia grit
" The clerk can read the journal without OBJ
lection, said the man from Maine.
4" Il object replied Mr. Crisp. such action is
unprecedented. Such a suggestion has never
been made in the history OF congress.
WE'LL replied the speaker with much acerb-
ity, it's time that il was made
''At this the Republicans raised shout OF en-
eouragement. Crisp remained standing per-
fectly lmperturbabe, until the tumult had sub
sided
"'That is the judgment Of the chair he then
replied. 'fhe chair is not the master OF this
order
"Reed was white with rage. Democrats broke
into applause IN their turn, and the Republicans
cried Tor the regular order
1.-The gentleman from Georgia need not re-
commence the speaker threateningly observed
as soon rs quiet was restored.
With great dignity Mr.. Crisp replied: The
tyrant can take them from him.
"At this the Republicans fairly screamed for
the regular order. Mr.. Rowell chairman OF
the committee on elections, obtained recog-
nRfon.
"I make the point of ORDER he shouted, that
the remarks OF the gentleman from Georgia are
out of order
"'No more so than the remarks of the speaker
Crisp calmly replied
This remark touched the ear like hot iron.
His eyes flashed, his checks flushed, and he
brought his gavel down with double-foid ven
geance.
1.-The gentleman from Georgia will take his
"Crisp remained as calm as Nay morn. I'm
like many OF his colleagues when suffering from
similar tyrannical outbursts, he recognized the
amenities of the situation.
"'Certainly the gentleman from Georgia will
take his seat, be replied with perfect compos-
ure; but be will rise, resent, and reply to any
similar intimation from the chair here or else
where
"He took his seat, but carried his point A
Wisconsin Republican pulled the speaker out of
the mud by moving to dispense with all further
under
and the House again got down to its party busi-
ness.
.Mr Crisp has very clear complexion. blue
eyes, a straight, well-formed nose. and a brown
moustaehe. His head is bald, and his manners
refined and agreeable. He has n social disposi-
tion and much individual dignity. His dress IL
neat, and his linen immaculate. He wears
black frock coat and dark clothes. His meek is
encireled with plain turn-down collar, he'd IN
place with simple black tie. The charge that
he in any way favors protective policy is un-
true. His speeches upon the floor OF the House
prove this. Mr. Crisp has certainly been as pro-
nounced in his free trade tendencies as John G.
Carlisle"
Being asked recently for his views on the
tariff he replied:
"My record on the tariff question is AZ clear
that of any representative IN congress. | have
always acted and sympathiZed with efforts TO
obtain genuine reform and positive reduction.
"The first vote / cast in congress was for Mr..
Carlisle in preference to Mr. Randall for speaker
of the House Later voted for the Morrison
bill and the Mills bill. l have made tariff
speeches In congress, IN new tOrks IN Mhssd-
chusetts, in Missouri, In Virginia, in Ohio, in
Maryland. in Kansas, and in Georgia, and in
each and every one of these many speeches
have advocated reduction of duties.
"Of course | cannot outline in brief dis
patch tariff bill such as / would like to see en-
acted. but the following paragraph from the
Records report of my speech on the Mckinley
bill may serve your purpose.
"'Mr. Crisp--Mr chairman, thecommittee on
ways az means have spent months of restless
days and sleepless nights trying to find out
what will give relief to the farmers OF this
country. / eau suggest plan OF relief in i've
minutes Modify the existing tarlf laws: re-
duce taxation: permit some reasonable compete
ton in the market; destroy trusts; accord equal
rights TO all and special privileges 10 none. Do
these things and you will help him.
Give the farmer free salt That would
helm him little. You give IL to the fisher
man on the coast of Maine and on the coast
of Massachusetts; why not give IL TO the
farrner7 Give him free bagging, in which the
farmer OF the West sacks his corn, aud with
which the farmer ia the south wraps bis cotton.
Give him free 7Ton ties, with which in the
south he binds his cotton bales and with which
in the West he bales his hay
Give him some reduction onh hats, on his
wooleu clothes aud ou his cotton goods. In
that way, and in that way only, can you benefit
the great mass OF the farmers of the south and
Wesi You cannot increase the price OF their
products by protective tariff duties, but you can
decrease 10 them tBe cost of production aud Of
living by reducing the tarn on those articles
used 10 make their crops and on those articles
| of necessity which all families must use
"Any further information that may be desired
t., fvar ahFa