Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-10
4 Sharp Contest Over the COnsidera-
ton Of the Free Coinage
Measure.
Tracy EndeavOrs to Oppose Ruling
by the Speaker, But is
Defeated.
Resolution Recommended by the Com
mittee ON Rules Passed
100 to "a.

both parties who have been hoping that it
would be postponed until after the cleo
tions are tonight convinced that the issue
must be disposed of by the house before
the date Of the national convention. The
free coinage men of both parties are, Of
course, highly elated. Gold men in the
democratic party are filed with dis
NAL fOrebodings, while antl-free coin
age republicans who comprise eighty
FIVE per cent. Of the republican membership
of the house are disposed to view the sltua-
ton with compiacency.
The vote today indicates that the house
will surely pass the Bland bill, so decisive
and overwhelming was the victory OF the
advocates of free coinage. 1t was sig
nifcant feature of the proceedings that on
all disputes that arose On parlia-
mentary proceedings the anti-free coinage
men did most of the talking. To one I'M
familiar with political methods the conctu-
sion would have been irresistible after
iiste ing to the deDunciation Of Speaker
Crisp's rulings, to the impassioned oratory
and direful predictions of those opposed
to the Bland bill, that the
free coinage men were TO be swept away
in whirIwind of popular indignation.
Yet when the vote came, not on the silver
resolution alone, but in all auxiliary ques-
tions the free coinage men came to the
front In an unbroken phalanx and by vote
of two 10 one routed their opponents. On
the last and vital proposition, that setting
apart three days for the consideration OF
the Bland bill, the free coinage men won
by the overwhelming vote of 100 to "a.
Before the reading of the journal, Mr.
Catchings, of Mississippi, called up the
resolution setting apart three days for the
consideration of the silver bill, and the
clerk proceeded to read it and upon its
adoption Mr.. Catchings demanded the
previous question.
Mr.. Tracy, Of New York, called atten-
tion to the fact that the journal had not
been read. The speaker declared it was
not out of order to call up the resolution,
and the reading Of the resolution was con-
cuded.
Mr.. Drngley--Has the chair ruled that
the report of the committee on rules can
be considered before the journal has been
read?
That is a provision of the rule, the
speaker replied.
Mr.. Ding ley-Then the chair decides
that business can be done before the read
ing Of the journal?
Speaker-The chair so decides.
Mr.. Tracy appeal from the decision
Of the chair.
By vote of 1914 yeas to 70 nays the de.
cision Of the chair was sustained.
Mr.. Tracy and his colleague, Mr.. Fitch,
of New York, then vigorously protested
against the ruling of the speaker, which
was defended by Mr.. Bland, of Missouri,
and very warm colloquy ensued be
the right of the former gentleman to the
| floor. The controversy arose after the
conclusion of Mr.. Bands remarks. In
those remarks be alluded to the coaversa.
ton he had with Messrs. Cochran and
Andrew, Of Massachusetts,, In which those
gentlemen stated that if consideration OF
the resolution was postponed until today
there would De no flibustering on the
/ part of the anti-silver men, and be charged
| these anti-silver men with bad faith.
To this charge Mr.. Cochran made a fiery
| denial. He said he had conversation
with the gentleman from Missouri, and al
that nversation Mr.. Bland declined to
agree that the resolution be taken up today
Il was only after he had had a talk with
members of the committee on rules that
Mr.. Bland consented to 1t. Not one word
about tilibusterjng had been said IN the
conversation with Mr.. Bland.
The debate was continued at some
length.
Catchings Miss closed the debate or
Guided his remarks by moving to lay
| I'raa1 anyooal on tna fahia
Before putting the question Speaker
Crisp stated the question and his position.
The roll was then called, and by vote
Of 1874 to 70 the house tabled Tracy's APP.
peal from the decision Of the chair.
Tracy then raised the question of con
sideration Of the report.
The chair will have to hold" said the
speaker, that the question of considera.
| ton cannot be raised"
Tracy spoke at some length on his point
and the speaker quoted rules sustaining
his position. THE intention Of the house, y
said he, twas, as the chair understands it,
just what the rule itself proposes under
the rules of the last congress.
Does the gentleman endorse the last
congress?" inquired Mr. Reed. (Great
laughter.) ''Some parts of it he may, and
some parts he does not" retorted the
| speaker. 90! he chair does not endorse lis
speaker" (Applause on the democratic
sidA)
The speaker Of the last house begs
leave so say he never expected the chair
to endorse him. replied Reed. (Applause
on the republican Side.)
Quite right" commented Speaker
Crisp. 81 was just going to say when
interrupted that the gentleman from
Maine, the speaker of the last congress,
| held that the question of consideration
could not be raised against this order Of
| business.
"Well, l don't want to have anything
to do with the rules of the 51st congress,
said Tracy emphatically. The rules of
that congress should not be alluded to in
| this house, excepting, possibly by the
gentleman from Maine, Great lau Oh.
| ter.
| Once more Tracy appealed from the
| chair, and Warner, another New York
democrat, warned his colleagues that they,
| a democratic house, were on the point of
enforcing d more arbitrary manner than
any enforced by the 513t congress, by
virtue Of whose crimes the democratic ma
! jority IS here.
Again tie yeas and nays were demanded
and again Tracy's appeal was tabled, 176
81
Tracy then made motion to recommit
the resolution with instructions to the
committee of rules to report it back with
amendment, changing the date for the
consideration OF the silver bill from March
! p to December 18th The motion was
! defeated, yeas 70, nays 2O2. The previous
question was then ordered upon the reso-
| lutinn without further ohiection-