The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-05
DEAD CONGRESSMAN
EulOgieS on Them Have Become
PertunctOry.
SUNDAYS SET APART FOB THEM
Reed Criticises the New Rules of the
House - The Peoples Party is
Still Intact.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The House of Rep
resentatlves was called before the bar of
puol1c opinion today to answer the charge
of irreverence to the memory of departed
Representatives. Stout, of Michigan, was
public prosecutor, and in the absence of
counsel the House pleaded guilty to the
| charge. 1t was in the days of Adams and
Clay and Webster and Calhoun that the
practice of setting apart a day for the
eulogy of deceased statesman was 1naug-
urated. The eloquent and spontaneous
oratlo1s of Webster and Calhoun and Clay
have given place to studiously prepared
remarks. AS the eulogy became a duty
| instead of a spontaneous tribute, the inter
decreased until Memorial day as now
known, is regarded as day of
rest and recreation. No one feels it iucum-
bent to attend the sessions except the ora
tors of the occasion. The first declaration
against the insincerity of such proceed
lngs came from Enloe, of Tennessee, who
desired to amend the rules by providing
that eulogies to deceased members shall be
delivered Sundays only, on which day the
ceremonies shall be opened with prayer by
the chaplain. The amendment was Soc
onded by Morse, OF Massachusetts. Il am
In favor OF this amendment" said Mr..
Stout ~ happened once, Mr.. Speaker
to be in st. Louis when funeral cOrtege
bearing the body of a member of Congress
passed through the city. The newspapers
the next morning said the body was left in
the depot while the Senators were talking
about the preceding election in the rotun-
das OF the hotels laughter and the young
members were gone to the theatre, | sup
pose to assuage their profound grief,
Great laughter. The country should
know whether or not we are sincere in our
professions of respect to the deadn
Reed, of Maine, gave the information
that the consumption of time in the first
session of the last Congress for memorial
services was twenty-four days. This an
pouncement created great surprise, but it
was not disputed. Although a standing
vote showed majority of 90 to 68 in favor
OF the amendment. This majority vanish
ed before the dreaded roll call and the
amendment was defeated, yeas, 81; NAYS,
155. Reed offered a substitute for the rule
relating to the order of business. The
only change proposed is that the morning
hour (Which under the code is limited to
sixty minutes) may be extended indef-
nitely, at the pleasure of the House. The
substitute was lost 50 to 104.
Chapman, of Michigan, offered an amend
ment providing for Friday night sessions
bills. Agreed to.
Mr.. O'Neil offered an amendment requir- !
ing the committee ON rules to report back
within ten days all amendments to the
rules. Referred. He did not believe when |
the code of rules was agreed to, the House
should bind itself hand and foot and have |
no power to amend it. He did not propose
without notice, to put his head in a halter |
The amendment was lost.
Consideration Of the rules as reported |
by the committee having been concluded, |
Reed, on behalf of the Republicans, offered |
as substitute therefor, the rules of the |
FfIty-frst Congress. Lost without di-
vision. The code of rules was then agreed |
to.
Dickerson, of Kentucky. offered reso-
luton directing the committee on judiciary |
tc make an investigation and report |
whether Congress has constitutional au-
thority to appropriate money for the |
Worlds Columbian exposition Adopted. |
On motion of Goodnight, the Senate bill |
passed, to provide for the creation Of the |
Fourth judicial district in the territory of |
Utah.
Adjourned until tomorrow.