The Portland daily press., 1892-05-26
BEDLAM REIGNED,
While Mr.. Johnson Denounced the
Wrongs Of Colered Men.
WORLDS FAIR CAUSES LIVELY
TIMES IN THE HOUSE.

A Proposed Appropriation for the Colored
Peoples Exhibit, the Signal for a vio-
lent Outbreak-Mr. johnson of In
diana Opened Old Wounds and Would
Not Be Suppressed-Cold Water victo-
rious-The Question of Sunday Closing.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-The House
today went into committee of the whole
on the sundry civil appropriation bill.
Mr.. Houk of Tennessee offered an amend
ment appropriating 100000 to pay the
expense of collecting, preparing and pub
fishing facts and statistics pertaining to
the industrial advance of citizens of At
rican descent from January l, 1868, to
January l, 1893, to constitute part of
the government exhibit at the worlds
fair.
Mr. Holman raised point of order
against the amendment.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa admitted the
amendment was not in order. The col
ored people of this country, he said, num-
bered about an eighth of our entire pop
ulation, yet the evidence taken by, the
special committee at Chicago, disclosed
the wonderful and amazing fact that
neither the President of the United
States, he said it with modification and
shame, nor the governor of single state,
nor the government commission, nor the
local corporation, nor the woman's COM
mission, had given representation to
these eight million people.
Mr.. johnson of Indiana said the Presi-
dent had during his entire life been the
firm, answering, consistent friend of
the colored man. The President had
stood for the so called force bill when
men with less courage failed to stand UP
for the pledges of the Republican party.
The allusion to the ''force bill'' brought
a number of Democrats to their feet and
Mr.. johnson was deluged with questions.
The confusion was great.
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee asked
whether the President was in favor of
the force bill now.
Mr.. johnson replied the President was
in favor of any system of constitutional
legislation that would guarantee to the
lowliest man of the South the right to
cast his vote without fear, favor or intim-
idation. He cited list of colored men
appointed by President Harrison to i'm
pOrtant Offices.
Then there was scene of great confu-
sion in the hall. Dozens of members
were on their feet, raising their voices,
and
Crowding Into the Aisles.
In the midst of the confusion, Mr..
Johnson's time expired.
Later, MI. johnson resumed the floor,
and took as his text the remarks by MI.
Stockdale that the colored man had
friends everywhere except in the Repub-
lican party. Mr.. johnson declared that
it had never been said of the Republic an
party that it put the gives upon the
wrists of any human being or had torn a
child from the breast of its mother and
sold it into slavery. He vehemently de-
nounced the treatment of the negro by
the Democratic party of the Southern
States. He was as vehemently contra
dicted by members from the South, and
the House became perfect bedlam, the
Chair being utterly unable to secure Or
der
Mr.. O'Neill of Missouri finally made
himself heard. He declared that the
members were here to transact business
and Hot to listen to any such ''rot'' as
this.
Sharp words passed between Messrs.
Johnson and O'Neill.
Mr.. johnson inquired whether he had
come back to ante-bellum times when
gentlemen were beaten with club be-
cause they dared express their senti-
| ments. Mr. johnson continued his at
! tack upon the Democratic party. He
reviewed the Hayes-Tilden controversy
and stirred up good deal of excitement.
He was frequently interrupted, and the
confusion became most intense, nearly
every member crowding around Mr..
Johnson, who was
| Hurting Out His Defiances
vehementiy and vociferously.
Finally Mr.. McMillin rose to point
of order. In behalf of the decency of
the House, he said, the gentleman should
confne his remarks to the subject under
| discussion. The point was sustained.
| Mr.. johnson, however, proceeded with a
review of the Hayes-Tilden case, but
spoke only brief time.
Mr.. Johnstone of South Carolina of
fered an amendment providing that no
part of the amount appropriated for the
| Worlds Columbian Commission shall be
available unless the doors of the exposi-
ton are closed Sunday.
! Mr.. Hooker of Mississippi offered an
| amendment to the amendment that in no
event shall the exhibit made by the gov
ernment be open to the public Sunday.
Mr.. w. A. Stone of Pennsylvania Of
fered substitute for the two amendments
that before any money appropriated by
this bill is paid, the managers of the Co.
lumbian Exposition shall file an agree
ment to close the Exposition Sunday.
Mr.. Hooker's amendment to the