The morning news., 1892-03-08
SILVER MEN WINTHE DAY
A LIVELY FIGHT IN TIE HOUSE
OVER TIE RULES REPORT.

only a Small Number OF Members
Present and Mr. Tracey Objects to
What He Called Snap Judgment.
WASHINGTON, March 7.--Notwithstand.
ing the earnest efforts of Col. Ike Hill, whip
perrin of the democrats, TO secure large
attendance of democratio members to vote
upon the resolution setting apart three days
for the consideration OF the silver bill,
when the speaker called the House to order
at noon to-day he was confronted with a
large array of empty seats. Col. Hill, how
ever, was confident that 1t would mob be
many minutes before the House would he
well filed with the advocates of silver and
their opponents, and stated that the absen-
tees would be about equally divided
between the two sides Of the
ouestion. Before the reading of
the journal, Mr.. Catchings of Mississippi
called up the resolution aud the clerk pro-
ceeded to read, and upon It's adoption Mr..
Catchlngs demanded the previous question.
TRACEY RAISES POINT.
Mr.. Tracey Of New York called attention
20 the fact that the journal had not been
read.
The speaker declared that it was in order
for the gentleman from Mississippi to call
up the resolution.
The reading of the resolution having
been concluded, Mr.. Dingley asked: "Has
the chair ruled that this report OF the cons
mittee on rules can be considered before
the journal has been readp
The Speaker-The chair has; that is
provision of the rules.
Mr.. Dingley-The same provision of
rules would confer the same privilege on
conference reports.
The Speaker-It does not confer the same
privilege on q conference report. The gen.
tleinan is mistaken; there are express hmi-
tations against conference reports.
Mr.. Dingley-Then the chair decides that
business can be done before the reading Of
the journal
The Speaker-Theschair 9, decides.
Mr.. TracT-Il appeal from the decision
of the chair.
In advocacy of his appeal he said that 1t
would be an unfortunate precedent to make
that the committee on rules, consisting
practically Of three members, could come
into the House and force upon its 800 odd
members the consideration OF sany reeolu-
tion they might desire to call up. The peo-
pie of the state of New York looked with
grave concern upon the action which this
House was to consummate to-day respecting
this silver bill. 1t was the opinion of the
people OF that state, almost without excep-
tion. that the silver measure should not be
States
AN UNUSUAL OMISSION.
With regard to the question of the read
ing OF the journal, it was customary to
read the Journal every morning before pro-
ceeding to business. Knowing this many
members had not felt it necessary to hasten
to the House. On that account there were
many members absent, and fair oppor-
tunity should be given to them to reach the
capitol. He yielded five minutes TO Mr..
Fitch and reserved the balance of his time
Mr. Fitch seconded his colleagues re.
marks, prefacing bis own remarks with an
expression of the highest respect for the
fairness of the chair. But he concurred
fully In what had been said in regard to the
danger OF the precedent which it was pro-
posed to set. Those democrats who had sat
here over and over again, demanding the
reading of the Journal in the last
House, knew that that demand had
always been granted and that in
a democratic House, In a case like
this that the refusal should be made, was as
unfair to his mind as anything that had
been done in the last House. Every
parliamentary body in the world corrected
its own journal before it proceeded to the
work OF another day, and if the rules
authorized such ruling as the speaker had
made, 1t was an innovation that ought to be
changed.
AN ONtAlh ADV ANIAGE.
There was good deal of talk in his state
about a premature or snap conventi on. II
there was ever anything premature or un-
expected to those who opposed silver legis-
lation it was the swapping of this resolution
on them before the reading of the journal.
The representatives from New York would
stand by what they thought right with the
same steadfastness and courage that they
had stood by the present speaker when, as
frNr ha had
tested against things that were no more
unjust than was the bringing in Of
this resolution before the reading of the
Journal The party owed something to the
democrats of New York as they owed
something to it. 1t had no right to load
them down, and from them it must expect,
as 1t deserved, most emphatic protest.
BLAND SUPPORTS THE SPEAKER.
Mr.. Tracey then claimed the floor, but
the speaker had already recognized Mr..
Bland, and stated to Mr.. Tracey that as he
mad reserved his time the gentleman from
Missouri was entitled to the floor. Mr.
Bland, proceeding, said that when the COM
mlttee on rules had reported the resolution
certain anti-silver men had come to him
and had said that if the resolution were
postponed for the time being they would be
ready to vote for it to-day without fllibuster-
lng 1t was fair and square agreement
made by the gentlemen, who were Messrs.
Sockran and Andrew. He thought it
tslr play and fair dealing; that when
they came to him and to the committee
On rules and made a solemn agreement, that
lhoustering tactics ought not to be re-
sorted to. Ii the House proceeded with the
reading Of the journal in the temper of the
81 gentleman from New York tMr Tracy the
# opponents of the resolution could move to
amend the journal from now until Christ
ules. There was nothing extraordinary in
Tue ruling of the chair. 1t was made in ac-
sordance with the rules adopted by the
uemocratic House. When the gentlemen
VI violated their pledges and undertook 60 de-
elare that the rule was being disregarded it
# as very extraordinary exhibition on this
table.
N TRACEY FAILS TO GET THE FLOOR.
4. MIR. Tracey then demanded the floor, but
sue speaker said the pending question was
h hhoI oeoatable. Mr.. Tracey contended that
@ uo mad not lost his right to the floor and his
perSlstency brought from the speaker a
uarp reproof that his manner was disre-
peetiul to the speaker. The chair told Mr..
lacey to be quiet and he would
stte tate the question. 1t was
ti saat the gentleman reserved his
stule, whereupon the chair recognized the
sentleman from Missouri, and that gentle
sn nan made motion to lay the appeal on
sue table, which cuts Off debate. After
.Irther discussion on this point, Mr. Bland
~ituurew his motion ir order to enable