The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-08
An Extraordinary Debate in the
House Yesterday.
NO PoSTPONEMENT PERMITTED.
A Final Vote WIN be Taken on March 2s
The Reading of the Journal Not
AiIowed-The Most Arbitrary Rulings
Ever known i'm n Legislative Body.

members TO 1oto upon the resolution
setting apart three days for the consid-
Grafton OF the silver bill, when the Speak
ar called the House to order at noon, yes
tsrdav. he was confronted with large
array of empty seats. Col. Hill, however,
was confident that it would not be many
minutes before the House would be well
filled with the advocates OF silver and
their opponents, and stated that the abb
sentees would be about equally divided
between the two sides of the question.
Before the reading OF the journal, Mr..
Catchin9s of Mississippi called up the
resolution and the Clerk proceeded TO
read IL, and upon its adoption, Mr.. Catch
ings demanded the previous question.
MT. Tracey of New York called attention
TO the fact that the JOURNAL had not been
read.
the gentleman from Mississippi to call
up the resolution.
The reading OF the resolution was con-
cluded.
Mr.. Dingley-Has the Csbair ruled that
this report of the committee on rules can
be considered
Before the journal Has Been Readf
The Speaker-The Chair has. That is
the provision of the rules
Mr.. Dingley--The same provision of the
rules would confer the same privilege on
conference reports.
The Speaker-It does not confer the
same privilege on conference reports. The
gentleman is mistaken; there is no eX-
pressed limitation against conference re-
ports.
Mr.. Dingley Then the Chair decides
that business can be done before tne read
ing OF the journal.
The Speaker-The Chair 40 decides.
Mr.. Tracey appeal from the decision
of the Chair.
In advocacy OF his appeal he said that it
would be an unfortunate precedent TO
make that the committee on rules, con-
sisting principally of three members,
could come into the House and force up
ON the 800 odd members the consideration
of any resolution they might desire TO
call Up. The House ought to
Proceed with Great Caution.
Mr.. Fitch OF New York, seconded his
colleagues remarks, prefacing his own re-
marks with an expression OF the highest
respect for the fairness of the Chair. But
ne concurred fully in what had been said
in regard to the danger OF the precedent
which il was proposed 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 Democratic House, in case
like this, If refusal should be made it
would be az unfair TO his mind as any
thing that had been done in the last
House.
Every parliamentary body in the world
corrected its own journal before it pro-
ceeded to the work OF another day; and
II the rules authorized such a ruling as
the Speaker had made, IL was an innova-
ion hat N m changed A.
The representatives from New York
would stand by
What They Thought Right
with the same steadfastness and courage
they had stood by the present Speaker
when, as the gentleman from Georgia, he
had protested against things that were
no more unjust than was the bringing in
OF this resolution before the reading OF
the journal.
Mr.. Bland proceeding, said that when
the committee on rules had reported the
resolution certain anti-silver men had
come to him and had said that IL the res
olution were postponed for the time be-
ing they would be ready TO vote for it
without hlibustering. 1t was a fair,
square agreement made by the gentlemen,
who were Messrs. Cochran and Andrew.
He thought it fair play and fair dealing
that when they came to him and to the
committee on rules and made solemn
agreement, that filibustering tactics
ought not to be resorted to. lfthe House
proceeded with the reading of the journal
On the temper OF the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Tracey the opponents of the
resolution could move to amend the jour
nal from now until Christmas.
There was nothing extraordinary in the
ruling OF the Chair. 1t was made in ac-
Cordance with the
Rules of Democratic House
When gentlemen violated their pledges
and undertook to declare that ruling
was being disregarded, it was very ex-
traordinary exhibition on this floor. lie
moved to lay the appeal on the table.
Mr.. Tracy then demanded the floor, but
the Speaker stated that the motion was
not debatable.
Mr., Tracey have the floor.
The Speaker-The gentleman has not
the floor.
Mr. Tracey replied that IL the Chair, at
any stage OF the proceedings desired 10
make such ruling he wanted TO know
1t.
The Speaker suggested that IL the gem
tleman had any objection TO make, il
should be done in a respectful manner.
Mr.. Tracey replied that he would ad-
dress the chair in respectful manner.
lut cptdASI-iu Il nc Reulleuldn must con-
form TO the rules OF the House. The gem
tleman will be quiet and the Chair will
state the question, and the gentleman
himself will see the improperly OF his po-
sition. The gentleman reserved his time,
whereupon the Chair recognized the gen
tleman from Missouri and that gentle
man made a motion TO
Lay the Appeal on the Table,
which cuts of debate.
After further discussion on this point,
Mr.. Bland withdrew his motion in order
TO enable Mr.. Cochran OF New York, to
whom he had personally alluded TO, 10
take the floor.
MIR. Cochran said that the gentleman
from Missouri had stated that in an in
terview with him be (Mr. Cockran) had
undertaken TO bind any portion of the
House TO it's action. That was not cor
rect, though IL might be the gentleman's
understanding. He had appealed TO the
gentlemen from Missouri TO consent that
o vote be taken yesterday, and the gen.
tlemen had refused 10 make any agree
ment whatever; and there the conversa-
atr.. l.I .l.lf -