Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-30
BEFORE THE BAR OF THE HOUSE
Derelict Congressman Called to
Account.
Our Own Bowers the First to Be
Disciplined.
The DeIinquents All Excused-The Rules
to be Amended SO as to Cut OFF
Absentees' Pay-Washing-
ton Notes.
Rv the Associated Press. |


WASHINGTON, April 29-Representa
tive Bailey of Texas has introduced an
amendment to the rules which, il
adopted, will assure large attendance
of the house and relieve that body from
the embarrassment which it has suffered
lately. The amendment directs the
sergeant-at- t-arms to withhold the
monthly pay of member until he files
awritten statement that he was present
in the house during the preceding
month. If he was absent, except on ac.
count of personal sickness or sickness in
his family, the sergeant-at.arms is to
deduct his salary for the days that he
was absent, as provided in section 40 of
the revised statutes. Any violation of
the rule bv the sergeant-at-arms shall
make him liable for all payments made
contrary to the provision of section 40.
BOWERS BEFORE THE BAR.
In the house this morning the speaker
called attention to the fact that at the
time of adjournment yesterday the SER
geant alarms was given warrants for
bnC dIlCSt vi dDSCHb anu Cdlleu
on that officer for report. He said
nineteen warrants were placed in his
hands. Seven of the absentees he was
unable TO find. The other twelve prom
ised to be here this morning.
The speaker stated this morning that
the action allowing members to give
their parole to appear, was in accord
ance with his instructions to the SER
geant-at-arms. The delinquent mem
bers were then summoned to the bar of
the house to present their excuses.
Bowers of California appeared first.
He said his offense consisted in being
caught. He went home Yesterday to
answer the letters of persons wanting
pensions and postofices, or persons who
did not want some one else appointed.
He bad no intention of breaking the
rules of the house.
A motion was made to excuse Bowers,
but many, believing the arrest of mem
hers for neglect of duty was mere child's
play, demanded the yeas and nays.
Before the vote was announced, the
point of order was made that the mem
bers under arrest had no right to vote.
After considerable sparring between the
Democrats and Republicans, the speaker
over ruled the point of order on the
ground that he had no right to order
members names eliminated from the
roll.
ALL THE DELINQUENTS EXCUSED,
Bowers was excused-130 to IS.
The remainder of the delinquents
were excused on more or less frivolous
excuses, and, after touching some unim-
portant matters, the house went into
committee OF the whole on the probate
calendar.
The Sibley tent bill was laid aside
with favorable recommendation, after
an amendment referring the claim to
the court of claims for ajudication.
The Hiram Johnson bill occupied the
remainder of the session. Without &C
ton the committee rose and the house,
without dsposing Of the bill, took re-
cess until O'Clock this evening.
THE RAuM INQuIRx.
In the Raum investigation, which was
resumed today, Greenwalt, the special
pension Office examiner who made the
investigation which resulted in Raum
pronouncing a charge against Repre-
sentative Cooper, was asked If he fur
nished the $25 to Morgan which Cooper
refused to accept and returned.
Witness declined to answer on the
ground that Cooper said he intended to
prosecute in court the parties to the
affair.
Cooper said be would relieve witness
of any fear for himself.
Enloe asked if witness declined to
answer on the ground that he might in
criminate himself
Witness said he made the investiga
ton as a subordinate, and was instructed
to do anything necessary to elicit every.
thing connected with the transaction.
Witness did not wish to make further
answer, as it might furnish Cooper with
information he could use in the prose-
cution Of others.
Finally, however, he admitted fur
nishing Morgan $25. Raum told witness
he should not suffer pecuniary loss
through the payment Of money to pro-
cure Information he understood Raum
would reimburse him out OF his own
pocket. as he knew he could not be paid
from the public funds. He was still out
of the $25, however, as Morgan had not
returned it after Cooper declined to ac-
cept the money.
CENSUS INvESTIG ALTON.
Wilcox, chairman of the house census
committee, will call up in the house the
resolution to investigate the census
Office at the first opportunity, and if
this does not occur soon the speaker
will bring in a rule from the rules COM
mittee making it a special order.
A CONSUL COMMENDED.
The secretary of the treasury has
written letter to the secretary of state
commenting the United States consul
at Victoria, B. c., in refusing to verify a
passport issued by the dominion govern
ment in the case OF Moy Chung, a
former resident OF the United States,
who recently engaged in smuggling Chi
nese laborers from Canada.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.