The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-30
How the Big Majority in the House
Amuses Itselfa the Peoples Expense.
Thursday Wasted Because Some Membenwent
to the Faces, and Yesterday Consumed In
Explanations and Mock Trial.
Need of Ex.Speaker Reeds Quorum Ruls
Becoming More Apparent Each Day.
Nineteen Members Arrested, Arraigned, and
Forgiven on FictitiOus Excuses-Mr. Green
walt and the Charges Against Cooper
MOCK TRIAL IN THE HOUSE.
An Instance of How Democracy Is frihina
Away Time and Public Money.


An Instance of How Democracy Is Trillna
Away Time and Public Money
WASHINGTON, April 29.-More waste OF
time is to-day's record of the House No
business OF Importance was transacted.
and ex-Speaker Reed. during n colloquy
with Representative Bailey, OF Texas. de-
clared the present House q laughing stock
for gods and .aen. Speaker Crisp acted az
police justice and the Representatives Of
the people served In the capacity of jurors
Before this august tribunal twelve offend-
ers were arraigned by tho sergeant-at.
arms, charged with having been absent
without leave yesterday, and thereby be-
ing In contempt of court They looked
upon their trial as farce. and joked with
the jurors while awaiting the verdict. Nor
were they in error as to the outcome. The
jurors were lenient and the prisoners were
all acquitted.
When the House convened the Speaker
called attention TO the fact that at the
time of adjournment yesterday the Ser.
geant-at-arms had been gwen warrants for
the arrest of absentee members. He would
now ask the officer TO make his report.
After some debate as to the power OF the
House to order arrests after it had ad-
journed Col. Ike Hill proceeded 10 the
spnee in front of the Speakers desk and
that nineteen warrants had been put IN his
hands Two members he had failed TO find.
one had been suddenly called away on ac-
count of sickness in his family. four were
out of town. He had notified the other
twelve and they had promised to pe here
this morning
The Speaker stated that the sergeent-at-
arms had called on him last piaht and
asked what he should do with the members
upon whom he served the warrants. The
Speaker aad taken liberty TO instruct him
TO notify them 10 be present to-day. lhe
reoalcitrant members were then summoned
to the bar OF the House and called upon 10
present such excuses for their absence as
they might see tit
Mr. Bowers, of California. was the first
prisoner TO be arraigned. lie said that bis
chief offense consisted In being caught,
He had been present yesterday, but had
gone home in order to answer the letters
of persons wanting pensions or poston1ces.
or of persons who did not want somebody
else appointed postmaster. lie had no ln-
tention of infracting the rules OF tue
House. He thought he Obeyed them as
well, if not better. than the average men,
Der. 4 motion 60 excuse Mt. Bowers was
made, but many members, belieying that
arrest of a member for neglect of duty was
not mere child's play, but a serious matter,
demanded the yeas and nays.
Before the announcement OF the vote, Mr..
Burrows of Michigan. said that he under
stood that several gentlemen who were
under arrest had voted upon the question.
He made the point of order that gentlemen
under arrest could take no part In the pro-
ceedlngs of the House.
REED MAKES A POINT.
Mr. Reed, of Maine. seconded Mr.. Bur-
rows in his point, and in the course of his
remarks said that all this fuss and diff.
Guilty arose from the attempt 20 override
the Constitution, Applause on the Repub-
liean side. and derisive laughter on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. McMillin. of Tennessee. inquired
whether the gentleman, and other gentle
men on the other side. did not sit IN their
seats and refuse to yotei
Mr.. Reed said that the gentlemen were
present under the laws and the Constitus
tion. and they constituted a quorum, and
were ready to DO counted as such. As "a
the question of voting that was an affair,
as he had heard gentlemen on the other
side say, between themselves and thelf
constituents.
Tho Speaker did not think that he had
authority TO order O members name 10 he
eliminated from the roll-call. and over.
rnhed the point of order, Dir. Bogers was
excI sed-yeas. $50; nays. G5.
Tho next name called was that OF Mr,
Dumprey. of New York, but Mr.. Tracey
stated that the gentleman had been called
Mr.. Ellis. of iXentucky, was also excused,
as was Mr.. Harter. OF OHIO, Eotwlthstand.
ing Mr. Caruth's appeal that hs be lined
one silver dollar. Mr. HemphilFs visit 20
his dentist was considered valid excuse
for his absence. xhile Mr.. MoDonald's
walk with some of bis constituents, III
whom he was intercsted-his wife and
children-was also deemed a eunieient
reason.
Mr.. Meredith. of Virginia. acInowledg ged
a
there to see whether there was aDyfli ing
demoralIzing in racing in order that he
might draw up measure To remedy anx
evils that might exist. lie was excused
Messrs. Picker Kendall, Stackhouse.
Tracey and Warwick were also excused.
This cleared the docket.
Mr.. BlOunu. of Georgia. asked that the
House go into committee on the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill but Mr.,
Boatner. OF Louisiana, demanded the regu-
lar order. which the Speaker stated was
the Walker expnnging resolution. Mr.
Breckinridse of Kentucky. suggested the
ndvisabilIty OF having the case nolie
pressed.
Mr. Reed said that he was sure that IL
the gentleman should ask unanimous con-
sent for the complete withdrawal of tie
resolution there would be no objection and
we can all live IN peace and harmony"
Mr.. BreckInTidge, however, declined to
take this step. and oil motion or Mr. Nc
Millin. the Walker matter was postponed
The House then went into committee OF
the whole. Mr.. Hatch. of Missouri. In the
chair. on the private calendar. The Sibley
tent bill. which has been clogging
wheels of private legislation for two
months, was finally laid aside with d
favorable recommendation, after having
been amended as TO refer the claim 60
the Court of Claims for adjudication. The
Hiram johnson bill. q Tennessee war claim.
which has received attention for many
congresses. was debated for the remain
der of the afternoon without deter
mination. The committee then arose and
the House. without disp0sing OF the slb-
ley bill. took recess until So'clock. the
evening session TO be for consideration OF
private pension bills.
RepresentatIye Bailey. of Texas has pre-
pared and introduced In the House sn
amendment 10 the rules which. If adopted.
Will assure a large attendance of members
at the daily sessions of the House. he
wants the SerCeant-at-arms gwen power
10 deduct from the salaries of members one
DAYS pay for each day absent from the
Honse. except in case OF sickness of HIM
self or some member of his family.
Al the night session pension matters were
discussed. but no bills were passed, and st
1870 the House adjourned.