Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-30
MERE CHILD'S PLAY.
That's the Way Speaker Reed Sizes
Up the Actions Of Congressman.
A DOZEN MEMBERS UNDER ARREST
For Absenteeism, but All Get Off by Making
Timely Excuses.
ANOTHER WHOLE DAY GONE TO WASTE

|
yesterday the Sergeant at Arms had beer
given warrants for the arrest Of absentee
members He would now ask the officer Il
make his report. After some debate as u
| the power of the House to order arrests
after it had adjourned, Colonel Ike Hill
proceeded to the space in front Of th'
Speakers desk and submitted his report
Colonel Hill stated that 10 warrants had
been put in his hands Two members hs
had failed to find; one had been suddenly
called away on account of sickness in hit
family; four were out of town. He had
notified the other r. and they had promised
to be here this morning.
| The Speaker stated that the Sergeant at
Arms had called on him last night and asked
what he should do with the members upon
whom he had served warrants The Speaker
had taken the liberty to instruct him to
notify them to be present to-day. The
recalcitrant members were then summoned
to the bar of the House, and called upon to
present such excuses for their absence as
they might see fit.
Bowers Crime Was in Being Caught.
MI. Bowers, of California, was the first
person arraigned. He said his offense con-
sisted in being caught. He had been present
yesterday, but had gone home in order to
answer the letters of persons wanting pen
sions, or Of persons who did not want some
body else appointed postmaster, He had
no intention of infracting the rules OF the
House. He thought he obeyed them as well,
if not better, than the average member.
A motion to excuse Mr. Bowers was
made, but many members believing the ar
rest of member for neglect of duty was
not mere child's play, but serious matter,
demanded the yeas and nays. Before the
announcement of the vote, MI. Burrows, of
Michigan. said that he understood, that sew
eral 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 proceedings OF the
House.
Some Partisan Applause Evoked.
Mr.. Reed. of Maine, seconded Mr.. Bur
rows in his point, and in the course of his
remarks said that all this fuss and difficult
ty arose from the attempt to override the
Constitution. (Applause on the Republi-
can side, and derisive laughter on the Dem
ocratic side.)
Mr.. McMillin, of Tennessee, inquired
whether the gentlemen (Messrs. Reed and
Burrows) and other gentlemen on the other
side did not sit IN their seats and refuse to
vote.
Mr. Reed said that the gentlemen were
present under the laws and the Constitution,
and they constituted quorumS and were
ready to be counted as such order. On the
question of voting-that was an affair Gas he
had heard gentlemen on the other side say)
between them and their constituents.
The Speaker did not think he had author
ity to order a members name to be elm
mated from the roll call, and overruled the
point of order.
Mr. Bowers was excused-yeas 100,
nays 65.
The next name called was that of Mr..
Dunphy, of New York, but Mr.. Tracey stated
the gentleman had been called home on ac-
count of death in his family. :.
A Pertinent Joke on Harter.
Mr.. Ellis, of Kentucky, was also excused,
as was Mr.. Harter, of Ohio, notwithstand-
ing Mr.. Caruth's appeal that he be fined one
silver dollar.
Mr.. Hemphill's visit to his dentist was
considered valid excuse for his absence,
while Mr.. McDonald's walk with some of
his constituents in whom he was interested |
his wife and children-was also deemed a |
sufficient reason.
Mr.. Meredith, of Virginia. acknowledged |
being at the race course. He had gone
there to see whether there was |
demoralizing in racing, in |
order that he might draw up measure
to remedy any evils that might exist. He
was excused.
Messrs. Picker, Randall, Stackhouse,
Tracey, and Warwick were also excused.
This cleared the dock.
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, asked that the
House 60 into committee on the diplomatic
and consular appropriation, but Mr.. Boat
ner, of Louisiana, demanded the regular
order, which the Speaker stated was the
Walker expunging resolution.
Mr.. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, suggested
the advisability Of having the case nolle
pressed.
Reed Out for Peace and Harmony.
Mr.. Reed said he was sure that if the
gentleman should ask unanimous consent
tion there would be no objection and eve
can all live in peace and harmony" But
Mr. Breckenridge declined to take this step,
and on motion of Mr.. McMillin the Walker
matter was postponed until tomorrow.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Hatch, of Missouri, in the chair.
No business of importance was trans
acted and ex-Speaker Reed during ascol-
loquy with Representative Bailey, of
Texas, declared the present Honse laugh
ing stock for gods and men.
The Sibley tent bill which has been clog
ging the private legislation for the past two
able recommendation, after having been
amended so as to refer the claim to the
Court of Claims for adjudication. The
Hiram johnson bill, Tennesse war claim,
which has received attention for many Con- 1
crosses, was debated for the remainder of
the afternoon without determination. The
committee then arose, and the House. with
out disposing of the Sibley bill, took re-
cess until o'clock, the evening session TO
be for the consideration of private pension
bills.
A Way to Make Members Attend.
Representative Bailey, of Texasehas pre-
pared and introduced in the House an
amendment to the rdles, which, if adopted,
will assure large attendance of members at
the daily sessions, ST the House. and relieve
that body fron the embarrassment from
which it has Suffered. The amendment d. |
rects the Sergeant at Arms to withhold, at
the end Of zach month, the pay of member |
until he files with the Sergeant at Arms a |
written statement that he has not been abb |
sent from the House during the preceding |
month. If member has been absent, and |
such absence was not necessary on account |
or the sickness of himself or some member |
of his family (the statement to set forth the |
exact number of days of absence occasioned |
by oGher than the above causes), the Ser |
geant at Arms is to deduct the salary for |
the days of absence occasioned by other than |
the above causes, as provided in section 40,
Revised Statutes. Amy violation of this rule |
by the Sergeant at Arms shall make him
liable, on his bond, for all payments made |
to the provisions OF section 40.
BRAZlL'S fresh troubles treated in .