The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-20
WORK OF THE HOUSE.
The Debate on the Noyes-Rockwel
Contest Under Way.

! WASHINGTON, April 19-In the House
to-day, after the approval OF the Journal,
Mr.. McMiIlin OF Tennessee, from the COM
mittee on rules, reported resolution vacat'
| ing and setting aside all orders heretofore
made granting general leave to print in the
| Record. After debate the resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Catchings of Mississippi. from the
| committee on rules, reported resolution
directing the committee on civil service re-
form to investigate whether all or any of
the officials in Baltimore) found by the in
vestigation Of the civil service commission
to have violated the law are still in office,
and whether any such officials have been
indicted and proceeded against in the courts
for such violations of the laws. This reso-
luton was also adopted.
THE NoYEs-ROCKWELL CONTEST.
Mr.. O'Ferrall then called up the Noyes-
Rockwell contested election case. He gave
notice that at the end of ten hours debate
he would demand the previous question.
Mr.. Lawson of Georgia opened the argu-
ment for the contestant, who occupied q
seat far back on the republican side of the
House. The contestee, Mr.. Rockwell, oc-
cupied bis seat on the democratic side, but
remained for but brief time and then re-
tired to the lobby. Although the case Ia
conceded on both sides to be very im-
portaut one che buzz Of conversation and
bursts Of noisy laughter which ever and
anon came from the cloak rooms, testified
to the fact that many of the judges, who
were to pass upon the cause, were inatten-
tive to the evidence, as adduced by the first
disputant. Mr.. Lawson's argument was
purely legal one.
Mr.. Wheeler Of Alabama interrupted him
at one time TO call attention to the fact that
there were but five republicans listening to
the speech. He presumed that the repub-
licans did not intend to vote upon the ques-
ton.
Mr.. Raines of New York one of the faith
full FIVE suggested that that might prove to
be very violent presumption.
A TILT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS.
Mr. Lawson was frequently Intercepted,
and when Mr.. Cochran OF New York rose
to ask question, Mr.. O'Ferrau protested
that the frequent Interruptions were in
tended to break the continuity of his COL
leagues argument.
Mr.. Cochran warmly protested against
any interruption from the gentleman from
Virginia. He had addressed his question to
the gentleman from Georgia-not TO the
gentleman from Virginia. He had not ad-
dressed the gentleman from Virginia and
he hoped that the exigency Of this debate
would not force him to do so.
Mr.. O'Ferrall said with equal warmth
that he was dealing with the gentleman
from New York.
Mr.. Cochran denied the right of the
gentleman to do so. He was not dealing
with the gentleman from Virginia His
remarks we're directed to the gentleman
from Georgia.
The gentleman from Georgia yielding to
the question, peace was restored. In con-
clusion MIR. Lawson expressed his belief
that the principles of the Democratic party
were right; that the principles of the Re-
publican party were wrong. There were,
Of course, some bad democrats, but very
few; there were some good republicans but
not many. When as good a democrat as
he was, voted 70 GUST democratic repre-
sentative from his seat, he cast his vote
from a sense Of duty of the highest
character; wherever the path Of duty
pointed, no man should fear to 90.
Mr., johnson of Indiana argued that ac-
cording 10 positive evidence Mr.. Noyes was
elected by six majority. The question was
one above party and beyond party, aud one
that should be decided upon the evidence
and the law.
Mr.. Bacon Of New York supported the
title Of Mr.. Rockwell, the sitting member.
Pending action, the House adjourned.