New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-20


cevc immediate confederation
Mr.. Breckinridre made the further point that
whether privileged or not tns Fs'o'u''o" '"'"'N
60 to the Committee on Rules.
Mr.. Dingley asked. soto voice. whether the' Vhe
Republicans, were to understand that nothing was
privileged unless Il was presented by the other
side.
Mr. BOuTELLE'S CONTENTION.
Mr.. Boutele contended for the privileged nature
Of his resolution and said that the usage and rules
Of the House provide for the immediate considera-
ton of such privileged questions The resolution
introduced by him involved question ol 'ne very
highest privilege that could be submitted to the
House II was not a question Of personal privilege;
II was a question of the privileges OF the House
Of Representatives as a coordinate Dranch OF the
Government of the United States. II set iorth the
fact or the allegation, that the functions ana
preroyatives Of the House have been invaded by
the executive branch OF this Government. and ne
held that excepting alone resolution for impeach
ment of the President. question could come be-
fore this House OF higher privilege than the reso-
luton which he had presented He continued:
1.-The documents read at the desk yesterday, on
their face and without resorting to any strained
construction show that there has been precipitated
with a friendly power a situation in which to-day
under the instructions now in the possession OF the
Minister Of the United States to that country we
may become compiled ted. may have already be-
come complicated That Minister may already nave
taken such action as to make war with that couh-
try. l6rom all know the armed forces OF the
United States may be to-day arrayed against a
friendly country, with which the people Oh this
country overw helmingly sympathze. While that
mans public instructions were to present 10 .i.e
president of the Provisional Government the assur-
ance Of the good will and sympathy of the people
and Government OF the United states we ni1
To the Queen. The President Of the United States
insists on recognizing the deposed Queen
A POINT OF ORDER RAISED.
Mr. McCreary Dem. Ky) made the point OF
order that the gentleman was not confning himseN
to the privileged question
The Speaker sustained the point; and Mr.. Boutelle
promised to keep within the limits of the rule OF
the House He then continued his remarks. and
said that 1t was the duty OF the United states al
ton in which it was placed and which was calcn-
lated bring 1t into dsrepute and coh5emp. MI
lives to fail to exercise it's prerogatives to fail
to insist upon its rights and digntes as Go rnc
upon the legislative department Of the United States
the contempt Of fr the pssoPe this G usxpa G
anates. not whether II was organize srnor ~
Tsnssde on Re RspnSea or sde
Tfbe Speaker again called the attention Of MI
b%%ns Of to h prrsssd question
gentleman is keeping within the rules mus. .a 1S ,h
Speaker. and II the House does not keep up the
dignity of the House. 1t is very difficult ior the
MIR Mr.. Bouieiie again promised that he would en-
deayor to be crcumspect He then asked me
Speaker whether a resolution OF Impeachment "o"'
The Speaker said that It would; and then con- on.
n %sd pni viii Sha'f hos %h the
Mss @ by 'n the pFTSsH Prom Ks"tHek
night. will refer 1t to the Committee on fo'es"
Mr.. Boutelle replied in tone OF disappointment;
Il rose a question OF the highest prTlege, h
nr r Of ibis House there are reported instances
where resolutions OF this kind have been presenter
and have been Immediately acted on by the iiuuse.
It's reference TO the Committee on Foreign Affairs
will result in It's being smotnered III,
neeed Vet If there is an express rule OF the House
which declares that mu,, be refeT bs 10 one on the
opinion that 1t must go TO that committee. This -
a subject dealing with the foreign anars o, ' nr
Government and must go TO the committee o."
Mr. Boutelie continued to contend for the i'm,
TO its commlttal. on the plea that lis reference VIII
destroy the very object Of the resolution
DISPOSITION OF PRIVILEGED QUESTION.
Tho Sneaker was obdurate. however. and declared
firmly that he would decline to hear any gentleman
The chair has discharged the duty imposed upon
IT," said Mr. Crisp. There IL no question OF hgher
privilege than the right of a member 10 MS seat
vet the rules provide that all questions az to me
right OF member 70 ms scar "s IL in the power Of
the House to make rules for Its own guidhhce n"irs
questions not privileged. The rules OF the House
have provided that such questions must De r.
ing in the rules providing for its reference to "a
committee. then 1t would be In order 10 move r a.
resolution Of the gentleman from Maine reters no
foreign relations and there rs rune mus, t h r a.,
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Ahairs, ,.,,
The Speaker went on to explain ,hat hr ua IN
line with the doctrine already enunciated by mn.
He quoted the contested election cas s ~ The pres
Tfu matter matter was brought up in the form Of
tal he
had been presented as a privileged matter. the
Chair decided that il would have to go to the Com
MIR" Mr. Boutee then quoted precedent for his
Sse OF sn Bun in Which disaster
the Union arms. had Just been ,ongh,S; I Wo,sa
by Roscoe Conkilng. and directed 10 the Presi-
OF the United States who rrferIs9 ro to inc
stated that it was question OF p %Sao ana asked
the House s WAS en se SO fns OF War and Of
the Adutant General were read In the House. but
Mr. Conkling said the answer was not tesponssr'
And. Notwithstanding the FACT mat NE cou uy
in the midst OF Civil war; sa rrb Mr ., ,he
House 10 this Information. and directed the Secre-
,ary to furnish IT.
THE SPEAKER SUSTAINED.
The Speaker decided that this case was not a
precedent. and amid cries OF Regular order"
Mr. Boute.le appealed from the decision OF the
Chair.
Mr. McCreary Dem. KY moved TO lay that
motion on the table and on this motion the Repub-
lcans fought for every inch OF ground when The
Sneaker announced that on the viva VOce vote 'nr
motion OF Mr. Mctreary had been agreed 10. III
vision was demanded, and the Repuoncans we,e
again defeated by "A vote OF 155 TO O. MI lfouelic
thereupon called for the yeas and nays. ana again
the Democrats won by vote OF 100 TO 49, ana me
appeal OF Mr. Boutee from the decision or the
Chair was laid on the table.
A. this point the high tension to which every one
|, had been keyed since the day began was reached
and Mr. Blair Nep., y. H..) caused general
laugh on both sides OF the chamber putting every
one in good humor for the time being by Offering
the following resolution and asking for unanimous
consent for It's immediate consideration:
Resolved, That this House Is In favor OF tht
annexation Of the Hawaiian isiahos 10 'he "''en
States" , - II, 49,,
Amid general laughter. objection was made. and
the resolution disposed OF. The House then
settled down TO routine business