The morning call., 1893-09-03
LET THE CAT OUT.
Why Mr.. McMilIin Was
Displaced.
CRISP IS A BIT OF A CAR.
He Wanted Certain Rules Changed
and the Gentleman From Ten
nessee Would Not Consent.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-The debate over
the House rules is developing considerable
feeling between the Crisp leaders and
some of the gentlemen who constituted the
factional opposition in his own party to
the Speakers administration IN the last
House. This is apparent by the vigorous
manner in which they are fighting some of
the proposed changes in the rules pro-
posed in the interest of eXpediting busi-
ness and preventing obstructive tactics.
McMilln, who is the leading Democratic
opponent of these changes, is being ably
supported by Hooker of Alabama, Turner
of Georgia and quite number of Demo-
cratic Congressman. who oppose the adOp-
tion of any of the experiments of the Reed
Congress. The Republicans. meanwhile,
led by ex-Speaker Reed, are using all their
ingenuity 10 drive in the wedge between
the Democratic factions.
Hooker to-day presented in modified
form the amendment he sought to have
adopted yesterday increasing the number
required to proceed 10 business by unani-
nous consent, and it was defeated Tracy
of New York offered an amendment strik-
ing out the clause in rule 81 permitting
amendments TO general appropriation bills
when those amendments were in the in
terest of retrenchmeDt, and McMillin
spoke vigorously in opposition to the
change. as did also Holman. Stone and 9TH
ers. and Tracey withdrew it.
Kyle Of Mississippi offered an amend
ment increasing the number of MEM
bers constituting a quorum of the
committee of the whole to a majority of
the members of the House. Under the
rule as brought in by the committee 100
members are made n quorum in committee
of the whole, and KYLE declared this was
not right. 1t was against public policy
and public sentiment. and placed it practi-
cally IN the power of 100 members TO trans
act the most important business of the
House. Cultivate of the Committee on
Rules cOntended that if members were in
terested in legislation they would be pres
ent whether The members constituting a
quorum were 100 or l65. During the con-
sderation Of appropriation bills absentee
ism was unusually large and the House
business WIS Obstructed.
De Almond Of Missouri supported the
Kyle amendment and called attention to
the fact that Onthwaite had opposed such
an order in the Reed Congress. Outh-
waite said be was tour years older in
legislative experience than when be made
that speech, and De Almond responded
that objections sdduced four years ago
we're as good now. The entire Demo-
cratic side fought the proposition at that
time, 81 could be demonstrated by refer
ence to the vote in the Record.
Breckenridge of Kentucky spoke warmly
in support of the amendment, and then
Catchings. the floor leader, asked to have
the rule passed temporarily until larger
attendance could be obtained, but Hooker
of Mississippi objected and supported the
change. He said the committee of the
whole had no place in the constitution; it
was a mere matter of convenience, and he
suggested that the change is TO make it
less cumbersome. The question of how
Democrats had voted four years ago made
no difference, as at that time they were
fighting the unp nprecedented Reed rules
a hot colloquy took place between Gen.
eral Catchings and McMilin of Tennessee,
when the latter asked why, if this change
was advisable now, ii had not been made
in the last Congress.
Catchings replied warmly that McMlin
was the last man in the House who should
ask such a question; that number of
changes in the rules desired by the Speaker
and himself (Catchings) at the last session
had failed because of McMillin's opposi-
tion.
"Do you mean to say" asked McMillin
aDgrily, moving down the aisle, that |
was responsible for the failure to adopt
this change?"
Il mean your opposition to the rules
which the Speaker aud myself considered
advisable caused us to abandon them"
Then there were hurried explanations,
and McMiiliu sat down with a flushed face
and the House settled back, confident it
had been unexpectedly led into the secret
of why McMllin had been deposed from
the Rules Committee by the Speaker under
the reorganization.
After some further debate the House
suspended consideration OF the rules to pass
an amendment 10 the urgent deficiency bill
and after adopting a resolution making
the day Of the centennial Of the celebration
Of the laying of the cornerstone of the
Capitol legal holiday the House ad-
Journed until next Wednesday.