New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-30
SPEAKER AND EX-SPEAKER
MESSRS CRISP AND RED MAKE THIN IS
LIVELY IN THE HOUSE

A TILT OVER TIE CODE or RrLES-MR. CRISP
LEAVES THE CHAIR TO REPLY TO HIS
PREDECESSOR AND Is rOUTFD BY
THE MAINE sTATFsNNN
by TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrSr1
Washington, Aug. 29.-Tbcrc WAS a lively tilt in
the House of Representatives to-day between
Speaker Crisp and cX-Spcakcr Reed, and II WAS
the opinion of most persons present whose lnd'-
mcnt was not cloudcd by prejudice that the Tor
Nor hy no means came ont of the encounter with
flying coors. The subject under consideration was
the code of rules reported from the committee for
adoption After Mr. Catchincs. of MisSisNipp
bad explained the effect of the changes recon-
mended. savina that several of them were ON
bodied in the rules of the Ilcu~' OF the List
Congress and had been found 10 operate benc-
6ciallv Mr. Reed took the floor. He gave the
Democrats credit for having learned something
IL the last four years and WAS glad that they now
proposod TO adopt some of the provisions oi II
code Which they had recently denounced as
unut,erably bad and vicious. lie then went on
TO Point ont arl critcis' in his dry c1lsuf
manner the weak points III the proposes coac, ana
showing IN what respects it will enable a few
members to obstruct legislation.
/ The code permitted the filibustcrcr to fhbustcT'
indeed invited him TO do So by specifying ana
giving a status TO a number of dllatory mo'iohS'
and at the same tine provided for supprcsslh9
him at the pleasure of the Committee on Rules
and the majority of the House. by authorizing the
former to hold meetings and make reports 10 De
Immediately acted upon, while the latter was Ill
session Mr. Reed thought this was weak ana
eyasive expedcnt designed to conceal or disguise
an imitation of wise provision in the rules OF
tho List Congress He also pointed out that
A. &C tl, rtlnS
the morning hour" would be 80 often nulfed
by minority obstruction that sixty minutes of each
sitting would be virtually wasted. The speech
WAS rs ioroible a. il was tcrsc, and the VEIN OF
satire which marked parts Of il was heartily
relishcd by the Republicans, "a we'll as by few
Democrats who are thoroughly weary of the yoke
Of obstruction which they have borne for so many
wears Most of the Democrats however, were
made unhappy by remarks which were designed
10 benefit them, and none seemed to be- more
unhappy than Speaker Crisp who, as soon as MIR.
Reed sat down, called Mr. Richardson, Of Tennessee
TO the Speakers chair and took the floor in reply
PARTISAN HARANGUE.
He evidently realized that his Democratic col
leagues of the Committee on Rules, McssrS Catch
/ ings and Cultivate, carried too Few guns anu
those of too small calibre, ana That II was
necessary for him 10 DO what no other Speaker
within the memory Of the oldest man IN t'li-
gress had eyer found il necessary 10 d. before.
Speaker Crisp had not spoken three sentences
before every body discovered that he was eNcec /
inely warm-hOt would better deeciib, his mental
condition With manner strongly marked by
puenacity and in strident tones he pluns"I INT"
a spcech which quickly became "a partisan ha-
rangue in which he denounced certain pro
visions of the Reed rules as bitterly a. he had
hsf.r a.Il his
him very nigh the verge Of personal denuncia-
tion as well He vchomently denied that The
cuIrcme Court had ever ndolsc1 thos rules.
Il had ony decided that the House of Represent
atives was clothed BY the Constitution with
authority 10 make such rules a. it chose e pro
vide for the asceranment Of the prcsenc' of a
quorum Ii was evident from the tone ami
temper Of the speech that the Speaker found II
extremely dlicLlt TO restrain himself within IL"
bounds of prudence and his lack of scf-control
Was painfully apparent.
From tn, standpoint Of Democratic part
san the speech must have been an effective
one, however, and it was iapturously applaudco
by the Speakers party followers. II is probably
true that one Of the strongest motives that in
PEELED him to the unusual course which he adopted
was the discovery that considerable number
of Democrats were strongly disposed 10 offer anf
support amendments Whlch are not 1dNucu Dl
the Committee on Rules. and lie hoped TO con
solidate the majority 10y partisan appeal.
Mr. REEDS FORCIRLE RFJJINDEr.
Mr. Reed listened intcntly, and with the SANE
placid conposure that marked his d"mcan0r whcr
a Democratic mob howlcd 1t and denounced hin
in the List Congress, but when he rose t'
reply it was evident that he had something to say
He refused absolutely to be drawn into person
olities or 10 obscure the important subject be
fore the House by appeal 10 piI tlSan prcJl
dice or passion He spoke with great earnest
ness and emphasis, and his argument was
telling one but il not partisan speech o
the same order as Speaker Crisps. who II !
fair 10 ASSUME. krcny realized the difference, an;
probably regretted that party fecllhg had diic"
him "a far Nj R.cd's speech was ~ dignilie'
in tone as il was forcib". ana severe III "l'l
ncr ard convincing in arguhl'n' III,
Hnforo the sitting closed two Democrats Mcssf'
, Hooker and Boatncr, delivered earnest sPeeoh'
crticising features OF the propoSru cou''' u.
suggesting and ad vocating amendments tlcr'n
" FIX Premier" Springer also spoke ana TOOK occa
sion 10 remind the IOus" tIat one ol 'Il, pr
visions borrowed from the Reed rules iiad pee
originally proposed and advocated Nv himself j
the Lth Congress. Mr. burrows mau "i i, "" n
porarily unhappy By asking him II NJ ana no
, vote against that provision in the WF"t '9 %.
eress" and compelling him TO admit tha' u" dlo
Amos Cummings, who had manager 70 f'co,,,
Reed whom he had interrupted in the course q
. | tho latter's epccch, delivered violent parrish
haranrue dcnouncing the rules and ruins .
thc Reed Congress- and Mr.. Picker. OF Sout
Dakota supported Mr. Hookers proposition
increaso the membership Of the Committee
Rules which now consists OF only five members
although il possesses more power than all OF Ia
: other committees combined
THE DEBATE On THE RULES