The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-23
Acrimonious Scenes Witnessed on
the Floor OF the House
Thursday
WashinRtons Birthday Disgracod
by the Representatives Of
the People.
dress for Indignities They Claim
10 Have Suffered.

/ Rreas. Sefgeant-at-ATms SNOW. acting by
virtue Of a general warrant Of arrest Issued
last Monday. has besn apprehendinR mem
bors wherever found. The warrant con
tains the names Of AftT-siI congressman.
Snow began last night 10 arrest congress-
men on the floor of the house on warrants
charging them with absenting themselves
MondaF. This was In accordance with a
colloquy between Speaker Crisp ana tho
sorReant-at-a ms. During the session yes
terday SNOW asked II he was expected 10
arrest members on the floor. Crisp an
swered that the sergeant-at arms was az
pected 10 execute tho order" This Was
accepted as meaning that arrests on ths
floor should be made. and Snow at once be-
gan TO carry this idea into effect. lie ar
rested seven congressman as they sat in
their seatr Deputy Hill made as many
more arrests. In each case tho member
was tapped on the shoulder aud told he WAS
released on parole, TO report when re-
quired.
This morning arr esta began again and
continued until interrupted by a stirring
scene. Cummings came down the middle
aisle Of ihe house just as the session was
about TO open. Deputy Hill stepped up TO
him and notified him. by virtue Of the war
rant he had, that Cummings would be
placed under arrest and bis parole taken.
The Congressman flushed and took the
matter seriously. He stepped back, and in
bitter language denounced the effort TO ar
rest him. lie refused to Iecognizs the va
liiity of the warrant.
IL give yon fair warming" Eaid Cum
minRa III you touch me you act at your
peril"
For a moment il looked ns though there
would be serious trsuble. as Cummings
plsinlg intimated that be intended 20 re-
sent the slightest touch indicating arrest
by forcs. The deputy quickly Withdrew.
however. as the orders Of the serRsant-at-
arms are 10 avoid indRnitiss TO congress
men IN every way possible. Members np-
pretended threaten TO secure suitable re-
dress and talk OF legal proceedings for
false imprisonment.
sergsant-at-Arms Snow says: The
greatest care has been taken TO avoid giving
I offsnse to members. My orders TO the dep
uties are so proceed with tbe grsAteIt eau
tion Hni Difference. We do not arrest
members as though they were tramps or
common drunks. They are merely notified
that their names are on she warrant. and
then the member is touched TO make the
service effective"
Tue house met to-day. contrary to Gus
tom, on Washington's birthday. owing TO
the tangls over the Bland ssigniOTags bill.
/ The prospect of securing = quorum was not
! as good as yesterday. Bland and follows,s
we're apparently disheRrtened, but refused
| 70 accept the compromise offered OF dGou-
ming that section of the bill providing for
the coinage OF the remainder OF the bull
/ lion and the retirement Of the Sherman
| nOtaa of the ACT OF lS,tl
Pence, of Colorado. aa pc sonal pYivi-
leqe, explained that ID was not true, az
stated, that populists had attended the
democratic caucus on the 18th. though they
were ia entire sympathy with the rssolu-
tiou adopted by that caucus, that 10 was the
duty OF the democrats to attend the sss-
sious Of the house and transact business.
Then Cummings of New York arose and
denounced vigorously the attempt made TO
arrest him this morning by the sc fgsAnt- at
arms He declared that he had been ptes-
sut AZ the sessions Of the house daily, hours
nnd hours before ths serGeant-at-ar@s was
| there. he told that offioial and his assist
nut 20 arrest him at their peril ind stiRm a.
tzsd as unbridlsd tyranny the attempt TO
arrest him on Mashington's birthday. In
the name OF ths American people he pro-
tested against the holding OF . faroioAl sss-
sion on the national holiday. and N homer
OF the memory OF George Washington he
moved 30 adjourn.
DooksrT. who was In the chair. decided
that az Cummings had been recognized for
a personal eX glAnatiOn, he could not make
a motion. Bland moved 10 close the de-
bate on his ssignio age bill al three y. m.
Saturday. and demanded she previous qusa-
ton. Cummings again moved 20 adjourn;
lost l02 % IA. on a rising vote.
Cummings demanded Tbs yeas and nayG
The republicans and democratic opponents
OF the bill voted for adjournment. but 10
WA lost, III so 140.
Bsdlam broke loose. aud the most In
tense eIoitemsnt prevailed. The validity
OF ths warrant was QUESTIONED, Gen.
sickles claiming that the sergeant alarms
rested. Several attempts 10 adiourn were
unsuccessful. and on tvo 0eoasiOHs the ser
geant-a arms was compelled to clear the
aslss with the mace.
Great confusion arose over sioklss' de
maud 10 be head on question of priv
ilege AZ way out Of the difficulty 10 was
decided to hear the report Of tho sergeant
At-arms giving q list Of those arrested.
siodes then said: Il demand a separate
tral." Amid the turmoil and pounding OF
the gavel the speaker pro tem orde ed
Sickles 20 eli down, and he obeYed. Tue
list OF prisoners was then called. Adams.
republican, OF PENNSYLVANIA. announced
that be was absent Ia Psnnsylvania, voting
for a member of the house. and" he
added partly through my efforts We rolled
Republican applause.
Reed moved that Adams be discharged
and his name stricken from she warrant.
| sieklea protested that no names we're on
the uarrant and that 10 was null and void.
This statement created turmoil. and the
sreakor'a order 60 aTfost Abssntesa was
read. ~ickles held ths noor aud demanded
10 know 4 he Was under arrest and had a
right Co VOTE. While she chair was attemnt-
ing 60 ausll the impending riot, Cummings
called oct
You did no, call him siotlesl 20 order
AZ Gettyshurr."
Doekery, IN the chair. announced the
pfsvl1ua question carried. Band with
drew his demand aud also his motion 10
close debate on she ssigLiefags bill Outh-
wnits moved to adjourn; lost Sickles oh
i,cted 60 further proceedings under the
warrant. 10 being absolutely void.
hrrir ger insisted that the warrant was au-
tho tzs1 by ths house. Reed moved 10 s1-
cufs Adams on the ground that ths warrant
Wa uot authorized. dozsu members
made point of order. In the midst OF the
ain Bland moved 20 adlouTu. siok les
! cried ~ a piteoualy appealing manner;