Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-03
Mr.. MEREDITH'S FIST.
1t Was Shaken In Mr.. Funk's
Face and Caused a Scene.
HOUSE ONCE MORE IN DISORDER.

The Virginia Congressman Was Making a
Bitter Pension Speech When the Illinois
Member Stirred Him liberalization
Bill Passed.
| WASHINGTON, March 3.-The house en-
tered upon the consideration of appropria
! ton bills. The Notifications bill, carrying
something over y, 600, 600, was passed in p
minutes, and then the pension appropria-
ton bill was taken up. This bill usually
| leads to a considerable display of political
! feeling, and this occasion was no exception.
! An alteration occurred between Mr..
! Meredith of Virginia and Mr.. Funk of Il
! linos over the formers attempt to prove
| that there were many fraudulent pensions
81 the rolls, which almost resulted in a
| personal collision. Mr.. Meredith's speech
| On the whole was rather sensational He
said that he protested against making the
pension roll a roll of dishonor in the name
Of state that had paid three times as
much for pensions as Vermont.
That's because there are more of you,"
suggested Mr.. Grout
But we get no benefit" returned Mr..
Meredith.
That's because you were on the wrong
side" suggested Mr.. johnson of Indiana.
whether man is a patriot or rebel"
retorted Mr.. Meredith, depends upon the
result. Success makes a patriot of him
whom defeat makes rebel of. That was
! the case in 1776"
! Mr.. Meredith went on TO cite cases which
he said made him believe that there were
hundreds and thousands of fraudulent
pensioners on the rolls. During the prog
ress of his speech he denounced the Re-
| publicanS for refusing to vote when the
seigniorage bill was up.
Meredith on His Mettle.
why did you not count us?' asked Mr..
Reed.
IF they had put me in the chair" re-
| piled Mr. Meredith Il would have admin
| tstered to you your own medicine-I would
have counted you" Republican applause.
II am glad to find there is one man of
some sense on that side" retorted Mr..
Reed. Laughter
Later, in referring to some cases in his
state of negro pensioners, Mr.. Meredith
said that only negroes got pensions in his
country. THAT is because they are the
only people who were loyal" said Mr.. Ba-
ker of New Hampshire.
According to your idea of loyalty" re-
piled Mr.. Meredith, there were no loyal
nen in my country, and am proud of it,"
Toward the end of Mr.. Merediths speech
o most exciting scene occurred. Mr.. Mere
dith was still talking about fraudulent
pensions and was having an animated al
tercation with Mr.. Baker of New Hamp-
shire ov.r a case which had come under his
(Meredith's) personal observation, where
Union soldier was obtaining a pension
for disability which he (Meredith) claim
ed he did not have.
IF l can judge from the fact that man
seems healthy and strong,' said he, and
yet gets pension by reason of disability
when l see him day by day and week by
week and year by year, in my plain, home
spun country way of speaking | say that l
believe that the man lied when he went be-
fore the officials and swore that he had
been crippled in the army"
II want to say if the gentleman is hon
est" interrupted Mr.. Funk of Illinois, ris-
ing in his place, ''and is stating what he
believes to be true, that if he does not make
that case known to the proper authorities
he is not a good citizen"
Il want to say this" returned Mr.. Mere
dith holly: "If the gentleman undertakes
to insinuate that 1 am dishonest-if the
gentleman undertakes''- Without COM
plotting his sentence Mr.. Meredith left his
place to the right of the speakers chair
and hurried over to where Mr. Funk was
standing in a side aisle to the left.
II did not say So" protested Mr.. Funk
threatening manner.
You had better not say so,' returned
Mr. Meredith, still advancing up the aisle.
Crisp O the Rescue.
A personal encountGr was imminent
Members crowded down about the belliger-
ents amid the most intense excitement and
confusion. They were both talking at the
same time. Finally Mr.. Meredith clinched
his fist and shook it under the nose of his
adversary. By this time Mr. Funk, who
had previously displayed no feeling, shout
ed out something about standing by what
he had said. Mr.. Meredith again assumed
threatening posture, but the members
who had crowded around gently took him
by the shoulders as if to prevent blow
from being struck.
All this time Mr.. Outhwaite who was
presiding in the committee of the whole,
was pounding vigorously for order, but
without effect, and Speaker Crisp, who had
been hurriedly sent for, mounted the ros-
trum and assumed the gavel, as he is al
| lowed under the rules to do when the
house is in committee of the whole in
times of great disorder.
Il undertake to say that you are not my
Keeper shouted Mr.. Meredith as he was
backed down the aisle by his friends.
Il stand by that proposition shouted
back Mr.. Funk, who was held on one side
by Mr. Doolttle and on the other by Mr.
Payne, ''either here or anywhere else.'
A few sharp raps of the speakers gavel
produced a measure of quiet. The house
recognized the hand of the presiding off,
| Ger.
THE sergeant-at-arms will cause the
| gentlemen to be seated" said the speaker
in firm tones. Every gentleman will be
seated, he continued.
| The assistant sergeant-at-arms rapidly
| cleared the aisles, and the members re-
sumed their seats. The excitement quieted
down. Mr.. Meredith walked back to his
seat and sat down. After order had been
restored Mr.. Meredith arose and protested
amid laughter that he was not excited, but
that gentlemen could hardly do here what
they might do elsewhere. With this part
ing shot he closed his speech, and immedi-
ately the house, which was at a high ten
sion, on motion of Mr.. Sayers took a recess
until the evening session to be devoted to
| pension legislation.
Postmasters Appointed.
| WASHINGTON, March 3.-The following