The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-09
Boutelle and Reed Have Tilt with
Speaker Crisp Over Fine-Drawn
Point of Order.
MIR. WILSON TAKES THEFLOOR
Decidedly Weak Introduction to
the Proposed Reductions.
After an Hour and a Half He Rests
Until TO-Day-yOte on the Bill to
Be Taken Jan. 80 Without Fail.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The debate on
the Wilson bill is at last under way. After
a deadlock Of four days the Democrats,
with the aid Of warrants to arrest alb
sentees, succeeded to-day in mastering a
quorum, and the obstruction which the
nonvoting Republicans, Populists and dis
gruntled Democrats placed in the path OF
the tariff debate last week was forced
aside. A sharp tilt with Mr.. Boutelle over
the Hawaiian matter and a lively debate
over the adoption Of the special order fix
ing limits OF the debate preceded Mr.. VIII
sons opening speech. The chairman Of the
ways and means committee began at S:15
O'Clock, and after speaking one hour and
a half was so exhausted that he asked the
indulgence Of the House to complete his
speech tomorrow. His speech evidently
made a deep impression The evenings
session was devoted to general debate on
the bill AS soon as the reading Of the
journal had been completed the Speaker
recognized Mr.. Catchings to call up the re-
port from the committee on rules. Mr.. Bou-
telle was on his feet, demanding recognition
to call up his resolution to the effect that
the Presidents Hawaiian policy had
invaded the rights and dignities
of the House. The 81 ease, was d..i osed to
ignore him as he had done on iwc previ, is
days. out this morning Er. Boutelie made
the point of order that the Speaker in at
tempting to give precedence to a report
from the committee on rules over ques-
ton of privilege himself invaded the privl-
leges, dignity and honor of the House. and
that this point having been made the ques-
tion must be submitted to the House itself
to determine whether its privileges had been
of this point of order caused the greatest ex-
citement and confusion. Members crowded
down about the Speakers rostrum. Mr..
Doutelle went on in fierce tones to cite a
decision of Speaker Carlisle in the Forty
ninth Congress, when the point Of order,
having been made that the honor, dignity
and privileges of the House were being in-
vaded. he decided that it was not a ques-
ton for the Chair TO determine, but for the
House. Under the rule to which he re-
ferred and the ruling he had cited, Mr.. Dcu-
telle insisted that his point of order should
be submitted directly to the House.
BOUTELLE INSISTS.
'It was notorious" he went on hotly.
that this question which he held TO be
before the House was essential to it's dig
nifty. The fragrant acts committed by
the executive abroad were known TO
every member, and it was also known in
what the Presidents disgraceful policy had
eliminated. The House could not afford to
dhts;regard as; D I'M TINS fHndamentai question; Al
call Mr.. Boutelle to order, but the gentle
man from Maine continued more impetus
not intervene" he proceeded to say, then
these proceedings can bar out everything,
even impeachmnt proceedings; even a mas
sage from the President declaring that he
had usurped imperial power. The House is
absolutely manacled"
Speaker Crisp, in ruling on Mr.. Boutelle's
point went into an elaborate discussion or
the parliamentary situation. In order, he
said, to give life and effect to the privilege
rules require that when a proposition to
change the rules is before the House, noth-
ing shall be in order except one motion To
adjourn. IF the gentleman from Maine
can invoke an existing rule to prevent it
from proceeding 10 consider a change OF
the rules. then the House ties itself hand
and foot. If the House feel that it's honor
and dignity have been assailed by the
Speaker or by the executive, then the
Chair will recognize Mr.. Boutelle to call up
his resolution"
Mr.. Boutelle tried to continue the duel
with the Speaker and was proceeding to in
sist upon a direct ruling from the Chair.
but Speaker Crisn pounded his desk with
the gavel and refused to .,T ,rTeeogniize him
oring for his rights when the Speaker
sharply ordered him TO take his seat, which
all the time. at what he considered the
"high-handed' methods of Speaker Crisp.
At this point, during a great deal of con-
fusion. Mr.. Reed arose to a parliamentary
inquiry, desiring to know whether the
Speaker refused to entertain Mr.. Boutelles
appeal on the ground that il was dilatory.
The Speaker replied that he had simply
given Mr.. Boutelle hearing on the point
on which he had ruled on two previous oc-
casons in the belief that possibly he had
something new TO present; that was all.
Mr.. Reed then went on under cover OF a
some length the previous ruling OF the
Chair on raising the question OF consdera-
ton against a report from the committee
on rules. He contended that at all times
the House should be in a position where il
could get direct vote, and that IL should
never be placed in position were II could
not take up question affecting its dignity.
perhaps Its very existence.
MR.. REED IN THE PUSH.
The colloQuy between the Speaker and
Mr.. Reed continued for some time. The
Speaker then stated the question to be on
the demand for the previous question for
the report from the committee on rules,
and the vote was then taken. The Repub-
licans refused TO vote as they did last
week, and several of the Democrats, headed
by Mr.. Sperry. of Connecticut also de-
clined TO answer to their names. However,
when the roll was completed IL was found
that 1s9 Democrats had voted, ten more
than a quorum. According TO the rules the
demand for the previous question having
been sustained, fifteen minutes for debate
were allowed to each side. Mr.. Catchings,
the Democratic leader on the floor. opened
the debate with an explanation of the pur-
pose and scope of the rule which IL
proposed to adopt The majority OF the
committee on rules, he said did not desire
to curtai debate on this bill. but the con-
dition of the country was such that speedy
action was more important than discus
sion. Every one appreciated that, so long
as uncertainty existed so long there would
be instability and depression.
'We believe" said he. that the Wilson
bill is a great stride in the direction OF
the achievement OF the full measure OF
Democratic doctrine. We don't claim IL is
perfect, but IL is a great step In the direc-
ton of a tariff for revenue only"
Mr.. Reed replied to Mr.. Catchings The
tariff bill represented here" said he. offers
so many different aspects that il needs
more discussion than any bill ever sub
mitted." The House, he asserted. was
under no necessity for crowding this meas
ure. The majority was 80 large that what
ever IL chose TO do. IL could whenever IL
saw fit. The Mckinley bill had been pre-
sented I'm all it's details TO the. country for
a month before IL was considered 1t had
been prepared openly, not in secret. Every
body had had an opportunity TO present his
views without stint or limit Moreover,
that bill did not establish any new principle.
and hence there crying necessity
for extensive discussions. He did not care
10 speak OF the fact that when the order