Evening journal., 1894-03-03
mr.. MEREDITH'S FIST.
It Was Shaken In Mr.. Funlx's
Face and Caused a Scene.
HOUSE ONCE MORE IN DISORDER.

The Virginia Congressman Was Making
Bitter Pension speech When the uiinoi.
Member stirred Him Up-Fortiacations
DnI Passed.
WASHINGTON, March 3--The house en-
tered upon the consideration Of appropria
tion bills. The fortifcations bill, carrying
| something over S2,00O,OOO was passed in %
minutes, and then the pension appropria-
tion bill was taken up. This bill usually
leads to considerable display Of political
feeling, and this occasion was no exception.
An alteration occurred between Mr..
] Meredith Of Virginia and Mr.. Funk Of II
| linois over the formers attempt 10 prove
that there were many fraudulent pensions
on the rolls, which almost resulted in a
personal collision. Mr.. Meredith's speech
on the whole was rather sensational. lie
said that he protested against making the
pension roll a roll of dishonor in the name
OF a 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 Nj. johnson of Indiana.
whether man is patriot or a rebel"
retorted Mr.. Meredith, depends upon the
result Success makes a patriot OF him
whom defeat makes a rebel of. That was
the case in l770.n
MIR. 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-
lpublicans for refusing to vote when the
seigniorage bill was up.
Meredith on His Mettle.
why did you not count usi" asked Mr.
Reed
III they had put me in the chair" re-
piled Mr. Meredith, 81 would have admin
stered TO you your own medicine would
have counted you" lRepubican applause
81 avn glad TO find there is one man OF
some sense on that side," retorted Mr.
Reed. [Laughter.l
Later, in referring to some cases in his
state Of negro pensioners, Mr. Meredith
said that only negroes got pensions in his
country. "rhat 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 We're no loyal
men in my country, and am proud Of it,"
Toward the end of Mr.. Meredith's speech
a 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 over case which had come under his
(Meredith's) personal observation, where
"A Union soldier was obtaining "a pension
for disability which he (Meredth) claim
ed he did not have.
IF can judge from the fact that man
l.. I...aI De-
yet gets peRsion by reason of a disability,
when ! see him day by day and week by
week and year by year. in my plain, home
spun country way Of speaking l say that /
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 II the gentleman Is hon
est," interrupted Mr.. Funk Of Illinois, rs-
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
be is not a good citizen"
81 want to say this" returned Mr. Mere
iith hotly; If the gentleman undertakes
TO insinuate that 1 am dishonest-if the
gentleman undertakes"- Without com
pleting his sentence Mr.. Meredith left his
place to the right Of the speakers chair
aud hurried over to where Mr. Funk was
/
II did not say So" protested Mr. Funk
! as MIR. Meredith advanced toward him in "a
threatening manner.
You had better not say So returned
Mr.. Meredith, still advancing up the aisle
Crisp to the Rescue.
A personal encounter 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
% bis fist aud shook il under the nose of his
O adversary. BY this time Mr.. Funk, who
s had previously displayed no feeling, shout
j. ed out something about standing by what
he had said. Mr. Meredith again assumed
z 4 threatening posture, but the members
Is who had crowded around gently took him
" by the shoulders as II to prevent a blow
Is from being struck.
e All this time Mr. Cultivate, who was
presiding in the committee OF the whole
b was pounding vigorously for order, but
b without effect, and Speaker Crisp, who had
d been hurnedly sent for, mounted the ros
trum and assumed the gavel, as he is al
Is lowed under the rules to do when tn,
ie house is in COMMITTEES Of the whole il
times OF great disorder.
M IL undertake TO say that you are not my
10 keeper" shouted Mr. Meredith as he wal
b.; backed down the aisle 10y his friends.
ne 81 stand by that proposition" shoute,
se back Mr.. Funk, who was held on one sid
81 by Mr.. Doolittle and on the other by Mr.
Is Payne, "either here or anywhere else"
ls A few sharp raps Of the speakers gave
e. produced a measure Of quiet. The hous
recognized the hand OF the presiding on
ie GER
ln ''The sergeant-at-arms will cause Oh
&C. gentlemen 70 be seated" said the speake
to ID firm tones. Every gentleman will b
/. seated % be continued
The assistant sergeant-at-arms rapid
cleared the aisles aud the members T,
. sumed their seats. The excitement quiete
down. Mr.. Meredith walked back TO hi
I, seat and sat down. After order had bee
ou restored Mr.. Meredith afose and pr0teste
~ amid laughter that he WAS not excited, bu
that gentlemen could hardly do here whl
they might do elsewhere. With this par
W. ing shot he closed bis speech, and immed