The morning call., 1894-02-23
TROUBLE OVER THE ARRESTS.
A Number of Absentees Brought
Before the Bar.
EVEN THE SPEAKER IS RATIFIED.
The Way One Branch of Congress
Celebrated the Anniversary of
Wasfington's Birthday.

birthday furnished some dramatic incl
dents which may possibly eliminate in
legal proceedings against the Sergeant-at-
Arms for the false Imprisonment Of men,
bers Of Congress.
Sargeant-at-Arms Snow, acting by virtue
of a general warrant Of arrest issued last
Monday, has been apprehending members
wherever found. The warrant contains
the names of ffty-six Congressman. Snow
began 10 arrest Congressman on the floor
IF the House on warrants last night charg-
ing them with absenting themselves on
Monday. This was in accordance with a
colloquy between Speaker Crisp and the
Serg geant-at-Arms during the session yes
terday. Snow asked if he was expected
to arrest members on the floor. Crisp
answered that the Sergeant-at-Arms was
expected TO execute orders" This was
accepted as meaning that arrests on the
floor should be made and Snow at once
began to carry this idea into effect and he
arrested seven Congressman as they sat
in their seats. Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms
Hill made as many more arrests. In each
case the member was tapped on the shou!-
der and told that he was released on
parole to report when required.
This morning arrests began again and
continued until they were Interrupted by
stirring scene. Cummings came down the
middle aisle of the House just as the ses-
sion was about to open. Deputy Hill
stepped up to him and notified him. by
virtue of the warrant he had, that Cum
mings would be placed under arrest and
his parole taken. The Congressman
flushed and took the matter seriously. He
stepped back and in bitter language de-
nounced the effort to arrest him. He re-
fused to recognize the validity of the war
rant.
81 give you fair warning" said Cum
mings, ''if you touch me you act at your
peril"
For a moment it looked as though there
would be serious trouble, as Cummings
plainly intimated that he intended to re-
sent the slightest touch indicating an ar
rest by force. The deputy quickly with
drew, however. as the orders TO the
Sergeant-at-Arms are 10 avoid indignities
to Congressman in every way possible.
The members apprehended threaten to
secure suitable redress, and talk of legal
proceedings for false Imprisonment.
Sergeant-at-Arms Snow, in speaking of
the matter, said:
''The greatest care has peen taken to
avoid giving any offense to members. My
orders to my deputies are to proceed with
the greatest caution and Difference. We do
not arrest members as though they were
tramps, or common drunks. They are
merely notified that their names are on the
warrant, and then the member is touched
to make service effective"
The House met to-day, contrary to the
custom on Wasbington's birthday, owing
to the tangle over the Bland seigniorage
bill. although the prospect for securing a
quorum was not as good as yesterday.
Bland and his followers were apparently
disheartened, but refused to accept COM
promise by dropping the section Of the bili
providing for the coinage of the remainder
of the bullion and the retirement of the
Sherman treasury notes of the act of 1890.
Pence Of Colorado, as personal priv-
lege, explained that it was not true, as
stated. that Populists had attended the
Democratic caucus on the 10Th, though
they were in entire sympathy with the
resolution adopted by that caucus that it
was tie duty of the Democrats to attend
the sessions of the House and transact
business.
Then Cummings of New York arose and
denounced vigorously the attempt made
10 arrest him this morning by the SER
geant-at-arms. He declared that he had
been present at the sessions of the House
daily, hours before and hours after the
sergeant-at-arms was there. He told that
official and his assistants to arrest him at
their peril, and slignatiZed as unbridled
tyranny the attempt of an arrest on WASH
ington's birthday. In the name of the
American people be protested against
holding farcical session ou a national
holiday, and In honor of the memory Of
George Washington he moved TO adjourn.
Dockery, in the chair, decided that as
Cummings had been recognized for per-
sonal explanation he could not make a
motion. Bland moved to close The debate
on his seigniorage bill at p. NJ. Saturday.
and demanded the previous question
thereon. Cummings again moved to ad-
journ. Lost-102 TO 124 on a rising vote.
Cummings demanded the ayes and noes.
Republicans and Democratic opponents
of the bill voted for adjournment but il
was lost-117 to 40.
Bedlam broke loose and the most in
tense excitement prevailed during the aft
ernoon when the arrested members were
brought before the bar of the House. The
validity of the warrants was questioned.
General Sckles claiming the Sergeant-at-
Arms was liable to action by each member
arrested. Several attempts to adjourn
were unsuccessful, and on two occasions
the Sergeant-at-Arms was compelled TO
clear the aislcs with his mace.
Great confusion then arose over Sickles,
demand to be heard on question of priv
ilege, and, as way out of the difficulty.
it was decided to hear the report OF the
Sergeant-at-Arms giving the list of those
arrested. which was as follows: Richards
Jr., Bel'Zh oover. Clancy. Coffeen, Cooper.
Cummings (wbo refuses arresl). Dunn (wLo
protests), Erdman, Harter, Kribps, Ma
hon, McAleer. Murray. MutchIer. Reilly.
Rush, Sckles, Hulick, Mcdowell, johnson
and Woomer.
Sickles then said that he demanded a
separate trial, and amid great turmoil and
the pounding of the gsvel the Speaker pro
TEN. ordered Sickles to cit down and he
obeyed. A list Of prisoners was then