The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-03-03
ALMOST HAD A FIGHT
Another Turbulent and Dlssracaiul
Scene On The Floor Of ths House
THEY SHOOK THEIR FISTS
Two Members Whose Pugnaclty
Seems Most Pronounced When
They Are Held Back by
Other Me mbsrS.

WASHINGTON, March LII the house
the bill which has been before congress
several sessions for opening 10 settlement
certain abandoned military reservations,
was taken up, after some business of
minor importance and, after some dis
cussion passed. Grow, recently elected
congressman-at-large from Pennsylvania,
was sworn in. Judge Holman introduced
Grow in a felicitous speech. A burst of
applause greeted Grow as he stepped
down the aisle to take his place at the bar
CT the house.
Boatner asked the unanimous consent
Tor consideration of a resolution 10 iuyes-
tigate the action of Judge Jenkins in
granting the injunction against the em-
ployes of the Northern Pacific railroad.
Kilgore objected and the house went into
committee OF the whole for consideration
OF the Notifications Appropriation bill
Livingston, in charge OF the bill, explained
that the totol sum carried by the bill was
S2,2l9,Gol, upon an estimate OF S7.43S,sl3
The Notifications bill in the Fifty-Hrst
congress carried s4 ,232,9 ,935. Bingham, on
behalf of the minority, said he had no OBJ
jections to the bill itself, but 1t was the
declaration of a depleted treasury. Tho
general debate closed and the bill was then
read by paragraphs. Two minor amend.
menIs were adopted aud the bill passed.
The house went back in committee Of
the whole for consideration of tho pen.
sion appropriation bill. O'Neil of Massa.
chusetts, in charge OF the measure, ex.
planned that the bill carried for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1895, sii,5l9,35O less
than the bill of last year. The original
estimate for the coming fiscal year. SlG2,.
100000, but il had been revised aud cut
down later by Commissioner Loci .rcn.
O'Neil argued that the maNimu..n pen-
sions appropriations passed a .,d hereafter
passed would be materi..l reduction in
the amoun, needed ,r pensions. O'Neil
defended Comm .ssloner Lochrcn. Grout
oil vermont i.i.owed with an assault on
'ommlssrLner Lochren's action in the
whoies-Ie suspension of pensioners.
NJ ercdith. democrat, OF Virginia, made
sensational speech protesting against
, making the pension rolls roll of dis
honor in the name OF state that paid
three times as much for pensions as yer-
mont. Toward the end of Mcrcdith's
speech o most exciting scene occurred,
which almost cventua,ed in n personal
collision between him and Funk OF lll!-
| nois. Meredith was still talking about
fraudulent pensions and said: IF can
judge from the fact that q man seems
healthy and strong and yet gets a pen.
sion. by reason of disability, say be-
!ieyed that man lied when he sworo he had
been crippled in the army"
II want to say IL tho gentleman is hon.
est" interrupted Funk, republican, Of
Illinois, "and stating what he believes to
be true, IL he does not make that case
known to tho proper authorities, he is not
a good citizen"
| II want to say this" returned Meredith,
holly, III the gentleman undertakes 10
insinuate that am dishonest; if the gen.
tleman undertakes to ~ without COM
pleting his sentence, Meredith left his
place and hurried over to where Funk
was standing.
II did not say So" protested Funk, as
Meredith advanced toward him in q
threatening manner.
"You better no, say So" returned Mere
dith. still advancing up the aisle. A per-
sonal encounter was imminent. Tho
members crowded around the beligerents
amid the most intense excitement and
confusion. Finally Meredith clinched his
iis, aud shook il under the nose OF his al.
yersary. BY this time Funk, who had
previously displayed no feeling, shouted
out something about standing by what
he said. Meredith again. assumed
n threatening posture. but the members
around took him by the shoulders as If TO
prevent a blow being struck. All this
time, Uathwaite, who was presiding, was
pounding vigorously FOR order, but with.
out effect, and Speaker Crisp, who had
been hurriedly sent FOR, mounted the ros.
trum and assumed the gaycl.
II undertake to say you are not my
Keeper" shouted Meredith, as he was
backed down the aisle by his friends.
II stand by the proposition" shouted
back Funk. who was held on one side b,
Doo!ittlc and on the Other by Payne,
"cither here or anywhere else"
"Thc serseant-at.arms viii cause the
gentlemen TO be seated, said the speaker.
The assistant sergcaut-at-arms rapidly
cleared tho aslcs and ihe members re-
sumei their seats.