The record-union., 1894-02-24
tering
,ecial to the REcoRD-UNIoN.

Speclal 10 ID6 IECOfNi-O O-NAC->-
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The members
of the House under arrest were finally
discharged from custody to-day by dis
pensing with further proceedings under
the call. 1t required four hours to accom-
plish this, and although the scenes were
disorderly, and the turbulence which
characterized yesterday proceedings
were repeated, the proceedings were fully
as interesting. The Democrats were evil
dentIy very anxious when the House
met to extricate themselves from the COM
plications arising from the wholesale ar
rest of members, but by flank move
ments the Republicans succeeded in pre-
venting this until the whole situation had
been thoroughly ventilated. Perhaps the
most interesting feature of the day, bar
ring BANDS bitter philippe against the
filibustering Democrats, was verbal
duel between Reed and Turner over the
question OF counting quorum AIter
the arrested members had been DIS
charged. Bland returned to the silver bill,
but his motion failed again for lack OF
ouorum. He only lacked two votes. Al
thouUh Bland still insists on going ahead
with the seigniorage bill, many Demo-
Gratis believe 1t should now be abandoned,
and unless a quorum Is procured Io-mor-
row it would seem that it would have to
be, that is, if the Democratic caucus does
not decide to adopt some method OF
forcing members to vote, or count them
If they do not.
Sneaker Crisp was confined to his house
with severe sore throat and cold, and
sent note appointing Rlchardson OF
Tennessee Speaker pro tenn. for the day.
AS soon as the journal was read Adams
- o,,ia hpOan clamOfInQ Tor
recognition on the question OF personal
privilege. He was being tried when the
House adjourned yesterday.
He Welded, however, to Wells Of Wis
consin, who said he was enormously re-
ported as voting on a motion 10 ADJOURN.
He denied that he had taken any part IN
the proceedings, but said he would nave
voted. if at all, to adjourn, in order to
s'nnt a stop to the disgraceful perform
ance."
on the request of Cummings, Sickles
was excused on account of sickness.
The Speaker declared the pending ques-
ton a motion to discharge Adams from
the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Adams was given leave to state his
question of personal privilege. he wanted
to know why, yesterday, while explain
ing his case, the mace of the House
should have been used to force him TO hls
seat 1t was an indignity while he was
endeavoring to carry out the mandate OF
the House.
The Chair stated the question would
have to be debated later, as the pending
question was on the discharge of the gen.
tleman from custody.
Reed made point that the question
should be to discharge the gentleman, be-
cause the warrant under which he was
arrested was unauthorized.
Springer tried to interpose motion to
Ill K-fef h Ac-lns ffAEf
way out of the tangle, but Reed demanded
the previous question, cutting him of.
Inc Democrats decided to vote down
the previous question, to give Springer a
chance: but some OF the Eastern Demo-
Gratis voted with the Republicans, and the
previous question was lost-95 to l59.
Then Bland moved as substitute for
Reeds motion to discharge all the MEM
berS under arrest.
Reed made the point of order that an
amendment was not germane, and the
question was debated at some length.
In the course of the debate Bland de-
nounced the New York delegation in
heated words. He was called to order
several times by Coombs of New y ork,
amid general uproar. BANDS speech
was sensational in its criticism of the dis
order which prevailed yesterday. lie
declared the men who were ObStructing
legislation and defying the House were
anarchists and revolutionists. They were
worse than the criminal who would throw
a bomb from the galleries. There were
Kisses at this, which grew louder and
eliminated in cries of ''Shame ~
Bland proceeded in impassioned utter
ances. He declared that mobocracy had
taken possession of the House. The mob
ism OF anarchy was being given an object
lesson. Anarchists were being invited to
parade the streets and commit deeds OF
In1 hn fro
ouent characterization OF the members
VINO obstructed legislation as anarchists
and revolutionists.
1t was hard, he declared, to give leaves
of absence and Immediately revoke them
and order the arrest OF members, but
public exigency sometimes required
such a course. The House had been
dead-locked for days. The whole press
OF the country was full of it, and every
member must have been aware that his
presence was needed. He maintained
that when a member of Congress was
elected he entered into a solemn contract
with his constituency to leave private
business and attend TO public business
for which he was elected.
ave were sent here to do our duty at q
time when cities are thronged with mobs
of people who cannot go to bed in peace
and comfort. 1t is not the Time when
mob law should obtain here"
At this point Bland was called to order,
and after being admonished by the Chair
TO confine himself to the question al
issue. he proceeded to say that since the
deadlock the suggestion that the Speaker
should count a quorum had been ad-
vanced on the Democratic side OF the
House. Quorum-counting, he main
tanned, was an invitation 10 absenteelsm.
IL was an invitation TO members TO &c
fishing and wander up and down the
earth. He insisted that it was the duty oi
the House 10 keep members in theiI
seats The Democratic party had ma
jority OF eight in the House, and ought tC
attend to business.
81 don't think t is the duty of the gen
tleman from Missou ouri,r interjected Dunn
(Dem.) of New Jersey, ito lecture the
Democratic party"
s'If that is lecture" retorted Bland
"the people will read it to the gentleman
and every other man now obstructing
business, to his hearts content. Demo.
cratic applause We should proceed tc
do business or acknowledge our incom-
netency. If we don't, the people viii
read the riot act to u.s." [''They will
they will ~ came in chorus from the Re.
publican side.]
RIand then drifted into discussion o.
the merits of the silver seigniorage bill
which was being opposed by a portion o.
the Democratic party, IN the course o
which he was three times called to order
NV Coombs Dem.) of New York. "The
difticultv is.n finally blurted out Bland
athat | am too much in order.
am telling too many plain truths that the
country ought to know" lDemocratl'
spplause.l