The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-19
Van allen And QUORUnS.
Subjects Which Make Some House
Democrats Uncomfortable.
A FORLQRN ATTEMPT TO HIDE
THE PARTY'S SHORTCOMINGS.

MIR. Wise Started in to Show that "This
Adulation of Thomas b. Reed is a Mis-
erabIe Pretence," and a Nutmeg State
Statesman Came to the Rescue of Van
AIen-An Amusing Effort to Make
Black Appear White.
Washington, April 1s.-The House went
into committee of the whole on the d1plo-
matte and consular appropriation bill today,
and Mr.. Grow, Republican of Pennsylvania,
condemned the policy of the present admin
istration toward Hawaii, denouncing it as
un-American and antagonistic to the growth
of liberty among the nations.
Mr.. Milliken Republican of Maine, replied
to some criticisms made by Mr.. Hooker upon
the action of Minister Stevens, who was his
constituent and friend. He predicted that
despite the hauling down of the American
flag by Commissioner Blount, it would yet
fly triumphant over the Hawaiian islands.
Mr.. Reed said: ''We seem to have settled
something in this discussion. 1t is clearly
settled that W. G. Whitney is good man.
1t is clearly settled that Grover Cleveland
is a good man. 1t is clearly settled that Van
Allen was not appointed minister to Italy
because he contributed $4,000 to the cam
paign fund.- Now will somebody on the
other side tell US why he was appointed"'
Republican laughter.)
Mr. Piggott, Democrat of Connecticut,
asked Mr.. Enloe why Jefferson Coolidge of
Massachusetts,, was appointed minister to
France near the close of the last admins
tration.
Mr.. En1oe said that was good set-off to
Van Aliens appointment, but he would
refer the question to Mr.. Reed, putting one
conundrum against another.
Mr. Cogswen, Republican of Massachusetts,
referring to the intimation by Mr.. Piggott,
that Mr.. Coolidge was not fitted for the
office of minister to France, said Mr.. Cool
idge had previous experience in the diplo-
matte service as secretary of legation at
Paris; he was inguist; his father had
been in the foreign service, and he was
worthy descendant of Thomas Jefferson.
When he was appointed there was not
single paper in the state but approved of
the Presidents selection.
''Now,'' interjected Mr.. Reed, sslet us
have Van Allen accounted for QIaughter.)
Mr.. Wise, Democrat of Virginia, read from
the record to show the position taken by
ex-Speaker Reed, when an amendment
offered by Mr.. J. Randolph Tucker of
Virginia, to the rules providing for the
counting of quorum, was under discussion
in the 48th Congress. He showed that Mr..
Reed opposed the amendment and added
with much spirit: "This adulation of
Thomas B. Reed by the Republican party is
a miserable pretense." Mr.. Wise stated
that Mr. Reed was not the originator of this
proposition to count the quorum. 1t was
first proposed by Democrat from Virginia.
Mr.. Wise said it was his purpose to strip
Thomas B. Reed of the false colors under
which he sailed. He added that Mr.. r.Springer
of Illinois, voted and spoke for the rule.
ssThat,'' said Mr.. Reed, sotto voce,
ssaccounts for its defeat
'sGarfield,'' continued Mr.. Wise, "voted
against it and denounced it as unconstitu-
tional, so this pretense that the country is
indebted to the Republican party for this
rule is a bald lie. On that occasion Mr..
Reed denounced the proposed rule as
violation of the constitution and the Re-
publican leaders Joined him in denuncia-
tion.''
While Mr.. Wise was talking, J. Randolph
Tucker entered the House and was warmly
greeted by his old friends.
An agreement was made to limit general
debate to one and a quarter hours, half an
hour today, and three-quarters tomorrow,
all but fifteen minutes be given to the Re-
publicans.
Mr.. Grosvenor, Republican of Ohio, occ u
pied twenty minutes in detailing the
changes made in the Wilson bill since it left
the House and asserted that the Democrats
of the House would vote for tho bill as it
would come back from the Senate.
The remaining ten minutes by general
consent, was transferred to tomorrow's S
session and the committee rose.
Mr., Cummings, Democrat of New York,
reported the naval appropriation bill for
the year ending June 80, 1885, and the House
adjourned.