The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-16
DENIES He WAS ON A DRUNK.
CONGRESSMAN HOWARD MAKES
An EXPLAN ALTON.

lie states That He Was sick the
Day He Was Carried out of the
House on Sofa by Two Negro
Porters-A Newspaper Correspond
ent Wrote That lie Looked Like
Tramp.
Washington. May 15.-1lr. Howard. pop.
Of Alabama. signalized his return 20 con-
gress. after an absence of several months.
to-day by rising 90 a question Of personal
privilege Immediately after the reading OF
the journal in the House. lie said that
when last present in the House his APP
pearance had been made the occasion OF
a cruel baseless attack 10y the press OF
the country. The article in the 81. Louis
Republic. he said. was typical of the
general onslaught, and he read that It
stated that MIR. Howard had come on the
floor of the House in a state of intoXi-
cation. after a debauch of several days.
his appearance resembling that OF
tramp. He had gone TO sleep. it said.
on a lounge AID had thence been removed
by two colored porters of the House.
This is the contamination Of Towards
career" was the closing sentence.
Mr.. Howard went on TO explain that
he came TO the House TO vote on the silver
bill He had come against the advice of
his physician, accompanied by his wife,
and the wife Of Representative Strowd.
Members about him. Mr.. McLaurin ana
others, saw that he was desperately SICK,
and they had advised his removal for
that reason. Since then, Mr.. Howard
said, ne had been confined TO his room
al times near deaths door, and only yes
terday had been able TO resume his du-
ties on the floor. Il should not trouble
the House about this matter" he contin-
ued. but L believe it TO be due to the
people who sent me here, and the chill
dren who bear my name, to denounce
the charge as willfully and maltciously
false"
Mr Howard referred to the designation
of pOpulists as "cranks' and said: III the
principles of the peoples party are wrong,
those misguided people who hold them VIII
not be brought back into the ways of truth
by vituperation and abuse. The same des-
ignation is made of free silver democrats,
of free silver republicans, the only di1er-
ence being that they are harmless and we
are not But whatever may be thought of
the party 10 which i belong. ] am mem
Der of this House and am entitled 10 its
protection against these assaults.
On motion of Mr.. Dingley rep, Of Maine,
Il was agreed that when the House ad-
journ tonight it be until Monday next
Mr.. DeArmond called up the unanimous
report of elections committee No upon
the contested election case of J. Hampton
Hoge, rep, VS.. Peter J. Otey, dem. from
the Sixth Virginia district confirming the
title of Mr.. Otey to the seat which he oc-
cupies, and il was agreed to.
The House then proceeded to read and
pass the private pension bills, there being
about 100 in all on the calendar
When the bill was reached to pension
the widow of the late Secretary Gresham
at the rate of 800 a month, Mr.. Talbert
dem. of South Carolina, made the point
that no quorum had voted on its passage,
and the speaker was compelled to count
a quorum. The vote by which the bill
passed was l20 to To-
Mr.. Talbert also endeavored to secure
a recommittal of the b!l granting pen
sion of SO a month to the widow of the
late Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr., with in
structions to reduce the amount to $50
a month, but the motion failed-55 to IT,
At 5 o'clock the House, under the rules,
took recess until s O'Clock having passed
10l bills. Thirty bills We're lad aside TO
await formal engrOssment before final ac-
ton upon the demand of Messrs. Erdman,
dem, of Pennsylvania, and Talbert, dem,
of South Carolina.
The entire period devoted under the
rules to the night session was spent in
frlltless effort to obtain a quorum. The
proceedings were characterized by -Ir.
Pugh, rep, of Kentucky, as those of a
kindergarten in the national schoolhouse"
Towards the close of the evening. Mr..
Picker, rep, of South Dakota, repeated
a motion, first voted upon by the House.
The speaker pro tenn, Mr.. Dalzeu, rep,
o. Pennsylvania evidently tired Of the
situation, declared the motion out of or
der.
The Speaker Pro TEN. Cshortly)-And
the chair declines 10 entertain the appeal.
At 1880 o'clock the session expired by
limitation, and the House was declared
TO be adjourned until Monday next.
BALL AND BAT.