The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-14
The House Backs Him Up and Refers
the Rinaker-DowninE Contest Back
TO the Committee ON Elections.
CLOSE OF A LONG DEBATE
PASS THE RIVER AND
HARBoR APPROPRIATION BILL,
After Tabling an Amendment to Limit
the Contract Expenditures 80 Ten
Million Dollars Annually.

WASHINGTON. May ls.-The House.
after one of the hardest-fought parliament
tary battles OF the session. which continued
until almost o'clock tonight recommitted
the contested election case OF Rinaker VS..
Downing. from the Sixteenth Illinois district,
to the committee on elections. with instruc-
tons TO recount the ballots IN dispute. The
vote stood 1ss to IS. divided az
follows: Yeas. sixty-seven Republicans.
sixty-nine Democrats and three Popu-
lists; nays. thirty-hve Republicans. The
case was debated yesterday and to-day until
shortly after o'clock The supporters or
the majority report to unseat Downing. q
Democrat, and seat the contestant realized
that the disaffection on their side was 50
strong that the minority report would prob
ably be adopted, and they inaugurated a
systematic filibuster to gain time TO rally
their forces. The first test of strength on
a motion to adjourn-96 TO 139-confirmed
their suspicious. but they fought valiantly
to the end and went down in the last ditch.
after staving off the final action for four
hours. The Speaker gave them considerable
leeway at the beginning of the fight. but
toward the end he declined to tolerate dila-
tory tactics. AS a last resort many OF the
supporters of the majority report refused 10
vote. but the Speaker counted them. and
the Democrats and dissenting Republicans
scored their victory.
The speakers were Messrs- Cook. Hepburn
and Connolly in favor of the contestant.
and Messrs. Lacey, Shafroth and Dalzell In
favor of the resolution OF the minority to
recommit the case and recount the Official
votes In closing the debate Mr.. Dalzell
declared that a partisan decision OF the case
would be a disgrace TO Republican Com
gress.
Mr. Moody, in charge Of the minority side
OF the contest, having failed to effect an
agreement as 10 vote. gave notice or his
purpose to demand the previous question.
The members OF the Illinois delegation. Mr.
Hopkins and Nr. Cannon, vainly pleaded
for delay, and Mr.. Dingley. the floor leader
of the majority, suggested that the majority
should have an opportunity TO close the de-
bate To this appeal he yielded by Offering
fifteen minutes to the other side to close.
but Mr.. Cannon declined the offer. Mr.. Hop
kins said, after Mr.. Moody had demanded
the previous question. that many members
had left the hall, supposing vote would
not be aiken tonight. and he therefore In
terposed motion to adjourn This fur
nished the first test Of strength. On rss-
ing vote the motion was defeated-s5 to 1s<
NAYS. which resulted 96 to 139. The previous
question was then ordered-lss to rs.
Despite the great odds against him. Mr.
Cannon moved to reconsider the vote by
which the previous question was ordered.
Mr. Richardson made the point that the
motion was dilatory. and the Speaker ap-
pealed to Mr.. Cannon to withdraw his mo-
| tion. But when the latter insisted upon tt
| the Chair entertained IL. Inereupons Mr-
rr1 -. l0rr
| The roll was called again, and Mr.. Moody,s
| motion prevailed-146 to 90. Mr. Cannon at
tempted to spar for time ailsr tne am annqqnce- ounce
final final vote be taken Immediately after me
| reading OF the journal tomorrow Mr..
| Moody declined. He insisted that the House
| desired TO vote, Notwithstanding the obstruc-
| tive tactics OF the other side. Mr. Hopkins
which the Speaker ruled to be in order. The
| motion was lost-C3 TO 133. Before the vote
was announced Mr.. Hopkins demanded q
.sThe Chair refuses It," said the Speaker
| sharply, amid a burst OF applause.
exclaimed Mr.. Hopkins hotiy. II demand
recapitulation as right. not as a cour-
tesy."
The fiiibusters having exhausted every ex-
| pedient were then obliged TO allow the vote
| TO be taken on the substitute Tor the maJor-
| ity resolutions in favor of seating Rinaker.
| The substitute recommittcd the case TO tie
| committee on elections with instructions TO
recount the vote in dispute and take such
| other action as might be deemed neces-
sary. Quite a number Of the advocates OF
| the majority resolution left the hail on this
| roll call. but a quorum held, and the substi-
/ tute was agreed to-139 10 35. eleven pres
| ent and not voting. The resolution as
| amended was then adopted-l6 TO lz Tho
| Speaker counted thirty-three present and
/ not voting to make up the quorum
Mr.. Hopkins carried his Obstructive fac-
/ tics to the last ditch and made the point ot
no quorum on the formal motion 10 lay On
/ the table the motion 10 reconsider, Wh.ca
| on rising vote resulted ~ 10 The
| Speaker however, amid great applause.
| counted the House and announced $50 m5m-
| "I Challenge the count of the Speaker"
| shouted Mr.. Hopkins. and ask for tellers."
"The Chair disregards the challenge.
replied the Speaker.
| The House then at s:f5 adjourned.
| During the morning hour Mr.. Whee
| retaliated on Mr.. Payne, who. yestcrdN
/ supported a resolution 10 eliminate frcIX,
| the permanent record some interpretations
| in his (Wheeler's) remarks. lie cffeIed q
| resolution TO strike from the Record some
| interpretations I'm the remarks OF Mr-Payne,
can you point out a word in tie Record
| I did not utfer?' asked Mr.. Payne.
at can" replied Mr.. Wheeler: lie then
proceeded to point out from the sfe3og-.
rapher's notes places where Mr.. Payne had
| interpolated a word and had occasionally
| changed noun from singular 10 pltIat-
| The House laughed immoderately at tho
| insignificance OF the changes allerHd to
| peatedly called 10 order. but despite sl
1 efforts TO hold him 10 discussion n the
resolution ne succeeded In going into q
| general defense OF the charges preferred