The herald., 1897-06-02
IN THE HOUSE
a Lively Session With Very Little
Result

Result
WASHINGTON, June There was a
lively session of the house today, at
which the policy of Speaker Reed and
the Republican majority was again
made the subject Of attack by members
of the minority
Richardson of Tennessee, Democrat.
and Simpson of Kansas, Populist, led
the onslaught of the minority The
majority position was ably defended by
Henderson of Iowa. Republican, and
Grosvenor Of Ohio Republican.
The appeal of Lewis of Washington,
Democrat, taken last Thursday from
the decision Of the chair that a resolu
tion relating to foreign affairs did not
constitute a question of privilege, was
laid upon the table, and after skir-
mish over the methods of procedure,
three special orders were successfully
adopted, by two Of which the senate
bill making special appropriation for
the government printing office and for
granting the secretary of the navy au
thority to contract with any two ves-
eels to carry supplies to India were
passed. The other provided for the con-
sideration of the Frye bill to prevent
collisions upon harbors, rivers and in
land waters of the United States con-
nected with the ocean, but Mr.. Payne
in charge Of the latter bill, was forced
to abandon it for the day to avoid the
point of no quorum. The conference
report on the sundry civil bill was
adopted. The compromise relative to
the revocation of President Cleveland's
forest reservation proclamation excited
some comment. Loud of California OBJ
jected to one feature of the compromise,
but the opposition was not carried to
the point of a division.
Richardson opened the attack upon
the inaction of the house, and protested
vigorously against the present method
of doing business.
"At present we are" he said with our
hands tied, no committees, none Of the
convenience or necessities of legislation;
nothing but the committee on rules,
which dictates what we shall do and not
do. The house was never in such di-
1apidated condition for such a length of
time"
How long was it before the commit
tees were appointed in the Forty-second
congress?" asked Mr.. Dalzell of Penn
sylvania, Republican.
Congress met on the 4th Of March,
and the committees were appointed in
December" replied Richardson, "but
congress was in session only four days"
"That is the fact I wanted to bring
out" said Mr. Dalzell.
Mr.. Richardson proceeded to recall the
time which had elapsed in each congress
before committees were appointed, show
'dng, as he said, that the period had va
ried from Is to so days
Mr.. Simpson remarked upon the spec
tacle presented by the house, "becauee
of the refusal of the speaker to obey the
rules and appoint the committees"
I'VE must come" he continued, "to the
committee on rules as supplicants over
$500 bills have been introduced at this
session, 1865 for the relief of the old SOL
diers"
1.-THE Republicans" said he, "claim to
be the special guardians of the old SOL
diers Why don't they consider these
measures? Then there is the bank
ruptcy bill, for the passage of which
there is a great demand throughout
the country"
rs there any greater demand now
than there was in the last congress?" in
terrupted Watson of Pennsylvania, Re-
publican.
'There is" retorted Simpson, "because
the prosperity you promised has not ma
teralized, and the people now seek the
relief you promised the tariff would
give them through the bankruptcy
courts" Gaughter)
Terry of Arkansas, Democrat. con-
tributed some brief remarks to the de-
bate, in which he described the majority
as having lain down and been "bucked
and gagged" by the speaker.
Mr.. Henderson then came forward with
a rather elaborate defense of the
speaker, and the course Of the majority
generally. He said that the majority
stood ready to finish the work it was
called here to perform whenever it came
from the other end of the capitol. Gem
tlemen seemed to forget that a new
congress assembled on March A. called
together by patriotic president to meet
the condition of the treasury. In nine
days the house had cent a bill which
would furnish ample revenue and give
an ample balance annually to the SEN
ate.
The majority had discharged its duty.
which was perhaps, the chief reason it
did not meet the approval of the minor
fly.
why this hell in a teapot?" he asked
"This boiling over from the realms of
Kansas"
In reply 10 the criticism of Mr. Simr-
son. he said it was in a sense true that
the members of the committee on rules
were the speakers creatures, but, said
he, every rule was submitted to the
house for it's sanction. If the house was