The Portland daily press., 1897-06-02

Report Also Adopted.
Washington, June There was live
ly session of the House today at which
the policy of Speaker Reed and the Re-
publican majority again were made the
subject of attacks by members of the
minority. Mr.. Richardson, Democrat of
Tennessee, and Mr.. Simpson, Populist of
Kansas, led the onslaught, for the
minority. The majority position was ably
defended by Mr.. Henderson, Republican
of Iowa, and Mr.. Grosvenor, Republican
of Ohio.
The appeal of Mr.. Lewis, Democrat of
Washington, taken last Thursday from
the decision of the Chair that resolution
relating to foreign affairs did not consti-
tute question of privilege, was laid on
the table and after the skirmish over the
methods of procedure three special orders
were successfully adopted, two of which
are Senate bills making special appro-
priation for government printing Office
and for granting the Secretary of the
Navy permission to contract with any two
vessels to carry contributed supplies to
India were passed.
The other provided for the consideration
of the Frye bill to prevent collisions in
harbors, rivers and inland waters of the
United States connected 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.
Washington, June I.-When the House
met today it was still the legislative day
of yesterday, a recess having been taken
until today. The Speaker announced that
the pending question was Mr. Dingley's s
motion to lay on the table Mr.. Lewis s
appeal from the decision of the Chair by
which the Speaker last Thursday decided
that Mr. Lewis's resolution relative to
Cuba was not privileged. Upon this
question the yeas and nays had been or
dered. Mr.. Lewis was upon his feet and
under the guise of parliamentary
question, requested the privilege of with
drawing temporarily his demand for the
yeas and nays in order to present to the
House what he termed the "Exact
record" relative to the decision given in
the Fifty third Congress, by which a
resolution declaring the foreign policy of
the United States was decided to be
privileged. The Speaker decided that his
request was parliamentary inquiry and
directed the clerk to call the roll. Mr..
Dingley's motion was carried, SO to 55,
present and not voting 37
Mr.. Henderson, Republican of Iowa,
and Mr.. Terry, Democrat of Arkansas,
both demanded recognition upon the an
nouncement of the vote. The Speaker
recognized the former who, from the
committee on rules, presented special
order for the immediate consideration of
the Senate resolution to amend the resol,l-
tion of April z, providing for the trans
portation of supplies to India.
Mr.. Richardson, Democrat of Tennes-
see. said he had no objection to the special
order, but he protested vigorously against
the present House method of doing bust
ness.
Here we are" he said, with our
hands tied with no committees, none of
the conveniences or necessities of legisla-
tlon, nothing except the committee on
rules which dictates what we shall do and
what we shall not do. The House was
never in such dilapitated and disor-
ganized condition for such length of
time"
''How long was it before the committees
were appointed in the Forty second Con-
gress?" asked Mr.. Dalzel, Republican of
Pennsylvania.
Congress met on the fourth of March
and the committees were appointed in
December, replied Mr.. Richardson, 'but
Congress was only in session four days."
That's that fact 1 wanted to bring
out,' said Mr. Dalzell
If there is any committee for comfort
in the fact, - said Mr.. Richardson, 1.-THE
gentleman is welcome to it" daughter
from the Democratic side.)
Mr.. Simpson, Populist of Kansas, spoke
of what he termed the remarkable
spectacle presented by the House "because
of the failure of the Speaker to obey the
rules and appoint the committees.
''We must come" he continued, ''to
the committee on rules as supplicants.' -
Continuing Mr.. Simpson said: "Over
$500 bills had been introduced at this
session and 1166 were for the relief of old
soldiers.
1.-THE Republicans" he said, "claim to
be the especial guardians of the old
soldiers. Why don't they consider these
measures? Then there is the bankruptcy
bill, for the passage of which there is q
great demand throughout the country"
is there any greater demand than
there was in the last Congress?'' inter
rupted Mr.. W. A. Stone, Republican of
Pennsylvania.
"There is" replied Mr. Simpson, "be-
cause the prosperity you promised has not
materialized and the people now seek the
relief you promised the tariff would give
them through the bankruptcy court. :"
daughter.
1.-The House was at the mercy of the
committee on rules" he said, "and who
are the committee on rules" he asked.
''There he sits,' he shouted, pointing
with his index finger at the chair. The
minority howled with delight. The
Speaker looked flushed and trifle irri-
tated
Mr.. Simpson described the majority
members of the committee on rules as the
Speakers creation who march to his
music and do his bidding.
Mr.. Henderson came forward with a.
rather elaborate defense of the Speaker
and the course of the majority generally
He said the majority stood ready to finish
the work it was called here to perform
whenever it came from the other end of
the Capitol. Gentlemen seemed to forget
he said that a new COn9ress asseno 6lo,i