The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-04
DEMOCRATIC VOTES DIVIDED
BAILEY AND HIS FOLLOWERS SUP
PORTED THE SPEAKER,
While Only Fifty-Four Members Voted
DingIey, Lewis and Bailey.

WASHINGTON, May S.-"The issue was
made" as Speaker Reed put it in the House
to-day, on the speakers policy of postpon-
ing the appointment of committees. Mr..
Simpson of Kansas brought it up on an
other attack on the speaker, which moved
Mr.. Reed to challenge him to propose a
resolution instructng the speaker to ap-
point the committees. The Kansan evaded
this challenge, but Mr.. Lewis. a new DEM
ocratic member from Washington, took up
the gauntlet which the speaker had thrown
down and moved the adoption of resolu-
ton of the tenor suggested by Mr.. Reed.
Then Mr.. Fleming (Dem., Ga.} offered "A
substitute embodying the Instructions in
different terms. and Mr.. Dingley, the Re-
publican leader, to make the issue plain as
he said, presented another substitute di-
recting the speaker to appoint the commits
tees Immediately" When the vote was
taken on the proposition the speaker was
sustained by practically the solid vote OF
his party, assisted by thirty-three Demo-
Gratis. under the leadership of Mr.. Bailey.
The resolution was defeated-yeas So. nays
124, present but paired, 13. For the first
time this session the factions in the Demo-
on record, and thirty-two Democrats, with
all of the Populists, supported Mr. Lewis.
Mr. Low, of New York, was the only Re-
publican to put himself on record in sup
port of the resolution while eight Demo-
Gratis and five Republicans answered pres
ent. Mr.. Bailey denounced in strong terms
the spectacle which the Democrats were
presenting by their dissensions. Messrs.
Cochran and Wheeler, of the DeIRocratsg-
spoke for the resolutions while Mr.. Ding
ley voiced the Republican policy
A Senate resolution appropriating $4,000
for the congress of the Universal Postal
Union was adopted
Mr.. Showalter, the Republican chosen at
a special election to represent the Twenty
fifth Pennsylvania district, was sworn in.
Mr.. Bailey presented resolution that the
Nelson bankruptcy bill recently passed by
the Senate be taken up by the House on
Monday, May 10, and considered until dis
posed of. He asked unanimous consent for
immediate consideration Of the resolution,
tut Mr.. Brewster (Rep. New York; OBJ
jected.
SIMPSON BEGINS THE TROUBLE
1t was early in the session when Mir.
Simpson rose to a question OF personal
privilege and sent to the clerks desk to
be read an extract from the New York
Mail and Express accusing him of being an
cbstructionist and predicting that he would
be pulverized under the speakers trip ham
mer. There was q stack of newspaper clip
pings on Mr.. Simpsons desk which, it APP
peared, he was determined to have read.
but Mr., Dingley protested that Mr.. Simpson
had not raised any question Of personal
privilege.
Speaker Reed said that it would be an
unsatisfactory doctrine that a member
could consume the time Of the House with
innCmerable newspaper clippings and in
cidentally remarked that it was evident
the newspaper attacks "do not impair the
gentlemanS S usefulness"
This comment seemed to anger the Kan
san, who began to declare loudly that he
was not obstructing legislation and that he
proposed to show who was obstructing IT,
Again Mr.. Dingley sought to cut him off,
and Mr.. Simpson characterized the Maine
leader as one OF the descendants of plu-
tocracy" who was 'hastening to defend
the interests of his friends"
Mr.. Reed warned Mr. Simpson that he
could not defend himself by attacking an
other, to which he replied that he must de-
fend himself however he could. He was
proceeding to assert that the speaker OBJ
structed legislation by refusing to appoint
the committees when Mr. Reed threw down
the gauntlet to him. IF the gentleman will
present to the House a proposition that the
speaker has been derelict in his duty in
not appointing the committees" said the
speaker, seeming for the first time this ses-
sion to be angered by Mr.. Simpsons attack
'or II he viii even put it in the shape OF
a request that the chair appoint the com
mitteeS, and the House sustains his con-
tentlon, the chalr will appoint the COM
For a moment challenge and retort flew
thick and fast between the speaker and his
opponent. The passage continued hotIy
the irate Populist charging upon the speak
er and Mr.. Reed punctuating his attack
with the demand win the gentleman pre-
Mr.. Reed said that since the matter had
taken such form he would put it to the
House whether Mr. Simpson had raised any
question of personal privilege The House
decided by vote of 81 10 81 that Mr. Simp-
son had not, whereupon Mr. Simpson SUBJ
Mr.. Bailey inquired whether the majority
did not intend to secure an expression
from the House as to whether it desired
to consider the bankruptcy bill Mr. Dali
Zell replied that the committee on rules had
the matter under consideration.
BOLD NEW MEMBER.
While Mr.. Dingleys motion was pending
Mr.. Lewis a new Democratic member from
Washington, rose to announce that lin re-
sponse to the kindly suggestion Of the
speaker" he would present a resolution for
the appointment Of the committees The
resolution was cut off, however, by the
vote on +. Dingley's motion, several Re-
publican calling for the regular order.
whereat the Democrats ieered. The motion
was carried-12 TO 46-present and not vot-
ing, 10.
when Mr.. Dngley and other Republicans
began TO inquire for the resolution, and Mr..
McMllin and some of his Democratic coli
leagues protested that debate was not In
order, which gave the Republicans an op-
portunity 10 laugh. Speaker Reed again IN
Vited consideration OF the resolution say
ing: ''The chair thinks it desirable in jus-
tice to himself and TO the house that the
country should know that opportunity has
been given for the consideration OF the SUBJ
ject.
Opportunity being thus given Mr. Lewis
presented his resolution directing that the
speaker appoint the committees of the
house Mr.. Lewis expressed regret II the
resolution should not be in harmony with
any part OF the party to which he was
allied. Speaking only for himself, he be-
lieved 1t to be the duty OF Congress to give