The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-13
CAREER OF A CONGRESSMAN.
JOHNSON OF CALIFORNIA ONCE IN
DICTED FOR A CRIME.

As "a Result of His Attack on Elk
senator Hearst the story Finds It's
Way Into the Congregational Rec
Ord-JOhnsOn Admits His Indict-
ment, But Claims TO Have AtOncd
For His OHense-Speaker Reed
Seals the Fate of the Pacific Rail-
road Bill.
Washington, Jan. IA member Of con-
gress acknowledging on the floor of the
House of Representatives to his brother
members and to the galleries that he had
been guilty of a violation of the criminal
laws and had been indicted for It, was the
remarkable spectacle presented under the
capital dome to-day. The circumstances
connected with the affair followed in nat
ural sequence the bitter debate last Friday
while the Pacific railroad refunding bill
was pending.
On that day Mr.. Johnson Of California
made an attack on William r. Hearst of
the New York Journal and the San Fran
cisco Examiner. To-day he found in the
Congressional Record a column of print
devoted to personal references to himself
inserted by Mr.. Mcguire of California IN
der leave to print.
Rising to make personal explanation,
Mr.. Johnson, his voice frequently break
ing with passion, criticised Mr.. Mcguire
severely for attacking him in that manner
and not on the floor. He admitted that he
had been indicted in Syracuse as charged
by Mr.. Mcguire, but had atoned for his
offense. He said that his full record was
known to the people of his congressional
district, and that they had shown their
belief In him by sending him to congress.
Mr.. Johnson's remarks were interrupted
several times.
Concerning Mr.. Mcguire, his colleague
called him a human hyena" and other
such terms, and also bitterly denounced
Mr.. Hearst.
quite as vigorous was Mr.. Maguire's re-
Spouse. He defended Mr.. Hearst and him
self and did not spare Mr.. Johnson. After
several roll calls, the House disposed of
the matter by expunging Mr.. Mcguire 5
remarks from the record.
The hope of those members of the House,
who are anxious to secure some legisa-
ton with reference to the Pacific rail
roads this session, was extinguished by a
decision of Speaker Reed.
Yesterday Mr. Powers moved that the
| bill be re-committed to the committee on
Pacific railroads; but objection was made
that this was not in order as other bust
ness had interviewed. Speaker Reed ask
ed until to-day to render a decision, and
soon after the House met he stated his
opinion that the motion of the gentleman
| from Vermont to recommit the bill was
not in order. The motion, he said, could
| have been made if the House had passed
the bill to a third reading, or if other bust
ness had not interviewed. No demonstra-
! ton followed the announcement.
bill to better define the rights of
aliens in the territories which was passed
over temporarily yesterday, was taken UP
under the call of the committees. Mr..
McEwan said that with the exception Of
| one section this was the same bill that
! had been defeated in the House Dec. 10,
but he made no point of order on that
! ground, and the bill was passed by a
| rising vote-ayes SO; nays, 26.
| A resolution providing for the payment
! of the expense of the last illness and fun
eral of ex-Speaker Crisp, amounting to
| 81, $780, was passed.
A bill was passed providing for bridge
| over the Red river at Alexandria, La,
by the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf
Railway Company, and at o'clock the
House adjourned until tomorrow.