The herald., 1897-05-04

y
| ter, recently elected to represent the
lTwenty-ffth Pennsylvania District t.
NIL the place of JsJ. Davidson. deceased
took the oath of office. Bailey Of Texas
presented a resolution that the Nelson
bankruptcy bill. recently passed by ths
Senate. be taken up by the House Mon
day. May 10. and considered until dis
posed of. {fe asked unanimous consent
for the immediate consideration of the
resolution. Brewster. Republican, ol
New York. objected. Simpson Of kan
lege. and sent to the Clerks desk to be
read an extract from the New York
Mail and Express accusing him of being
an obstructionist. and predicting that
he, would be pulverized under the
Speakere trip hammer.
There was a stack of newspaper clip
pings on Mr.. Simpsons desk, which 1t
appeared he was determined to have
read, bat Mr.. Dingley protested that
Mr.. Simpson had not raised any Ques-
tin of privilege.
Speaker Reed said that 1t would be
an unsatisfactory doctrine that a men,
ber could consume the time of the
house with innumerable newspaper
clippings, and incidentally remarked
that 1t was evident that newspaper at
tacks "do not impair the gentleman's $
usefulness.
This comment seemed to anger the
Kansan, who began to declare loudly
that he was not obstructing legislation.
and that he proposed to show who was
Il. II. .eplo an
sought to cut him off, and Mr.. Simpson
characterized the Maine leader as ''one
of the dependents of plutocracy" who
was "hastening to defend the interests
of his friends"
Mr.. Reed warned Mr.. Simpson that
he could not defend himself by attack
ing another, to which he replied that
he must defend himself however he
could. He was, proceeding to assert that
the speaker obstructed legislation by
refusing to appoint the committees.
when Mr.. Reed threw down the gaunt-
let to him. 1as
'1f the gentleman will present to the
house a proposition that the speaker
has been ,derelict in his duties in not
appointing. the committees" said the
speaker, seeming for the first time this
session to be angered by Mr.. Simpsons s
attack. "or il he will even put it in the
shape of a request that the chair ap-
point the committees, and the house
isustains the contention, the chair will
appoint the committees"
!. For a moment challenge and retort
flew thick andfast between the speaker
and his opponent.
The passage continued hotly. the irate
Popullst charging upon the speaker
and Mr.. Reed ppnctuating the attack
with the demand. "Will the gentleman
present the resolution"
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 privil-
ege. The house decided by a vote of
80 to "a that Mr.. Simpson had not.
whereupon Mr. Simpson subsided.
Mr.. Bailey inquired whether the ma
jority did not intend to secure an ex
preston from the house as to whether
it desired to consider the bankruptcy
bill.
Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Republi-
can, replied that the committee on rules
had the matter runder consideration.
While Mr.. Dingley's motion was pend
ing Mr. Lewis. new Democratic mem-
ber from Washington, rose to announce
that Gin response to the kindly sugges-
ton from the speaker" he would pre-
sent resolution for the appointment
of the committees. The resolution was
cut off. however, by the vote on Mr..
-Dingley's motion that when the house
adjourn 1t be until Thursday next, sew
eral Republicans calling for the regular
order, whereat the Democrats jeered.
The motion was carried, 125 to 46;
present and not voting, Is.
The house was then about to adjourn
when Mr.. Dingley and other Republic
cans began to inquire for the resolution,
and Mr.. McMillin and some of his DEM
ocratic colleagues protested that debate
was not in order, which gave the Repub-
licans an opportunity to laugh.
Speaker Reed again invited consider
alton of the resolution, saying: THE
chair thinks it desirable in justice to
himself and the house that the country
should know that the opportunity has
been given for the consideration of the
subject"
Opportunity thus given, Mr.. Lewis
presented his resolution directing that
the speaker appoint the committees of
the house. Mr.. Lewis expressed regret
If the resolution should not be in harmony
with any part of the party with which
he was allowed. Speaking only for him.
self he believed it to be the duty Of con-
gress to give the country the relief it
demanded. The delegation which had
recently called on the speaker had rep
resented (he American Federation of
Labor that 100000 people were starving.
Any man who shirked action on any
policy of exdediency was traitor to his
duty.