The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20
MAN IN THE GAP UNDISTURBED.
CONTINUED AND INCREASING INDIG-
NATION AT REED.

the Minority In the House, But
General in the Senate-FutiIe Eff
fort to Get Speaker Reed to Do
sonething-Funny side of 1t All.
Washington. June 19.-The man in the
gan is stilI there, solid, stern and unyield-
ing. He fills the eyes Of the nation as
completely as If he were as genie fres
from the sea. The smoke is still asceFsd
ing from the little jar of yellow copper Il
lies upon the sand, its leaden cap kissed by
the surf. while the fisherman WHO had
dragged it ashore is paralyzed with fear
and astonishment.
II is genie that overshadows legislation
IN Washington. It has awakeIed indig-
nation in both houses of congress. In the
House Of Representatives tho indignation
is confined to the minority, but in the Sen
ate 1t has included prominent members OF
both the minority and the majority. If
it reaches the majority of the House it
may become CONSERVATION. The caustic
remarks Of Senator Ho3r of Massachusetts
are tame in comparison with the fulmina-
ton of Senator Morgan of Alabama. Nor
gan is a recognized Constitutional lawyer.
He was the leading American representa-
tive in the dispute with Great Britain CON
corning our interests in Boring sea. His
assertion that the action of a quorumless
House in adjouning three days is uncon-
stitutonal is attracting attention. It com
plicates the situation if the tariff bill must
land in the United States supreme court
after a long and fatuOus career In the
House and Senate. It threatens to prolong
the era of uncertainty, and to make more
stagnant the stagnation now prevalent in
business circles.
But the man in the gap is not disturbed
He plies the gavel unmoved and unrufled
The hearts OF some of his supporters may
beat quickly in view of the threatening
aspect of affairs, but the lieutenants in the
committee on rules and those of the ways
and means committee show no signs of
trepidation. They do their work boldly
and unfiinchingly. Others, like Gen Gros-
venor OF Ohio. roar defantly, while the
cool and cautions Dingley is gathering in
the tangled meshes of his tariff bill, conf
dent that he will triumph in the end. To
others the clouds may look threatening
but he seems to regard them as set for
theatrical effect, bearing neither tempest
nor whirlwind
meanwhile jerry Simpson is steadily as
sauiAng the man in the gap. 1t is a care
tul and wary assault, with a definite OBJ
Ject In view This object is not the mere
annoyance of the Speaker, although TO
some 1t might appear so. Jerry is reaching
fer something beyond this. He is a gen
ulne political matador. II the speaker
should Jose his aplomb and traverse one
OF mis- own decisions, Jerry's object would
be attained. He Is honest and sincere
With both feet planted upon the constitu-
ton of the United States he believes
that he is fighting not only for his own
rights, but for the rights of the House
asv-
should ridicule him. Their actions seem
to be based upon the spirit that animates
passengers in a horse car who laugh and
badger one of their own number who
protests against an Infringement of his
rights as an employee.
Representative Simpsons first move was
TO protest against the delay in the appoint
ment OF the committees of the House It
was something unprecedented, he said and
entirely unnecessary. Thousands of bills
remained In the hands of the clerk There
were no committees to consider them. Oc-
casionally the committee on rules took
measures of pressing Importance unto
themselves with secrecy and dispatch. and
ran them through the House under a spe-
cial order. Jerry's plea was that such
action was violation of the spirit of the
constitution, and of the rights of the
members. The man at the gap listened,
but received this assault with imperturb-
able gravity He calmly observed that the
House had 1t In It's power at any time to
order the appointment OF the committees.
and suggested that the gentleman from
Kansas offer a resolution TO such effect.
Sagacious Jerry became more than wary.
He contented himself with a protest and
subsided. Then came a simeon from the
Pacific coast that blasted all his hopes
Mr.. Lewis Of Washington offered the very
resolution that the speaker had suggested.
Gov. Dingley promptly moved to table It,
and II was tab-ed. The man In the gar
was triumphant Pie House by a decisive
majority had practically voted against the
appointment OF the committees.
Jerry's next assault was based upon the
approval OF the journal. or. in parliament.
airy parlance, " the approval Of the min.
utes OF the last meeting" The minutes
contained the titles of bills introduced al
the previous session of the House, and re
corded them as having been referred q
nifty odd committees Mr.. Simpson point.
ed out private pension bill II was re-
corded in the journal as referred to tn,
committee or invalid pensions. As no sucl
committee had been appointed, he helt
that the record was wrong. The man al
the gap again smiled and submitted tn,
question to the House. which by a majori
" vote decided that the journal was cor
rect.
0lIUUNOn
simply unrivaled. With a picador as wei
skilled, the object OF his attack. IL pro
voked to a wild rush. might receive ,
coup de grace. Mr.. Lewis is not a picador
Jerry's friends look upon him as a chuIo
who annoys Jerry far more than he hurt
the enemy Jerry's third attack, however
developed picador In lengthy Jim Rich
ardson OF Tennessee. Mr.. Richardson \
such skilled paramentarian that hi
services were IN great demand at the las
democratic national convention. He wol
encomiums there from everybody for hi
elertness and fairness as a presiding OF
flcer. VI
Jerry's attack was deftly prepared II,
took advantage OF a privileged renor
from the committee on rules. This repor
was made by Gen Henderson of Iowa +
provided for the consideration Of IN,
JOINT resolution authorizing the Secretor,
OF the Navy to transport contributions M,
the relief OF the famshed poor in india 4
the Congressional Record Is correct. An,
resolution was handed to the clorl, h,
Gen. Henderson on the day that the renor
was made. IL was referred 20 the commit
zee on rules so quickly that IL popno,
INTO the House from mat committee win
out number.
Gen. Henderson, IN presenting n IN IN,
House, made remarkable statement IN,
SAID that In the absence Of Mr.. McNinllr