The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15

see in reply to request for information
as to the conditions in that state. The
governor wired:
I'm a deplorable condition. Bill now
pending: for $4,000 appropriation before
the legislature"
Mr.. Walker sarcastically asked if Mr..
Gaines did not think that in view of the
amount of the Tennessee appropriation
the pending appropriation should not be
reduced to 100000. -..
1t was explained by Mr.. Carmack
(dem.) of Tennessee that the people in
that state who needed relief were ref
ugess from Arkansas
There was no more debate and the res
olution was adopted without dissent.
The Mississippi sufferers having been
disposed of, Mr.. Simpson (pop) of Kansas
furnished the house with entertainment.
Mr.. Simpson had endeavored to obtain
the floor Immediately after the routine
business, announcing that he desired to
speak on a question of personal privilege.
II have read an article in the Forum
by Mr.. Hoar which reflects on the house
of representatives, and as member
desire to make protest"
He was induced to withhold his. re-
marks until the flood resolution was dealt
with, but afterward he sent to the clerk
to be read newspaper article saying that
the legislation of the house was blocked
by the speaker. to whom it referred as
political cannibal."
Mr.. Simpson in his fowery language re-
ferred to the speaker and what was call
ed Retrospective legislation" and Mr..
Dingley interposed an objection that Mr.:
Simpson had not stated any question OF
privilege, but the speaker decided that
the member from Kansas might continue.
The newspaper article was exceedingly
fiery in language, and when it had been
read, Mr.. Steele of Indiana jumped to
his feet, shouting:
"This is no question of privilege, and
l move the house adjourn"
The republicans were not ready to ad-
Speaker Reed calmly ruled: "The mo-
ton can not be entertained at present"
when it was stated in newspaper
during the Fifty-frst congress that the
members were seen drunk on the floor"
Mr.. Simpson said, "that was called a
question of personal privilege"
The point which he now raised, he de-
clared, was one of higher privilege. He
thereupon whipped out a copy of the
| Forum and proceeded to read rapidly from
an article written by Senator Hoar, en-
titled, Has the Senate Degenerated?"
| The extract which he quoted follows:
of representatives deals with some i'm
portant questions is not good thing, be-
cause it's capacity of prompt action is
purchased at the expense of reputation
| of public debate and consideration, per-
sonal dignity and authority of the great
mass of it's members. Gentlemen occupy
seats there who from the beginning to
| the end of their term of service are not
permitted to make motion or to utter
| word to the assembly of which they are
members. Perhaps wise legislation may
be secured while one house is conducted
on that principle, but | am afraid free
government would not long endure if it
were applied to both houses"
| Mr. Simpson read very rapidly, and MIR.
Steele at the same time protested in an
angry tone, but the speaker paid no at
tention to the member from Indiana.
| II represent a large district" shouted
the Kansan, tossing down the magazine,
land the refusal of the speaker of the
house to appoint committees depriyes me
and my associates from securing legisla-
ton Is this not reflection on this house,
| ask the honorable speaker?
| "1n the Fifty-first congress the power
of the minority to protest had been taken
away and the speaker given veto power
Mr.. Simpson continued. at was unsafe
to give one man such power, for where
one despot out of 100 might use his power
wisely the other ninety-nine would Prove
bad despots."
The speaker had come into Kansas dur
in the election and had said on the stump
that for four years the Seventh congress
sional district (N1r. Simpson's) had been
represented by chaos. When the speaker
refused to appoint committees the house
was ruled by chaos.
81 demand that the speaker appoint
these committees" he shouted. "As long
as / am a member of this house no bust
ness shall be done by unanimous consent,
and only in the regular form, except by
the proper consideration of committees.
The majority of the house had given the
speaker the power of ruling the last con-
gress. The people might have saved them
selves the expenses of the late election
and simply chosen a speaker. This is
not representative or deliberative body.
as all the power is given to the speaker"
In conclusion, he said the result of the
elections in Cincinnati, Detroit Chicago
and other places indicated that the peo-
pie wanted financial legislation.
There was profound silence when the
speaker began to reply. He said:
1.-THE house will observe that the gen
teman from Kansas (SimpsOn) has made
no point on this subject. He has simply
|
| thought it best that the matter be stated
and the house consider it. So far as the
house of representatives is concerned,
everyone who has made the subject a
matter of consideration understands that
the speakers power is simply in the con-
| troll of the house, and the house has the
power at all times, and while the rules
of the house make certain provisions for
| the appointment of committees there has
always been reserved to the speaker of
| the house discretionary power as to
when the proper time has arrived when
| they shall be appointed. 1t is not a rare
case that the speaker has not appointed
committees at once A congress which
was called together under circumstances
| like the present, the Forty-second, was
presided over by very eminent man,
| Mr.. Blaine, and he declned-not de-
clned-but did not see fit to appoint COM
mittees The matter was brought up in
the house and he gave his reasons there
| for, and those reasons were approved by
| the house, so at least no action was taken
| by the house on the subject. There are
| now about $50 new members in the
house Under ordinary circumstances
| the occupant of the chair has time, from
the 4th day of March until the first Mon
day in December, TO obtain information in
regard to his fellow members, but under
the present circumstances there has been