New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-08
PRICE THREE GENTS.
STIRRED UP SPEAKER REED.
AND AFTERwARD JERRY SIMPSON
PROBABLY WISHED HE HADN'T.
FOR HE GAVE THE SPEAKER AN OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE CLEAR AND SATISFACTORY
sTArEMENT OF HIS REASONS FOR
NOT APPOINTING COMMITTEES
fpY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rs,pr,,

sTATEMENT OF HIS REASONS FOR
NOT APPOINTING COMMITTEES
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUsE]
Washington. April 7.-Congressman Jerry Simpson
to-day did a praiseworfhy act. although he may
have done It by inadvertcnce and with a very DIFF
ferent intention. when he arose to question Of
the highest privilege and prefaced what he had to
say by causing TO be read editorial clipped from
a newspaper assaitng and abusing the Speaker Of
the House OF Representatives.. No. probably Mr.
Simpson did not nean TO. and yet ne earned
mcndatlon. because he gave the Speaker a fair
opportunity 10 make the clear, dispassiona.e and
wholly satisfactory statement which will be found
below. 1t may not be pleasant reading for some Of
Mr.. Reeds critics. but It Will strongly appeal not
only 20 the Of fairness but to the common
sense OF most people.
After the Speaker had finished his statement the
statesman from Medicine Lodge did not seem as
tall by inches even in his own estimation, as he did
while he delivering his philippe. Mr.. Simpson
is never am impressive figure He might be called
the Sim Tappertit Of the Populist party II such
language were not unparliamentary, and he ranted
to-day with all the vlgor and vehemence OF that
worthy. When he was through, and the Speaker
also was through. the modern Tappertit was In as
unhappy a condition ever his prototype was
after bout with the honest ard sturdy lock-
smith Indeed, he began 10 feel unhappy even be-
fore he had finished his harangue. The Democrats
gave him the cold shoulder the one hand, and on
exceptions treated his feeble violence and vehement
demonstration with utter Indifference and con-
tempt.
JERRY SIMPSONS TRADE.
Mr. Simpson took the floor on a question OF prtv1-
ege saying: Il have read an article In The
Forum by Senator Hoar which reflects on the
House OF Representatives. and as a member OF the
. House desire TO enter my protest" lie then had
read an editorial from Washington newspaper.
declaring that the members OF the House had been
robbed Of their right to legislate by the Speaker
TO whom II referred as "a political cannihai auto
crat."
The newsoaper article was exceedingly fiery In
language and when II had been read Mr.. steele
tRep Ind) shouted This is no question OF priv
ilege, and I move that The House now adjourn
The Republicans were not ready 10 adjourn. and
they cried NO no."
Speaker Reed calmly ruled. Tho motion cannot
be entertained at present"
when IL was stated in a newspaper during the
List Congress that members were seen cruhk Oh
the floor" Mr.. Simpson said. that was considered
a question OF privilege" The point which ne no"
raised he declared was one OF higher privilege
and thereupon he proceeded TO read from an ar
tcle by Senator Hoar entitled. Has the Senate
DegeneratedY' in which the suppression OF debate
In the House was criticised. the article closing as
follows: Perhaps wise legislation may be secured
while house is conducted on that principe, oue
am afraid free government would not lohs en-
dure II IL were applied TO both houses MT SNIP
son read rapidly and Mr.. Steele az ne same t,ne a
protested in an angry tone, put the SpsaAer pA'u
no attention to the member from Indiana v.
Il represent large district shouted the hsn sni
san. tossing down the nasazine ann tne re ,Sas
OF the Speaker to appoint the committees OF ,N,s ms
House deprlves and my constituents & OF anS tns
protest against this autocratic dictaton" The
Speaker had come into Kansas curing the ,he
stump that for four Years the With Congress Dis
sD.ka had retsssa Sss to Dspssn. 1y
mittees the House was ruled by chaos.
= demand that the Speaker 0n appoint m 'aess e@Sr
If this House no business shall be done by unani
nous consent but only In the regular orpn,tees aor
The members Of this House have given the spsakes @
the veto power BY the adoption ,Sb G5 'ne as well have
saved themselves the expense OF eiecting mem mem
ss hers /. and not svfe s ISe or body and
insist that its power be returned 20 the House
SPEAKER REEDS REPLY
There was profound silence when Speaker Reed
began to explain his policy. He said: THE House
will perceive that the gentleman from Kansas mas
made no proposition whatever upon the subject
He has simply stated his own views, ana the Cha"r
has thought perhaps 1t was best that the matter
should be stated and that the House should con-
slider H. SO far as the power OF the Speaker Is
concerned. every one who has made the suoJect
matter Of consideration understands that his power
is solely tho power OF the House, and the House
can a, any moment change the action ~hich its
representative fit TO inhuIge H. ne iiouS9S
has the power at all times. and while the ruIes %
the House require certain committees 70 pe ~
pointed there has always 5een aGwed 70 @
time when they should be appointed. oplor t@uny @
,5,aE aays bout SO that he may do the
ties which are imposed upon him IN the most In
tesent way OF which he Is eaPao.s asss.r has nor
pointed committees at once congress wnich vas
tS nreseSt he Kid was prcsided by very
eminent man, Mr.. Blaine, and ne decnned-not de-
clined, but did not see fit? appo'ni COMMITTEES
The matter brought up In the House, ana ne
gave his reasons therefor, and those reasons were
approved by the House at lea, sr no action she was
one hundred and fifty new members in the House
Under ordinary circumstances the occupant OF me
chair has time from the fourth day OF oarch until
the first Monday in December to obtain intorna,.on
in regard 10 his fellow m bt Hnasr inc pes
have been called together in extraordinary session.
and the wS Wna sb@s was ap in s0poSns
the committees until such time as would make the
appointments more suitable, or whether the public
service was in such condition that that ought 20
be done? cs.,r 10. b., ,,u consolidation uoo,,.
subject with the various members as he has met
them. and until this morning he supposed that II was
the unanimous feeling OF the House that I, was not
TO appoint the committees In haste, be-
cause the public service did not require il. The
Chair is sorry 70 SEE, that any gentleman in the
sometimes made outside Of the House with regard
TO the power OF the occupant Of the chair. 1t Is
power that given 10 him by the House FOR its pur
poses and It's purposes alone; not for any selfish
purposes not for him carry out any personal de-
sires or designs OF his own but 10 carry out the
wishes OF the House as he understands them, after
faithful and conscientious examination of the sub
ject II the House thinks that any occupant of the
chair Is not carrying out It's wishes. s nor acting
its representative the remedy is in the hands o}
the House at any time; and the Chair cheerfully
welcomes any action on the part OF the House
whose representative he Is" prolonged applause on
the Republican sids)
At 80 p. m. the House adjourned until Saturday
ANGLO-TENEZCELAN TREATY RATIFIED,