The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-02
Speaker AssaiIed for Refusing to De-
gramme and Appoint Committees.
RICHARDSON LED THE ATTACK
AND SIMPSON FOLLOWED WITH A
FIRE OF WORDS AT THE CZAR.
Mr.. Reed Defended by Messrs. Hender-
son and Grosvenor-Thrce Spe-
ciaI Orders Adopted.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-There was a
lively session of the House to-day. at
which the policy of Speaker Reed and the
Republican majority was again made the
subject of attacks by members of the mi
nority. MIR. Richardson Dem, Tenn) and
Mr.. Simpson (Pop., Kan.) led the on
slaught for the minority The majority
position was ably defended by Mr. Hender-
son (Rep., Iowa) and Mr. Grosvenor (Rep.,
Ohio. The appeal of Mr.. Lewis (Dem,
Wash), taken last Thursday from the de-
cision of the chair, that a resolution re-
latiNg to foreign affairs did not constitute
a question of privilege, was laid on the
table, and after the skirmish over the
methods of procedure three special orders
were successfully adopted, by two of
which the Senate bills making a special
appropriation for the Government Printing
once and for granting the secretary of the
navy authority to contract with two ves-
sells to carry contributed supplies to India
were passed. The other provided for con-
sideration of the Frye bill to prevent coll
lisions on harbors, rivers and inland wa
ters of the United States connected with
the ocean. But Mr.. Payne, in charge of
the latter bill, was forced to abandon it
for the day to avoid the point of no quo
rum. The conference report on the sundry
civil bill was adopted. The compromise
relative to the revocation of President
Cleveland's forest reservation order excited
some comment Mr.. Loud (Pop., Cal) OBJ
jected to one feature of the compromise,
but the opposition was not carried to the
point of a division
Mr.. Richardson opened the attack on the
inaction of the House and protested ygor-
ously against the present method of doing
We ora ha a wit
our hands tied, with no committees, none
of the conveniences or necessities of Iegis-
lation, nothing except the committee on
rules which dictates what we shall do and
shall not do. The House never was in
such dlapidated and disorganized con-
dition for such a length of time
"How long was it before the committees
were appointed in the Forty-second Con-
gress?" asked Mr.. DalzelI.
Congress met on the 4th of March and
the committees were appointed in Decem-
ber," replied Mr.. Richardson, but Con-
gress was only in session four days.
That's the fact wanted to bring out"
said Mr.. Dalzell.
Mr. Richardson proceeded to recall the
time which had elapsed in each Congress
before committees were appointed, show
ing, as he said, that the period had varied
from fifteen to thirty days.
Mr. Simpson remarked upon the spec
tacle presented by the House because of
rules" and appoint the committees. we
must come" he continued, TO the COM
mittee on rules as supplicants GontinIlu- Il
ing, Mr.. Simpson said: '.0ver $500 bills
had been introduced at this session, OF
which 1166 were for the relief of the old
soldiers. The Republicans. he sa1d.
"claim TO be the especial guardians of the
old soldier. Why don't they consider these
measures? Then, there Is the bankruptcy
bill, for the passage or which there 70
great demand throughout the country. 80,
rs there any greater demand now than
there was in the last Congress-? inter-
rupted Mr.. w. A. Stone.
There is retorted Mr.. Simpson. ''be-
cause the prosperity you promised has not
materialized and the people now seer the
relief you promised the tariff would give
them through the bankruptcy courts"
(Eaughter.)
marks to the debate in which he described
the majority as having lain down arG
been "bucked and gagged by the speaker.
HENDERSON DEFENDS REED.
Mr.. Henderson then came forward with
a rather elaborate defense of the speaker
and the course of the majority generally.
He said that the majority stood ready to
finish the work it was called here to per-
form whenever it came from the other end
of the Capitol. Gentlemen seemed to for
get, he said, that new Congress assem-
4,
ic President to meet the condition in the
treasury. Tn nine days the House had sent
a bill which would furnish ample revenue
and give an ample balance Annually 70 me ne
Senate. The majority had discharged It's
duty which was, perhaps, the chlet reason
it did not meet the approval OF the minor
ity. "Why this hell III a teapot? he asked
this boiling over from the realms or
KansasY
he said It was in a sense true that the
members of the committee on rules were
the speakers creatures. But SAID ne,
.'eyery rule was submitted to the House
for its sanction. If the House was "bucked
and gagged" il was bucked and gagged
by itself He inveighed against the abuse
howled at the speaker, which he declared
was neither honorable nor consistent with
high dignity. He defended the speaker in
not appointing committees. 1T takes time
to ascertain the predilectons ana eapabll-
ities of members, said he Take the gem
teman from Kansas. Imagine him trying 10
pick out a place where he could be useIul
Ia his country when every time he opens
his mouth be makes the problem more Diff
ficult." daughter and applause on the Re-
publican side.) In conclusion Mr.. Hender-
son said the House was waiting TO ilnlsh
the work it came here TO perform. Mean
time, he said, it would transact such bus
mess as might become urgent
Mr. Grosvenor followed in a similar
strain putting the Republicans In an excel
lent hunor by his witty comments on tho
Grosvenor said. was treating the majority
with great unfairness. Every now ana
then, he SdIu. lNey spring SbiiitAAiliS lltW
ON us in the shape of a new leader. (Langh-
teri When the talented young Texan
(Bailey) who inherited his leadership
rather than earned ii, was in command, a
little fattery and a few kind words suficed
and we got along very well. Uaughter) Of
course +" he continued, we had some trou-
BILE with the disappointed leader from Ten
nessee who grumbed good deal. But we
got used 10 that. But when the great leader
from Kansas (Simpson) suddenly flashed ap-
on the horizon and swung the minority into
a solid phalanx / thought perhaps God AL
mighty had decided TO wreck the Demo-
cratic party under his leadership. But he
dropped out / never knew exactly how.
Perhaps his time was out. (l4aughter) Then
came the gentleman from Washington
Gewis) / have not examined his creden-
tials vet and don't know who he represents
i'm this contest 1 don't know whether he
will be supported. as his leadership has not
vet progressed FAR enough 70 get q vote"
branching into the subject OF criticism of
the speaker ne said he had nothing but con-
tempt for a man who would abuse the
sneaker. who. in virtue Of his position,
could not defend himself. Fire gun paper
balls over here at US, he cried, we can
answer them.
Mr. Grosvenor spoke of the words OF the
s.gild senseIess imebeie" going to the coun-
try from a certain quarter (eVdently re-
farring 10 Senator Mo@gans s speech in the
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