The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-05-07

senator Morgan finally withdrew his
amendment in order not to embarrass
the bill.
An agreement was then reached that
a final vote on the bill be taken at 3
O'Clock p. m. tomorrow.
The senate at $40 p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The issue was made" as Speaker
Reed put it in the house today, on the
speakers policy Of postponing the ap-
pointnent of committees.
Mr.. Simpson, Of Kansas, brought il
on by another attack upon the speaker,
which moved Mr.. Reed to challenge
him 10 propose a resolution i~nstructing
the speaker to appoint the committees.
After a lively debate, participated in
by the leaders on both sides, the house
by a vote Of 124 TO 81, refused to direct
the speaker to name the committees.
There was ar Intellectual attempt by
Mr.. Bailey, Of Texas, to secure an
agreement for the consideration OF the
Nelson bankruptcy bill on May 10th.
1t was then h a Mr.. Simpson, of Kan
sas, rose to a question of personal priv
ilege and sent to the clerks desk to
be read an extract from The New York
Mail and Express accusing him of
being an obstruction and predicting
that he would be pulverized under the
speakers trip-hammer. There was a
stack OF newspaper clippings on Mr..
Simpsons desk, which, it appeared, he
was determined to have read, but Mr..
DinSley protested that Mr.. Simpson
had not raised any question of priv
ilege.
Speaker Reed said that it would be
an unsatisfactory doctrine thu a mem
Der could the time of the
house with innumerabIe newspaper
clippings, and incidentally remarked
tina II was evident the nnUrcnan Of
tacks do not impair the gentleman's
usefulness"
This comment seemed to anger the
Kansan, who began to declare loudly
that he was not o~bstructing legislation
and that he proposed to show who wa.
~obstructing it. Again Mr.. Dingley
sought to cut him off and Mr.. SimD-
son characterized the Maine leader as
"one Of the dependents of plutocracy"
who was '~hastening to defend the in
~terests Of his friends"
Mr.. Reed warned the Kansan hat
he could not defend himself by at
lacking another, to which Mr.. Simpson
replied hat he must defend himself
however he could. He was proceeding
to assert that the speaker INSTRUCTED
legislation by refusing TO appoint the
committees, when Mr.. Reed threw
down the gauntlet to him.
IF the gentleman will present to the
house a proposition that the speaker
has been derelict in duty in not ap-
pointing the committees" said the
speaker, seeming for the first time this
session to be angered by Mr.. Simpsons
attack, cor if he will even put it in the
shape Of a request that the chair APP
point the committees, and the house
sustains his contention, the chair will
appoint the committees" 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 privilege. The
house decided by a vote of 81 to "a
that Mr.. Simpson had not, whereupon
Mr.. Simpson subsidized. The democrats
who follow Mr.. Bailey voted with the
republicans on this question.
While Mr.. Dingley's motion was
pending Mr.. Lewis, a new democratic
member from Washington, rose to an
nOunce hat Gin spoons to the kindly
suggestion of the speaker" he would
present a resolution for the appoint
ment of the committees. The resolu-
ton was cut off, however, by the vote
on Mr.. Dingley's motion which was
carried.
The house was then about to ad-
jOurn when Mr.. Dingley and other re-
luton.
Speaker Reed again invited cOnsid-
Grafton Of the resolution, saying 1.-The
chair thinks it desirable, in justice to
himself and to the house, that the
country should know that opportunity
has been given for the consideration OF
the subject"
Opportunity being thus given. Mr.
Lewis presented his resolution direct
ing the speaker to appoint the commit
tees.
Mr.. Lewis expressed regret if the
resolution should not be in harmony
with any part of the party to which
he was allied. Speaking only for him
| self, he believed it to be the duty OF
congress to give the country the re-
lief it demanded.
After he had flushed his speech Mr.
| Lewis attempted to shift the conduct OF
the resolution to Mr.. Bailey by yield
ing to him the control of the time, but
Mr.. Bailey declined to take control an6
attacked the resolution in a speech
which was frequently applauded by the
republicans. II am heartily sick ant
tired OF exhibiting to the country thu
~dissensions and divisions that unfor
tunately exist in the democratic party
He began. 1T would seem that thu
minority might, without friction, unit
| on some policy. When we see our grea
| opponent united on all great questions
| sometimes against it's Judgment, ant
turn to see our own side hopelessly
divided on a mere question of parlia
mentary procedure, it is a pitiful sigh
we present to the country He hat
striven in every way an honorable maj
could to prevent ~dissensiOns, Mr.. Bal
ley continued. He related how tn
democrats had fought over the methot
of considering sixteen amendments t
the Indian appropriations, when it has
afterward developed the amendment
We're of so little Importance that Their
had been a division on only three o
them. If the democrats thought tn
republicans would report good bills
continued Mr.. Bailey, they should urg
them to get to work, if not it was mid
summer madness to goad them to &C
ion. Prosperity was what every on
wanted; if the republicans gave pros
Derity they would be given a vote o
confidence, if they did not, a return t
bimetallism was assured.
A substitute was presented by NJ
Fleming. democrat, of Georgia, for tn
resolution, reciting that under the rule
already adopted it was the speaker
duty to appoint the committees Withi
a reasonable time unless otherwise or
, dered bV the house.