The San Francisco call., 1897-04-24
SPEAKER REEDS
RULINGS ALL Go
Bland Appeals in Vain,
for Members Sustain
the Chair.
Senate Amendments on the
Indian Appropriation Bill
Not Approved.
Virtually Adjourned for Ten Days
Pending a Consideration Of
the Tariff.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 23.-Bland,
with his Pacific railroad resolution, was
again to-day the means of uniting all op-
position in the House to the ruling by the
Speaker. The scene was in a degree re-
petition of those violent controversies
which ragged in the FifJy-tirst and Fifty
second Congresses. The row began i'm
mediately after the prayer of the chap
lain and the reading OF the journal, when
Bland got the floor 10 offer resolution
relating to the Union Pacific Railroad.
Dingley suggested it was not matter
of privilege; that under the guise OF
resolution of inquiry Bland was calling
Tor information on questions of law from
the eAttorney-GeneraL
To question of the Speaker Bland said
he regarded the motion as privileged for
the reason that there were no committees
to which it could go, wAich would be the
ordinary course. The Speaker overruled
the point. Bland appealed and wanted a
debate, but Dingley objected and moved
TO lay the appeal on the table. A de-
sultory debate sued, in which Bland,
Bailey and DingIey participated.
The Speaker took a hand, stating that
the resolution, by the statements of Bland
and Bailey, was more than a resolution
of inquiry. hence it had lest any privi-
legged character it may have had.
Bartholdi (R. J of NJ ssouri demanded
vote on Dingley's motion to lay the ap-
peal on the table. This brought Bailey
and Bland and Richardson of Tennessee
to their feet IN opposition. Richardson
asked the Speaker if he held, when Bland
appealed from the decision of the chair
and sought the floor for the purpose of
discussing that appeal, that any member
might move to lay the appeal on the
table.
The chair has so ruled" said Reed.
He said the appeal from the chairs de-
cision could be discussed by a vote of the
House defeating a motion to lay the ap-
peal on the table. ''If the House does
not wish to hear debate it need not. The
House is not at the mercy of individual
members"
Bland and Richardson attempted to
proceed, but the Speaker peremptorily
cut them off, saying he must decline TO
entertain further debate. The question
was then put, Richardson shouting, ''It
was never done in this House before"
Dingley's motion to lay the appeal on the
table was agreed to on a division of the
House-97 to IS.
The Democrats demanded the ayes and
noes and secured rollcall. The pairs
cut down the record of the vote to IS ayes
and 10 noes, % members being recorded
present" So the appeal was tabled.
A message was received from the Senate
announcing the passage of the bank
ruptcy bill.
On motion of Robinson Cd of Indiana
Bland, the present Democratic represent
atlve OF the longest service in the House,
was added to the committee to attend the
funeral OF Holman.
At the suggestion of Dingley, who ex-
planned that the Senate had made the
same arrangement, it was agreed that the
House adjourn at the close of to-day's
session until Monday, then until Thurs
day and again TO Monday, May 8, no busi-
ness to be transacted, practically a ten.
day adjournment.
A resolution offered by Dalzell of Penn.
sylvania was adopted, authorizing the
Speaker to appoint com mittee OF twenty.
five mem bers, himself at the head, to rep
resent the House at the Grant monument
services
The House then went into committee
of the whole and resumed consideration
of the Senate amendments to the Indian
appropriation bill. The amendment pro-
viding for the opening OF the Uncom-
pahgre Reservation in Utah and limiting
to five acres any claim taken by one per-
son upon gilsonite or asphalt deposits was
discussed. Shafroth OF Colorado related
his experience in laying a pavement in
Denver OF the material from this deposit
1t proved to be of no value ior paving
and he believed the value of the deposits
had been greatly exaggerated.
Dingley urged the House to adopt the
policy of leasing lands on royalty, the
deposits estimated to be $4,000, 900 tons,
which should yield the Government a
revenue of nearly $40, 600 900. The Senate
amendment was non-concurred in, the
comm mittee recommending the House to
instruct the conferees to insist upon the
proposition to lease the lands.
A lively controversy ensued over the
Senate amendment relating to the lease Of
oil lands in the Seneca reservation, 1t
was finally agreed TO non-concur.
The bill was then reported to the House.
only one OF the important amendmen
having been adopted. The action of the
committee of the whole was approved and
the bill was sent to conference on the
amendments disagreed to. The conference
committee was uninstructed about the
gilsonite amendment.
The Speaker announced the committee
to attend the Grant monument dedica.
tion. He appointed c. W. Stone of Penn
sylvania Speaker pro tenn. next week. The
House then adjourned.