The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-30
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Sensational Talk Between Represents
atives Barrett and Powcrs.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The House to-
day witnessed another exciting and some
what sensational episode. At the end OF an
acrimonious debate on the conference re-
port on the bill to confer the rights and
franchises of the Atlantic & Pacific Rail-
road on the purchasers under the mortgage
foreclosure. MIR. Powers. of Vermont. and
Mr. Barrett, Of Massachusetts,, exchanged
broadsides. Mr.. Powers defended the con-
ference report against the assaults of half
score of members. led by Mr.. Barrett. The
latter was particularly severe i'm his criti-
cisms, charging that a stock -jobbing opera
ton was behind the measure This drew
from Mr.. Powers, near the close of the de-
bate. a reply I'm which he charged that
Boston was the home of the railroad wreck
ers. and, with keen satire. ridiculed the
Massachusetts member, and continued that
perhaps he was interested" in his opposi-
ton. Mr.. Barrett, in responding, was very
vicious, not only denying absolutely any
interest in the bill. but scoring Mr.. Powers.
who, he said, was on the Supreme Bench
of Vermont when the Central Railroad was
wrecked under its decree" He was not
called 20 order, but Mr.. Grout. of Ver-
mont, twice protested against the attack
on the judiciary of his State. The report
IL to Island the conferees were in
structed to insist on the House amend
ments. Just before adjournment Mr. Hardy
CRep). of Indiana, who was refused unani-
nous consent to continue political speech
he was making declared that he would re-
taliate by objecting to every request for
unanimous consent for the remainder or
the session.
The conference report referred to was
called up Immediately after the reading or
the journal. Mr.. Powers explained the ma
ferees. One of the provisions or the re-
port which was combated was that pro-
viding for an issue OF STOCK ey tnS snd nsw
debt unpaid at the time OF foreclosure ana
limiting il 20 S10O,000.O0O.
After a brief general debate Mr.. Barrett
secured the floor. He declared that he de-
sired to denounce this report as stock
jobbing operation. He asserted that no
railroad i'm the country had such olsgrace-
ful history as this one. 1t was black with
fraud and dishonor. Before closing Mr.
Barret severely condemned the great power
given by the rules TO conferees. which. no
said enabled them to bring in propositions
indorsed by neither the House or Senate.
He said IL was parody on parliamentary
practice.
POWERS RIDICULES BARRETT.
After remarks by Messrs. Cook, Blue
and Flynn i'm favor of the report and Mr..
McRae in opposition, Mr.. Powers took the
floor TO close the debate. He appealed at
the outset TO members not TO be taken of
their feet by charges of rascality made by
the gentleman from Massachusetts (Bar-
retD The latter, he said. was probably
representing some of those who were inUer-
ested in the affairs OF this company. IL
any Massachusetts, interests were involved.
he declared emphatically, they were not
involved in the direction OF public good
Boston was the place where railroads were
wrecked and il was a dirty bird which be-
fouled it's nest. Massachusetts, ne
went on ironically. was a great state. IT
had furnished many great men. They had
passed away, and We Were left to-day. he
said, to bask i'm the sunshine OF the gentle
man from Massachusetts (BarretD and
learn righteousness at his feet. u-aughter-)
He (BarretD had come 10 Congress 10
blossom and bloom, but his destiny had
been TO wither ana waste MS beauty On
the desert air.
Mr. Barrett was very much aroused by
Mr. Powers's ridicule and innuendo. and
the moment the Vermont member took his
seat he was on his feet. IL was evident
from his opening words that he did not
intend TO use "A foil. After Indignantly de-
nying that he was I'm any way interested
in the opposition TO the pending measure
or had communicated with anyone on the
subject except his colleague (Mr. Moody
and the gentleman from Vermont himself.
he said menacingly: The gentleman
charges me with being interested. Before
have concluded 1 shall draw "A parallel
which | think he will understand" lie de-
fled anyone TO show that he had any fur
ther interest in the matter. He said he
was not surprised that the gentleman from
Vermont had talked about his being inter-
ested in the bill when he remembered the
recent debate on the Pacific funding bill.
of which the gentleman had had charge.
On that occasion grave statements were
made to the effect that the bill did not
protect the interests OF the government.
He resented the imputation that Nassachu-
setts men were engaged in the business
OF wrecking railroads and highly eulogized
them for their enterprise and public spirit
II am "A young man.. he continued. L
came here with no reputation beyond Serv-
ice in the Legislature OF fny State but
the gentleman from Vermont came here
after a long term OF service In the SUI
preIne Court OF his State. What was the
record of that court? Ask any one OF the
harehOlders of the Central Railroad or
Vermont, who were robbed by the DEGREES
OF that court. and then let the gentleman
from Vermont talk 10 me OF Massachusetts,
wrecking railroads.
CIRCUIT TAKES \ HAND.
Mr.. Grout. the colleagub u Mr. Powers.
attempted to stay the torrcat or Mr.. Bar
retts wrath. and submitted that this war
| between the States should not go on. Mr..