The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-08

ffeSlueuL ueHsNke anu AuOpAeu Y
Joint resolution authorizing the secreta.
ry Of war to expend 100000 FOR the re,
lief OF the iiood sufferers OF the Mss
issIppl valley. The most interesting
feature OF the session was passage be,
tween Representative Simpson, the
Kansas Populist. and Speaker Reed,
Mr. Simpson gave voice to the oppOsi,
ton to the speakers temporary policy
al IRaCtioR which has been smoulheTinS
ia some quarters, by speaking to Il
question Of privilege he finished
fiery denunclRtion OF the speaker by de-
mandinE that he appoint the commit
tevs OF the house at once, and gate no.
tice thar he would prevent any more
attempts 10 do business by unanimous
consent,
several Republican members at
tempted 10 stem the tide Of MIR Simp-
sons attack. but Mr. Reed seemed 10
desire 20 hear Il. and declined 20 inter-
fsre. He listened calmly to the speech
and then with his usual Calmness and
lucldity replied that the speaker was
merely the instrument OF the house,
that he mad enforced what he sup
posed TO be the policy desired BY the
majority and that the house had power
% command the speaker II II disap-
proved OF his course. The Republicans
expressed their approval by round OF
hRndclapplnE
After the Presidents message had
been read MFR. Cntchings Dem. Mlss.)
asked consent Tor the Immediate cou-
sideTAtlon Of "A joint resolution author
iEtng the secretary OF war 10 distribute
rationE among the SuffererS. II RpprO-
priAted 100000 for the purpose. and au-
thoFized the secretary to employ the
government steamers and other boats
on the Mississippi river in transport
Ing and distributing the supplies and
also such other means rs he might deem
necessary 10: the purpose OF distrlbut-
ing supplies contributed by the gov-
eminent or individuals.
Mr. ChtchinGs spoke briefly on the
subject. saying that the President had
been in communication with the gov
erhors OF the flooded states. and was in
sympathy with legislation for their re-
lief He referred TO the precedents for
congressional relief In 1889 and 1888.
Alr, Walker (Rep., Mass) was in
ciined TO object. Mr., Walker said that
Mr.. CRtchinEs should present some rea-
son why the states affected by the
floods should not bear the expense Of
caring for their own people, Ia which
AaaktUlNlkN IFNAANN LttAAA lllfEt was llb
authority under their constitutions for
the legislatures TO disburse money for
such purposes.
The soekIesa Statesman EntrriaIn'.
The Mississippi sufferers having been
disposed or. Mr. Simpson tPop, Kasl
furnished the house with his entertain
nent. Mr.. Simpson had endeavOred to
secure the floor Immediately after The
routine business. announcing that he
desired to speak or a question Of priyi-
lege. i have read an article IN the
Forum By Senator Hoar which reflects
on the house of representatives. and as
member Of the house desire TO enter
my protest"
The newspaper article was exceed
inEly fiery In language and when II had
been read Mr. Steele CRcp, Ind.l Jump
I'd to his feet shouting: This is no
question OF privilege. and / move that
TIE house naw adjourn"
The Republicans were not ready to
adjourn and they cried: mo, no"
Speaker Reed very calmly ruled that
"ihe motion cannot be entertained Mt
present"
When II wns stated in n newspaper
during the F'lfty-first Congress that
members were seen drunk on the floor
=
question of privilege" The point he
now raised, he declared, was one OF
higher privilege, Thereupon he waved
alOft copy OF the Forum and proceed
ed ta read rapidly from an article by
Senator HOar, entitled Has the Sem
ate DeEenernted2"
u repTcsen. large district" Shout
ed the Kansan, tossing down the mag
azine. "nnd the refusal OF the speaker
10 appoint the committees of this house
deprives my constituents Of the
right to do business. propose 10 rise
here and protest against this autocrat-
fc dictatiOn.
In the Flfty-nrst Congress the pow
or Of the minority To protest had been
taken away and the speaker given veto
power" Mr.. Simpson continued. ut
was unsafe 10 give one man such pow
u for where one tesDOt u one hundred
might use his power wisely. the other
ninety-nlne would prove bad despots, :"
speaker Reeds Reply.
There was a profound silence when
Speaker Reed began to explain his poll
g. He said:
The house will perceive that the gem
tleman from Kansas (Mr. simpson, has
made no proposition whatever upon the
u
Views. and the chair has thought per-
haps Il was best that the matter should
be- stated and that the house should
consider II. So FAR as the power Of the
speaker is concerned, every one who
has made the subject a matter or con-
si1CBttion understands that that his
power IS solely the power of the house
and the house can at any moment
change the action. which. It's representa-
tive sees ~ 90 indulge IN.
II is not rare ease that The speak
er has not appointed committees nj
once 4 Congress- which was called to-.
gcther under circumstances something
like the preseut-the Forty-seCuud-
was presided over BY q very eminent
man. Mr. Blaine. and he deClined--nut
declined but did not soe fit-to ap,
point committees The matter was
brought up In the house and he gave
hts reasons therefor and these reasons
We're approved by the house. at least
no action WAS taken by the house on
the subject.
There are about one hundred and
hfty Hcw members In the house. Under
ordinary circumstances, the occupant
~ the chair he's time from the fourth
day Of March until the FIRST Monday In
December to obtain information IN re-
gard to his fellow members; but under
the present circumstances there has
been no Opportunity We hnyc been
called together In extraordinary session
and the question was, what was the
best course 10 pursue: whether We
should wait In appointing the commit
tees until such time RE would mako APP
pDlntmcnts more suitable. or whether
tht pub{ir BprVirp wnA such Il condition