Evening star., 1897-06-01
Speaker Reeds Course the Topic in
the House Today.
THE SUPPLY SHIP FOR INDIA
Mr.. Smith Makes a Statement to
the Senate.
T A RIFF BILL TAKEN UP


today it vas still the legislative day of
yesterday, recess having been taken until
today.
A large file of authorities were heapsd
up on the desks of Representative Rich
a1dson CTenn) and Mr.. Lewis (Wash.), and
there was every indication that the minor
ity intended to make the path of the ma
jority as thorny as possible
Ihe new members rose al the drop of the
savel but Il ughed and resumed their seats
When they realized that there would be no
prayer today. The Speaker Immediately
announced that the pending question was
Mr.. DiLgley's motion to lay on the table
Mr.. Lewis appeal from the decision of the
chair by which the Speaker last Thursday
decided that Mr.. Lewis resolution relative
to Cuba vas not privileged. Upon this
question the yeas and nays had been or
deTed
Mr.. Lewis was on his feet and under the
gu1se OF a parliamentary inquiry requested
the privilege of withdraw wing Temporarily
his demand for the yeas and nays in order
10 present TO the House what he termed
the exact record relative to the decision
given in the Fifty-thrd Congress- by which
resolution declaring the foreign policy
or the United States was decided to be
privileged.
The Speaker rather abruptly decided that
his request was not parliamentary in
quiry, and directed the clerk to cali the
IolI. ~
Mr. Dingley's motion was carried, S9-55:
present and not voting. 81.
Mr. Henderson Gowa) and Mr. Terry
(Afk) both demanded recognition upon the
announcement of the vote
Ihe Speaker recognized the former, who,
from the committee on rules presented
a special order for the immediate consfd,
Grafton of the Senate resolution to amend
the resolution of April I providing for the
transportation of supplies to India
Mr.. Henderson explained the necessity of
the passage of the resolution in the ina
bllty to secure ship of American register
to transport these supplies
Mr.. Richardson CTenn) said he had no
objection to the special order, but he pro-
tested vigorously against the present House
method of doing business. Here we are
he said, with our hands tied with no COM
mittees, none of the conveniences or neces-
sites of legislation: nothing except the
committee on rules. which dictates what
We shall 90 and shall not do The House
never was in such a dilapidated and dis
organized condition for such u length of
time
How long was it before the committees
were appointed in the Forty-second Con-
gress?' asked Mr.. Dalzell Pa).
Congress met on the 4th of March and
the committees were appointed in Decenl-
ber.' replied Mr.. Richardson, but Con-
gress was only IN session four days"
That's the fact l wanted to bring out"
IF there is any comfort in the fact"
said Mr.. Richardson, the gentleman Is
welcome TO it." daughter on the demo-
cratic side.)
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. Three months
had now elapsed since this Congress con-
vened.
Mr.. Clayton (Ala) said at the proper
time he desired to offer an amendment 10
the resolution, providing that in case for
eign vessel should be offered to the United
States, free of cost, for the transportation
of supplies she should be given American
register. and should become part Of the
naval reserve of the United States.
Mr.. Simpson (kan.) remarked upon the
spectacle presented by the House because
Of the refusal of the Speaker to obey the
rules and appoint the committees. We
must come he continued, Ito the commit
tee rules supplicants." Continuing,
Mr.. Simpson said: "Over $500 bills have
heen introduced at this session; lips were
for the relief of old soldiers. The republi-
cans said he, claim to be the especial
guardians of the old soldier. Why don't
they consider these measures? Then there
is the bankrupt bill, for the passage of
which there is great demand throughout
the country"
there was in the last Congress? inter-
rupted Mr.. w. A. Stone Pa.).
There is, retorted Mr.. Simpson, be
cause the prosperity you promised has not
materialized, and the people now seek the
relief you promised the tariff would give
them through the bankruptcy courts"
G4aughter) The House at the mercy
of the committee on rules he said. "And
who are the committee on rules?" he
asked. There he SITS he shouted, point
ing with his index finger at the chair.
The minority howled with delight. The
Speaker looked flushed and trifie irri-
tated.
Mr.. Simpson described the majority men,
bers of the committee on rules as the
Speakers creations, who marched to his
music and do his bidding.
Mr.. Terry (Ark) contributed some brief
remarks to the debate. in which he de-
scribed the majority as having lain down
and been "bucked and gagged by the
Speaker.
Representative HendersOn's Reply.
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 1t came from the other end
of the Capitol. Gentlemen seemed to for
get, he said, that a new Congress assem-
bled March 4, called together by patriotic
President to meet the condition in the
treasury. In nine days the House had sent
a bill which would furnish ample revenue
and give an ample balance annually to the
Senate. The majority had discharged it's
duty, which was, perhaps, the chief rea-
son 1t did not meet the approval of the
minority.
why this hell in a teapot?" he asked;
this boiling over from the realms of Kan
sas?'
In reply to the criticisms of Mr. Simp-
son ne said 1t was in a sense true that
the members of the committee on rules
were the Speakers creatures. But, said
he, every rule was submitted to the House
for its sanction. II the House was buck
ed and gagged" 1t 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.
Senate Resolution Passed.
The Senate resolution to amend the reso-
luton of April for the transportation of
supplies to India was passed.
TARIFF IN THE SENATE.
Finance Committee Amendments
Withdrawn by Mr.. Aldrich.
The senator from South Carolina. John
L. McLaurin. who succeeds the late Sena-
IL