The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-04
The House, by Decided Majority, Up
holds the Policy Of the Chair
In Postponing the Appointment Of the
Various Committees.
The Speaker Challenges Populist
Simpson of Kansas to Propose a
Resolution Instructing Him to App
point Committees, But the Latter
Evades the Challenge.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-"The issue
was made quick" as Speaker Reed
put it in the House to-day, on the
Speakers policy of postponing the APP
| pointment of committees. Mr. Simpson
of Kansas brought it on by another at
| tack upon the Speaker, which moved
Mr.. Reed to challenge him to propose
| a resolution inStructing the Speaker to
| appoint the committees. The Kansas
member evaded this challenge, but Mr..
| Lewis, a new Democratic member from
Washington, took up the gauntlet
which the Speaker had thrown down,
and moved the adoption Of resolution
of the tenor suggested by Mr., Reed.
| Then Mr.. Fleming CD of Georgia Of
fered a substitute embodying the in
structions in different terms, and Mr..
Dingley, the Republican leader, to
make the issue plain, as he said, pre-
scented another substitute directing the
Speaker to appoint committees ''imme-
diately''
When the vote was taken on the
proposition the Speaker was sustained
| by practically the solid vote of his
party, assisted by thirty-three Demo
Gratis under the leadership of Mr.. Bal
| ley. The resolution was defeated-yeas
%, nays 124; present and not voting,
10.
| For the first time this session the
factions in the Democratic ranks were
forced to put themselves on record and
thirty-two Democrats, with all of the
Populists, supported Mr. Lewis. Mr..
Lowe of New York was the only Re-
publican to put himself on record in
support of the resolution, while eight
Democrats and five Republicans an
severed present, but did not vote.
| Mr. Bailey denounced in strong terms
the spectacle which the Democrats
were presenting by their discussions.
Messrs. Cochran of Missouri and
Wheeler of Alabama of the Democrats
spoke for the resolutions. while Mr..
Dingley voiced the Republican policy.
The Senate resolution appropriating
$50 900 for the Congress of the Uni
versal A1av.stal Union was adopted, and
Mr.. Showalter, who was chosen at Its
special election to represent the Twen-
ty-fifth Pennsylvania District, was
sworn in.
Bailey of Texas presented a resolu-
ton that the Nelson bankruptcy bill,
recently passed by the Senate. be taken
up by the House on Monday, May 10th,
and considered until disposed of. He
asked unanimous consent for immedi-
ate consideration of the resolution.
| Brewster (R) of New York objected.
Simpson of Kansas then rose to a
question of personal privilege and sent
| to the Clerks desk to be read an ex-
| tract from the New York Mail and
| Express" accusing him of being an
obstructionist, and predicting that he
would be pulverized under the Speak
| er's trip hammer
| There was a stack of newspaper clip
pings on Mr.. Simpsons desk, which II
appeared he was determined to read
but Mr. Dingley protested that Mr..
| Simpson had not raised any question
| of privilege.
| Speaker Reed said that it would be
an unsatisfactory doctrine that a mem
| Der could consume the time of the
House with innumerable newspaper
| clippings, and incidentally remarked
that it was evident that newspaper at
tac1s do not impair the gentleman
usefulness"
This comment seemed to anger the
Kansan, who began to declare loudly
| that he was not obstructing legislation
and that he proposed TO show who was
| obstructing it.
| Again Mr.. Dingley sought to cut him
| off. and Mr.. Simpson characterized the
| Maine leader as "one of the depend
ents of plutocracy," who was hasten
| ing to defend the interests of his
| friends"
Reed warned Simpson that he could
not defend himself by attacking an
other, to which he replied that he must
defend himself, however he could. He
| was proceeding to assert that the
| Speaker INSTRUCTED legislation by re-
| fusing to appoint the committees when
Reed threw down the gauntlet to him.
IF the gentleman will present to the
| House a proposition that the Speaker
| has been derelict in his duties in not
appointing the committees said the
| Speaker seeming for the first time
| this session to be angered by Simpson S
attack, "or 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"
| flew thick and fast between the Speak
er and his opponent The passage con-
tinued hotly, the irate Populist charg-
| ing upon the Speaker, and Reed pune
| tuating his attack with the demand,
''Will the gentleman present the res
olution?"
Reed said that since the matter had
| taken such form, he would put ii to
the House whether Simpson had raised
any question of personal privilege. The
House decided by vote of 80 to "a
that Simpson had not, whereupon
Simpson subsidized.
Bailey inquired whether the major
| ity did not intend to secure an express
| ion from the House as to whether It
| desired to consider the bankruptcy bill
Dalzell (R) of Pennsylvania replied
that the Committee on Rules had the
matter unedr consideration.
While Dingley's motion was pending
Lewis, a new Democratic member from
Washington, rose to announce that sin
response to the kindly suggestion from
| the Speaker" he would present a res
olution for the appointment of the com
| mittees.
The resolution was cut off, however