The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-04
Reed Puts on the Gloves With
Jerry Simpson
And Knocks Him Ont in the
First Round.
REFEREE ON HIS SIDE.
The Speaker Calls for a ResOlu-
ton ON Committees
When 1t Comes He is Sustained
by the House.

Washington, May ne issue Was
made" as Speaker Reed put it in the
house yesterday, on the speakers policy
of postponement of the appointment of
committees.
Mr.. Simpson of Kansas brought it out
by another attack upon the speaker,
which moved Mr.. Reed to challenge
him TO propose a resolution instructing
the speaker to appoint the commit
tees.
The Kansan evaded this challenge,
but Mr. Lewis, a new Democratic mem
Der from Washington, took up the
gauntlet which the speaker had thrown
down and moved the adoption of res
olution of the tenor suggested by Mr..
Reed
Then Mr. Fleming CDem. MOI offered
a substitute, embodying the 1nstruc-
<iOns on different terms, and Mr. Ding
ley, the Republican leader TO make the
issue plain. as he said, presented an
other substitute Greeting the speaker
10 appoint the committees immediate
~"
When the vote was taken on the prop
osition the speaker was sustained by
practically the solid vote of his party,
assisted by 80 Democrats under the
leadership of Mr.. Bailey. The resOlu-
ton was defeated yeas, 81; nays, IA;
present and not voting, 10.
For the first time this session the fac
lions in the Democratic ranks were
forced to put themselves on record, and
81 Democrats, with all of the POpulists,
supported Mr.. Lewis. Mr.. Low of New
York was the only Republican to put
himself on record in support of the res
Olution. while eight Democrats and five
Republicans answered present.
Mr.. Bailey denounced in strong terms
the spectacle which the Democrats were
presenting. Messrs. Cochran (Mo) and
Wheeler (Ala) of the Democrats, spoke
for the resolutions, while Mr.. Dingley
voiced the Republican policy.
There was a stack of neWSDaDe clip
pings on Mr.. Simpsons desk, which it
appeared he was determined to have
read, but Mr.. Dingley protested that
Mr.. Simpson had not raised any ques-
ton of privilege
Speaker Reed said that it would be
an unSa tiSfactOry doctrine that a mem
Der could consume the time OF the house
with the clippings and incidentally re-
marked that it was evident that the
newspaper attacks do not impair the
gentleman's usefulness.
This comment seemed to anger the
Kansan, who began to declare that he
was not Obstructing legislation and that
he proposed to Show who was Obstruct-
ing it. Again Mr.. DingIey sought to
cut him off, and Mr. Simpson charac-
terized the Maine leader as "a depend
ent of pIutOcracy'' who was Fastening
to defend the interests of his friends.
Mr.. Reed warned Mr. Simpson that
he could not defend himself by attack
ing another, to which he replied that
he must defend himself however he
could. He was proceeding to assert that
the speaker obstructed legislation by
refusing to appoint the committees,
when Mr. Reed threw down the gaunt-
let to him.
IF the gentleman will present res
OlutiOn that the speaker has been dere-
lict in not appointing the committees -
said the speaker, seeming for the first
time this session to be angered by Mr..
Simpsons attack, or if he will even
put it in the shape Of a request that the
chair appoint the committees, and the
house sustains his contention, the chair
viii appoint the committees
For a moment challenge and retort
flew thick and fast between the speak
er and his opponent.
The passage continued holly the
Populist charging on the speaker and
Mr.. Reed punctuating his attack with
the demand: ''Win the gentleman pres
sent the resolution %
Mr. Reed said that since the matter
had taken such form he would put it
to the house whether Mr.. Simpson had
recommended any question of personal
privilege.
The house decided by a vote Of 81 to
"a that Mr. Simpson had not whereup-
on Mr.. Simpson subsidized.
Mr. Lewis arose to announce in
response to the kindly suggestion of
the speaker he would present a resolu-
ton for the appointments.
The house was about to adjourn when
Mr.. Dingley and other Republicans be-
gan to inquire for the resolution and
Mr.. McMflHn and some of his Demo-
cratic colleagues said that debate was
not in order.
Speaker Reed again invited consider
alton of the resolution, saying: THE
country should know that opportunity
has been given for consideration of the
subject"
Opportunity being thus given. Mr..
Lewis presented his resolution directing
that the speaker appoint the commit
tees OF the house. Mr. Lewis expressed
regret If the resolution should not be in
harmony with any part of the party to
which he was allied Speaking only for
himself, he believed it to be the duty of
congress to give the country the relief
it demanded. The delegation which had
recently called on the speaker had rep
resented (the American Federation of
Labor that 200, 900 people were starry
ing. Any man who shirled action on
any policy Of expediency was a traitor
70 his duty.
After he had finished his speech Mr..
Lewis attempted to shift the conduct
of the resolution to Mr.. Bailey by Yield
ing to him the control of the time. but
Mr. Bailey declined to take control and
attacked the resolution in a speech
which was frequently applauded by the
Republicans.
Il am heartily sick and tired of ex-
hibiting to the country the dissensions
and divisions that unfortunately exist
in the Democratic party he began.
1T would seem that the minority ought
TO unite on some policy. When we see
our great opponent united on all great
questions, some times against its judg-
ment and turn to see our own side
hopelessly divided on a mere ques-
ton of parliamentary procedure, it is
a pitiful sight we present to the coun-
try
He had striven in every way an hon
orable man could to prevent dissen-
siOns, Mr.. Bailey continued. He related
how the Democrats had fought over the
method of considering 16 amendments
to the Indian bill when it had after
ward developed the amendments We're
of so little Importance than there had
been a division on only three of them
Today the Democrats had quarreled
over the bankruptcy bill The Republi-
cans could not refuse to consider it