Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-04
Simpson Makes Another Hot
headed Attack on Speaker.
Mr.. Reed Challenges Him to Propose
Resolution Calling for Committees.
Simpson Dodges-Lewis Presents Resolution
Reed Sustained by Large Majority.

| recently passed by the Senate, be taken
up by the House, May 10. and considered
| until disposed of. He asked unanimous
| consent for immediate consideration of
the resolution but Brewster, Rep, n. Y.
| objected.
Then Simpson of Kansas. rose to a
| question of personal privilege and sent
| to the clerk $ desk to be read in an ex-
| tract from the New York Mail and Ex-
| press accusing him of being an obstruc-
1 ZIONIST and predicted that he would be
pulverized under the Speakers trip-ham-
| mer. There was stack of newspaper
| clippings on Simpsin's desk. which it
| appeared he was determined to have read.
| but Dingley protested that Simpson had
not raised any question of privilege.
| Speaker Reed said that it would be
| unsatisfactory doctrine that a member
| could consume the time of the House
with innumerable newspapers clippings.
| ana incidentally remarked that ii was
| evident the newspaper attacks do not
impair the gentleman's 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 OBJ
| structing IL. Again Dingley sought TO
| cut him off. Simpson characterized the
| Maine leader as ''one of the dependents
| Of plutocracy who was Fastening TO de-
| fend the interests of his friends
| Reed warned the kansan that he could
not defend himself by attacking another,
\ to which Simpson replied that he must
defend himself however he could. He was
proceeding to assert that the Speaker OBJ
structed legislation by refusing to APP
| point the committees when Reed threw
down the gauntlet to him.
is the gentleman to present to the
| House "A proposition that the Speaker has
| been derelict in duty in not appointing
the committees" said the Speaker. seem
| ing for the first time this session to be
angered by simpsons attacks. or If he
will even put il into the shape of
nlIssSt that The t'NHlr aEDDlUt tho
mittees and the House sustains his con-
| tention, the Chair will appoint the COM
mittees.
For moment challenge and retort flew
| thick and fast between the Speaker and
his opponent.
The Chair well knows that a single
objection will stop the resolution ycllel
Simpson.
viii the gentleman present the reso-
lution?" demanded Reed
"The rule declares that the Speaker
must appoint committees at the begin
ming of each Congress-, retortcd Simp-
son.
"rhe Chair decides 10 have this matter
brought To a head replied Reed. ut is
evident that if neither the gentleman
from Kansas nor any other gentleman
will present such a resolution, the unan-
imous opinion of the House sustains the
Speaker"
This passage continued holly. the irate
Populist charging upon the Speaker, and
MI. kecd pnnctudtltlS MS attack Win
the demand: "Will the gentleman present
the resolution
Finally. Reed put it to the House
whether Simpson had raised any question
of personal privilege. The House decided
by vote of 81 to "a that Simpson had
not whereupon the latter subsidized. but
as he sank into his seat ne protested
against the invoking of brutal ma
jority' The Democrats who followed
Bailey voted with the Republicans on
this question.
In the calm which followed Dingley
moved that when the House adjourned,
it be untn Thursday.
Bailey inquired whether the majority
did not intend to secure an expression of
the House as to whether it desired to
consider the bankruptcy bill.
Dalzell. Rep. Pa. replied that the
committee on rules had the matter under
consideration and that if majority of
the House desired to consider the bank
ruptcy bill it would probably be consid-
cred.
While Dingley's motion was pending.
Lewis. Rep. member from Washington,
rose to announce that lin response to the
kindly suggestion of the Speaker. he
would present a resolution for the APP
pointment of committees. The resolu-
ton was cut off, however. by the vote
on Dingley'S motion. several Republicans
calling for the regular order, whereat the
Democrats jeered. The motion was car
ried, II to AS present and not voting. 10. |
The House was about to adjourn when |
Dingley and other Republicans began to |
inquire for the resolution of McMilin. |
and some of his colleagues protested that
debate was not in order, which gave the |
Republicans an opportunity to laugh.
Speaker Reed again invited considera |
ton of the resolution, saying: The Chair |
thinks it desirable. in justice to himself |
and to the House. that the country
should know that opportunity has been
given for the consideration of this sub |
ject' |
Opportunity being thus given. Lewis |
presented his petition. as follows:
THAT il is the sense of the House that |
the committees authorized by Rule 10 |
should be appointed at this session of |
Congress, and as soon hereafter as may |
be convenient. that bills, memorials and |
amendments that have been presented to |
the House or may be hereafter presented |
under Rule II may be considered con- |
templated by the constitution.
Then Flemming. Dem, Ga. offered |
substitute embodying the instructions in |
different terms. Dingley. the Republican |
leader to make the issue plain. as he |
said, presented another substitute direct
ing the Speaker to appoint committees |
Immediately"
When the vote was taken on the propo-
sition the Speaker was sustained by prac
tically the solid vote of his party, as
sisted by SO Democrats under the leader |
ship Of Bailey. The resolution was de-
feated: Yeas, 80; nays, 12i; paired, 5.
For the first time this session the fac
tons in the Democratic ranks Were
forced to put themselves on record. and |
50 Democrats. with all the Populists sup
ported Mar. Lewis. Law of New York, was
the only Republican to put himself on
record in support of the resolution. while
eight Democrats and five Republicans
answered present.
Mr.. Bailey denounced in strong terms
the spectacle which the Democrats We're
presenting by their discussions. Cochran
Mo-. and Wheeler, La, of the Democrats |
spoke for the resolution, while Dingey |
voiced the Republican policy.
Cannon Rep, ILL.,. called up the resolu-
ton to appropriate $50 900 for the expenses
of the Congress of the Universal Postal
Union. which will convene in Washing
ton this week. and it was adopted.
Early in the day. Showater, the Repub-
lican chosen at a special election to rep
resent the 18th Pennsylvania district was
sworn in
AT 3.2S P. NJ the House adjourned until
r.