The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-04
SOCkleSS Simpson Sat On
By the Majority.
Democrats In House About
Equally Divided.
Representative Bailey Again Voted
With Republicans.

Washington. May AIN the house yes
terday Mr.. Bailey of Texas presented
resolution that the Nelson bankruptcy
bill, recently passed by the senate, be
taken up by the house on Monday Q0th)
md considered until disposed Of He
asked unanimous consent for the i'm
mediate consideration of the resolution.
but Mr.. Brewster (Rep. N Y.) objected.
Then Mr.. Simpson OF Kansas rose to
a question OF personal privilege. and
sent TO the clerks desk to be read an
extract from the New York Mail and
Express, accusing him of being an OBJ
structionist. and predicting that he
would be pulverized under the speak
er's "trip hammer,
There was stack OF newspaper clip
pings on Mr.. Simpsons desk. which IL
appeared he was determined TO have
read. but Mr.. Dingley protested that
Mr.. Simpson had not raised any question
of privilege
Speaker Reed said that II would be an
unsatisfactory doctrine that a member
could consume the time of the house
with innumerable newspaper clippings.
and incidentally remarked that IL was
evident the newspaper attacks "do not
impair the gentlemans usefulness"
This remark seemed TO anger the Kan
san, who began to declare loudly that
he was not obstructing legislation and
that he proposed TO show who was OBJ
structing IL. Again Mr.. Dingley sought
to cut him off. and Mr.. Simpson char
acterized the Maine leader as ''one OF the
Of nj. xtyhA
Fastening to defend the interests OF his
friends"
Mr.. Reed warned the Kansan that he
could not defend himself by attacking
another TO which Mr.. Simpson replied
that he must defend himself however he
could. He was proceeding 10 assert
that the speaker obstructed legislation
by refusing To appoint the committees,
when Mr.. Reed threw down the gaunt-
let TO him.
"lf the gentleman will present TO the
house a proposition that the speaker
has been derelict in duty in not appoint
ing the committees" said the speaker
seeming for the first time this session
TO be angered by Mr.. Simpsons attack
cor II he will even put il into the shape
OF a request that the chair appoint the
committees, and the house sustain his
contention. the chair will appoint the
committees"
For a moment challenge and retort
few thick and fast between the speaker
and his opponent.
The chair well knows that single
objection will stop the resolution" yelled
Mr.. Simpson.
"Will the gentleman present the res
olution?" demanded Mr.. Reed.
ha hat
r,ust appoint committees at the begin
ming of each congress" retorted Mr..
Simpson.
"The chair decides 10 have this matter
brought to a head" replied Mr.. Reed.
1T is evident that If neither the gen.
tloman from Kansas nor any other gen
tlaman will present such a resolution,
the unanimous opinion OF the house sus-
tains the speaker"
Finally Mr.. Reed put IL TO the house
whether Mr. Simpson had raised any
question OF personal privilege. The
house decided by a vote OF 81 TO "a that
Mr.. Simpson had not. whereupon the
latter subsided. but as he sank into his
seat he protested against the invoking
OF brutal majority" The Democrats
who followed Mr.. Bailey voted with the
Republicans on this question.
Mr.. Lewis, new Democratic member
from Washington, rose TO announce that
''in response TO the kindly suggestion OF
the speaker" he would present a reso-
luton for the appointment OF the COM
rnittees.
Speaker Reed invited consideration of
the resolution, saying: "The chair
thinks II desirable, In justice 20 himself
and to the house that the count ~ should
know that opportunity has been given
for the consideration OF the subject"
Opportunity being thus given. Mr.
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 az soon hereafter as NAV
be conveujert that bills. memorials and
amendments that have been presented
20 the house. or may be hereafter pre-
sented under rule II. may be considered
as contemplated by the constitution"
When the vote was taken on the propo-
sition the speaker was sustained by
practically the solid vote Of his party,
assisted by 80 Democrats under the
leadership Of Mr.. Bailey. For the first
time this session the factions In the
Democratic ranks were forced 20 put
themselves on record. and 80 Democrats.
with all the populists. supported Mr..
lewis Mr. Law OF New York was the
Only Republican TO put himself on record
In support OF the resolution.
Mr.. Bailey denounced In strong terms
the spectacle which the Democrats were
presenting by their dssensions. The
house then adjourned 20 Thursday.