Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-14

party affiliations. After a rather
stormy session Of two hours the house,
when adjournment was announced,
Joined in cheers for the president and
war heroes and singing patriotic
songs, making perhaps the most
notable ending to a session since the
civil war. The only measure Of i'm
portance was a bill to reimburse the
states for expenses incurred in aiding
the organization of the volunteer
army. Mr.. Handy (dem., Dell,
by moving to strike from
the record part of the speech
which appeared as that of Mr..
Ray (rep., n. ", preoipitated a dis
pute which brought on. the closing in
cident OF sensational nature. Mr.
Handy declared the part in question
not uttered upon the floor Of the house
and read from the reporters notes to
corroborate his assertions. Mr.. Ray
declared that he uttered every word.
A vote was taken and the house de-
clined to strike out the speech
Mr.. Cannon, VINO was standing just
across the center aisle. his face
flushed and his eyes fixed upon the
minority, was apparently growing in
dignant. The veteran member from
Illinois stepped into the aisle and said:
You are deliberately obstructing pub
lie business in which the whole coun-
try is interested The best of his
in bo IF Io
minority and the resulting confusion
as Mr.. Cannon charged up the aisle,
pouring out a food Of vigorous denun-
citation. He had reached a point oppo-
site Mr.. Bell (dem., Tex when he
called for the yeas and nays, saying
that it was manifest the democrats
would call for them. Mr.. Cannon then
repeated his charge of obstruction
when Mr.. Bell, addressing the repub-
lican side as it subsequently devel-
oped, declared: The record is false
and you knew it was false when you
voted against correcting it." THAT
is lie cried Mr.. Cannon. In an in
slant the belligerent members were
struggling to reach other, while many
others were pulling and struggling to
control them. Mr.. Marsh (rep. I'D
seized Mr.. Cannon and thrust him
aside when Mr.. Bell asked Mr. Can
non to come outside - The latter was
moving to comply when Mr.. Lewis
dem, Wash.) took charge Of the Hi
nois member and restrained him
Meantime the speaker had been pound
ing hard and Sergeant-at-Arms Rus
sell had seized the big silver mace and
was moving among the members
where the greatest disorder prevailed.
Order was restored slowly and the
rcll-call, upon Mr.. Handy's motion to
strike out, resulted, yeas so, nays 106
Later in the session Mr.. Cannon ex-
planned that Mr.. Bell had addressed
his remarks not to him personally,
therefore he desired to withdraw his
offensive statement.
At 2 o'clock when Speaker Reed an
nouced this second session of this
congress is adjourned without day."
great cheer arose and then began q
scene which surpassed in enthusiasm
any similar episode in the memory Of
the oldest member of the house. The
members crowded around the speak
ers stand and joined with the spec
tators in the gallery in singing
America" until within a short time
it seemed that all present were aiding
in swelling the volume of song
Democrats and republicans were now
singing in accord the national anthem
and when the song ceased some men,
Der proposed three cheers for the ma
tons president, and the roar Of sound
that followed came from a united
house. Then the north, south, east
and west, united country, was pro-
posed and then in turn came the
heroes of the war, Dewey, Schley,
HObson and Sampson and finally for
mer Representative Gen. Joseph
Wheeler, who is now clinging. though
i'll, to his command in front of San
tiago, was named, and the hall re-
sounded with cheers of thrilling
strength. Then the singing proceed
ed Meantime ergeant-at-Arms Rus
sell had brought in 200 small American
! flags and every member was now
waving one. The Star Spangled Ban
ner was followed by Yankee Doodle
and Dixie, the latter perhaps for the
! first time in the house Joined in by
members from every section Of the
country. Cheers for the speaker were
given. The patriotic demonstrations
continued half an hour. Clark Nc
Dowell, when the singing ceased,
mounted the clerks stand and an
nounced that Mr.. Allen Miss had
opened a recruiting office in the ways
and means committee room.