The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-17
COOPER AND THE BOOK BILL
To the Editor Of The Post.

To the Editor Of The Post.
Rusk. Texas, March SIN The Post OF
January 20 appeared a special from your
| Washington correspondent saying that
4 Congressman Cooper had made a MASTER
stroke and won a signal Victory in the pas.
sage OF the Methodist book appropriation
and that he developed qualities hitherto
unknown by proving himself to be fine
| pariamentarian and that the republicans
tried filibnstering tactics and that Mr.
Cooper blocked them at every turn, etc.
The Galveston and Dallas News of the
same date contained even more extravagant
praise for Mr.. Cooper than the special TO
The Post. The general unreliability OF the
Newscs as medium OF political news and
the reliable character OF The Post causes
me TO ignore the News and ask The Post,
in the interest of truth, to correct It's pub
lication, for II does Mr.. Cooper great in
justice, as is shown by the Congressional
Record, which ! have before me, and which
gives the fun history of that days work.
A senate bill was. pending ito confer
Jurisdiction upon the court OF claims In
the case of the book agents Of the Meth
odist Episcopal church South against the
United States"
On this these are the proceedings and all
the proceedings as shown by the Record:
Mr.. Cooper of Toxas--Mr. Speaker, l
move that the consideration OF that bill
be postponed until the first Friday In
March; and ON that demand the previous
question.
The Speaker-The gentleman from Texas
moves that the consideration of the hill,
the title of which has Just been read, be
postponed until the first Friday in March;
and on that the gentleman demands the
previous question.
The question was taken, and the previous
question was ordered.
The question was then taken on the
postponement OF the bill until the first Fri
day in March.
The motion was agreed to.--Congres-
sional Record, page 1916.
Was there any display OF or opportunity
for the development of any extraordinary
qualities here?
Now, further, in reference to the bill
which was next taken UP, Congressman
Gaines says, on page 1925 of the Congress
sional Record "The reason why this bill
for direct appropriation was substituted
for the other was because to refer this
claim TO the court oil claims meant abso-
a hearing. l was responsible for
that change, and made 1t after a full per-
sonal investigation"
This statement was made In reply to
opprobrious remarks and was not ques
toned. So 1t would seem that Mr.. C9o)er
was in nowise responsible for the incep
ton OF the bill which was passed.
Mr.. Cooper being relieved OF that re-
sponsibillty, let us see wherein he de
veloped qualities hitherto unknown" and
where the republicans adopted filibuster
ing tactics" and how Mr.. Cooper blocked
them at every turn" We quote from the
Congressional Record, same page, and i'm
mediately following the irst quotation,
without omission, the whole proceedings UP
to the taking up of the bill. as reported
In the Record tciipping from the Record
TO avoid mistakes):
Mr.. Cooper Of Texas-Mr. Speaker,
now move that the house resolve itself
into committee of the whole house for the
consideration of bills upon the private
calendar; and, pending that motion. l
move that debate upon the bill (H. r. 1920
for the relief Of the book agents of the
Methodist church tsouth) be limited to
one hour
Mr. palzell-Mr Speaker, suggest 10
the gentleman that we should have more 4
debate than that.
Mr. Richardson hope the gentleman
pennsylvania state what time he wants for |
debate. and see If we can not come to |
an agreement.
Mr.. DalzellT think If we can take a |
vote at 4 o'clock 1t ought to be satsfac- |
tory to you gentlemen.
Mr.. Dockery--ln the house
Mr. Dalzell-In the committee
Mr. Richardson suggest that the com
mittee rise at A o'clock and report the bill |
to the house
Mr. Grosvenor-And that vote be taken
at once.
Mr. Dockery--And that vote be taken
In the house.
Mr.. Dalzell-Ycs. and that vote be
taken in the house
The Speaker-The proposition submitted
TO the house is that debate in the commit
Tee OF the whole be closed upon a. bill
III II, 4S2a). and that the bill be then re.
ported to the house and action to be taken
At 4 o'clock
Mr.. Cooper Of Texas-And that a vote
De taken in the house before 5 o'clock.
The Speaker--As soon as gentlemen soft
lie the terms, the chair will present II 10
he house. Unanimous consent is asked that
iehato be closed on the bill H. r 1880 In
committee of the whole at o'clocS-' and
nat the bill be then reported to the house
md TINT vote at once be taken.
Mr. coorer of Texas-And that the previ-
nus question be ordered
The Speaker-The vote eat once IA n,
aiken" obviates the necessity for that. Ia
mere objection? after pause.) The
ha,r hears none The question Is on tn. |
notion that the house resolve itself into !
ommittee OF the whole house for the con-
liberation OF private bills. c
Tho motion was agreed to
me house accordingly resolved itself into G
ommittee OF the whole house. Mr.. Payne
n the chair. a
NOW, In addition to this. will quote q
very word uttered by Mr. Cooper while :
his I'LL was under consideration, as shown a
y the Record, except where he. as In v
harse OF the bill grants or allots the time
flowed for discussion to those in favor OF a
he bill. a
After intervals of discussion by other S
lembors: r
Mr.. Cooper should like to understand !
hat rerort this ia