The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-28
POLITICS IN THE HOUSE.
Silver Republican Filings Aarcastic Shafts
at the Majority.

and made a speech denouncing the Re-
publican party for its position on the
financial question. The whole drift or
the purpose and intent Of this admins
tration was irrevocably 10 commit the
government to the gold standard. This
position could not be reconciled with
Mr.. McKiniey's letter of acceptance.
Mr. Hartman said he knew that many
Republicans were opposed to the retire
ment OF the greenbackst but" said he
what will they do about 1t when the
banking and currency committee report
the bill to retire the greenbacks? If we
may Judge the future by the past there
IL little doubt OF the result This is no
longer a house of representatives" he
cried in stentorian tones. 1T is house
Of rcgisters-it is a house to register the
will OF those who control it,"
Mr. Hartman described what he called
a miserable scene which occurred in
1894. when the bond bill was before the
house. The bill. he said, never had the
endorsement Of a Republican platform
or a Republican caucus II was then
one OF band OF rebels solemnly pledged
10 vote against the bill. Just before the
vote was taken we numbered 72. 4 re-
yplttu tfldl the Dlll WAS DtdNtH. ne
cloak rooms were filed with mutterings
OF a rebellion against the domination OF
those in control. Then suddenly the
party whip began to crack, and saw the
slaves file out of the cloak rooms one
after another and vote for the bill their
consciences condemned. In this house,
instead Of taking an oath to support,
protect and defend the constitution and
perform our duties TO the best OF our
abilities, we snsuld at the opening Of each
session swear TO support. protect and de-
fend the constitution, provided we can
obtain the consent of the leading ma
tions OF the earth and 10 perform our
duty. If the speaker viii permit us so to
do"
Great laughter greeted this sally,
which was redoubled when ex- Represen-
tative Towne OF Minnesota, one of the
silver Republicans who bolted the ST.
Louis convention, fell out of his chair
into a side aisle.
Mr.. Hartman said that he had no criti-
cism TO make against Speaker Reed per-
sonally II was the system he opposed,
not the ran. IF we must have a
tyrant," he shouted, Thomas b. Reed is
good enough for me-" Mr. Hartman
adverted To the mutterings he had heard
against the tyranny exercised by the
speaker. II have told these complain
cnts time and again that If they did not
like the tyranny OF the speaker they
should shear him of his power"
II am afraid the gentleman from
Montana has got his cloak rooms mixed, -
interposed Mr.. Quigg (Rep., n. W Gre
publican laughter).
Perhaps l have" retorted Mr.. Hart
man. II give notice that those who are
mixing their cloak rooms now will do so
In 1898 and 1900 ard triumph eventually
upon the declarations Of the Chicago
Platform and under the leadership Of
William j. Bryan" prolonged and
vociferous Democratic applause).
Mr.. De Almond CDem., MOI criticised
the Cuban policy OF the administration.
and with fine sarcasm ridicuied the OFF,
cial explanation OF the visit OF the bat
tleship Maine TO Havana harbor.
This drew from Mr.. Dolliver (Rep.
Ia an eloquent reply. "The question
OF Cuba said Mr.. Dolliver lis not a
new question. Tor seven years the ad-
ministration of Grant Yves called upon to
deal with an insurrection In nearly every
respect on ell fours with the insurrec-
ton OF today. ard at the end of that time
seven years OF responsibility and
worry--in q message sent to this house
he vindicated the policy Of the admin
istration and warned the country that
any Intervention in the affairs of Cuba
would be not only unwise but injurious
i do not aspire TO a larger patriotism
than that nbiph crp1-arpaI
career of L. s. Grant. Ny friend COM
plains that the Republicans Of the house
are under tyranny and the mastery Of
one man. l deny IL. There is no au-
thority that constrains the Republican
majority here except the policy Of the
Republican rarty and the administration
of Republican president 1t Is true we
have leadership I'm the house. and I
have very Cften felt certain sense of
satisfaction that we have a leadership
of brains and character that men NAV
follow without loss of self respect
tGreat applause). 1 understand per-
fectly well the difficulty Of my friend
from Missouri. The only leadership the
Democratic party In this house has had
Is the leadership Of It's own party. IL was
put into the hands Of distinguished
NpunS tiicnu OF mine from Texas
lBailey). and he had fight for II every
day az the extra session. Gaughter).
One day the gentleman from Kansas
(Simpson) got IL away from him. and the
next dsy tho sccpter Of authority was
seized by that picturesque character
from the distant coast OF Washington
fMr Lewis). laughter. The next
fay the gentleman from Tennessee was
lighting TO see who should have the
leadership Of the Democratic party;
while in the background always ready TO
seize the falling scepter was the gentle
man from Missouri CDe Arrnond), who
In that congress and In this has delivered
more speeches with more ease and less
effort than any man that has appeared
In the deliberations OF congress for the
10 years that ] have had the honor TO
serve on this door" (GTeat laughter and
applause on the Republican side).