The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-09
CLOSING DAY IN CONGRESS.
HOUSE NARROWLY ESCAPES 4
FIGHT WITH FISTS.

| rac1ty between MeSSrS. KAY. KEEP,
of New York and Ray, DEM. OF
New Jersey - Partisan Outbreaks
| Completely EcIipsed by IA Patriotic
One Later.
| Washington. July S.-The end of this ses-
| sion of Congress in the House was marked
| by two notable incidents. one was SEN
| sationally partisan, well-nigh resulting in
personal conflicts upon the floor of the
House; the other was notably patriotic,
and swept away all signs of the former.
Mr.. Handy, DEM. of Delaware, by
moving to strike from the record part of
the speech which appeared as that of Mr..
Ray, Rep, of New York, precpitated a
dispute which brought on a closing Incl
dent of a sensational nature, during
which a question of veracity arose be
| tween Messrs. Ray and Handy, and finally
MIR. Cannon, Rep, of Illinois, by denounc-
! ing the Democrats for delaying business
| by calling for tellers on the motion to
strike out came near precipbaung a riot.
The mace was brought into service be-
fore order was restored.
| Mr.. Handy, in moving to expunge
paH of MIR. Rays remarks, declared the
! part in question was never uttered upon
the floor of the House, and he read from
a reporters notes to corroborate his as
serton.
Mr. Rag declared he had uttered every
word.
'Mr. Speaker" resumed Mr. Handy, "a
question of veracity has arisen here. The
gentleman from New York says he ut
tered the words in question. I declare
upon my honor he did not, and 1 hold
here the reporters notes. which show that
he did not, and l rely upon the memory
OF members of substantiate what I say
A vote was taken. The House declined
70 strike out the speech.
A division was called for and the vote
was announced. The negative vote again
prevailed.
Mr.. Cannon was standing just across the
center aisle, face flushed and eyes fixed
upon The minority, growing apparently in
dignant
Il call for tellers," said Mr.. Handy, and
with that the veteran member from Illinois
stepped into the aisle.
Your are deliberately obstructing pub
lie business in which the whole country
| is Interested"
The rest of his remarks were lost in
the jeers of the minority, calls for the
| regular order and the resulting confusion
| as Mr. Cannon charged up the aisle pour
| ing out flood of vigorous denunciation
He had reached point opposite Mr.. Bau
Dem, of Texas
| Mr.. Cannon had called for the yeas and
| nays gaying it was manifest that the
Democrats would call for them
Mr.. Cannon mad repeated has charge of
| obstruction, when Mr.. Ball, addressing the
| Republican side. as ii subsequently de-
veloped, declared ''The Record is false. and
YOU knew it was false when you voted
against correcting it."
That is n lie" cried Mr.. Cannon, ana
in an instant the beliigerent members
were struggling to reach each other, while
many others were pulling and struggling
| TO control them.
The House was upon its feet Mr.. Marsh.
Rep, of Illinois, seized Mr. Cannon and
thrust him aside, and when Mr. Ball ask
ed Mr.. Cannon to como outside" and the
| latter was moving to comply, Mr.. Lewis,
Dem, of Washington, took charge of the
| Illinois member and restrained him
Meantime, the speaker had been pound
| ing hard and the sergeant-at-arms had
seized the big silver mace and was NOV
| ing among the members, where the great
| est disorder prevailed.
! Order was restored slowly, and a roll call
| proceeded while the galleries commented
on what they had seen in the course of a
visit to Washington.
The roll call upon Mr.. Handys motion
TO strike out resulted: Yeas, so; nays. JOG.
Later in the session Mr. Cannon ex-
planned that Mr.. Ban had addressed his
remarks not TO him personally, and, there
fore, he desired to withdraw his offensive
! statement. t
The House then passed the bill to re-im-
! burse the states for expenses incurred in
! transporting, feeding and clothing and car
ing for soldiers in aid of the organiza ton
of the volunteer army.
The speaker named Mr.. Henderson, Mr.
! Hopkins of Illinois, and Mr.. Richardson of
| Tennessee as a committee to wait upon
! the President, in company with a Senate
| committee, and announce the readiness of
| Congress 10 adjourn.
Mr.. Speaker" said Mr.. Henderson. af
/ ter the>return, "the President directs the
committee to say that he has no further
communications to make to the House. and
| says he desires 10 congratulate this Con-
! gress upon It's patriotic and faithful work ="
The report was applauded
! The remainder of the session passed with
! out incident
At o'clock, when Speaker Reed an
nounced This second session Of this Con
| gress adjourned without day." a great
! cheer arose and then began a scene. which
while similar to the usual closing scenes Of
/ sessions far surpassed in enthusiasm and
manifest good feeling any similar episode
! in the memory of the Oldest member of the
| House.
The occupants of the packed galleries
| who had risen to go, paused as they heard
half-dozen member begin singing Amer
! lea" Other members hurriedly crowded
! around the speakers stand, and Joined the
/ singers until within a short time il seemed
! all the members present were aiding in
! swelling the volume of song
! Presently voice here and there In the
! galleries Joined in and it was not long mill
members and spectators were singing the
/ patriotic hymn.
The scene was marked transition from
! the partisan demonstrations which had
been Witnessed such a short time before
| Democrats and Republicans were now
singing in accord a national anthem
When the song ceased some member
proposed three cheers for the Nations