The San Francisco call., 1898-03-31
Holds the House of Rep= PeSentatiVeS in Check
 for One Day.
1t Is Upon the Promise That There Will Be Speedy Action ', in Cuba'S Behalf.

privilege than the consideration or an appropriation bill. We could have war, he said, whenever we wanted it. A resolution declaring war was privi- lege he admitted
 But this is not a resolution declar- ing war" interposed Bland. ''It is a resolution reco0nizing the independence of Cuba, which does not necessarily in- volVe war"
 If the resolution falls short of that" replied Hull, "and I did not hear it fully read-if it falls short of that point, 1t is not operative and to my mind it does not present any question of privilege at all. As I have always said, I am in favor of this Government intervening at the very earliest date unless conditions change materially, so that they will insure the liberty of Gu bans and a cessation of the deplorable conditions that prevail in that island at this time. Applause on the Republi- can side.)
 T am in favor of that principle, and state now and here that I will go as far as any man on this floor for the purpose of preserving the rights of the struggling patriots in their heroic eff forts on that island; (applause on the Republican Side); and l am in favor of the United States controlling the des- tinies of this continent and saying to Spain that she must get out of the western hemisphere"
 MT. Terry (D.) of Arkansas argued that a question involving a matter of privilege was, in fact, one for the House to decide.
 While he was speaking the Re publicans were conferring. The lead CTS were circulating among them and such confusion resulted that MT. Simpson (Pop.) of Kansas raised a laugh amid the excitement by ask ing for orders among the Speakers reconcentrados."
 Mir. Hopkins (R.) of Illinois, another of the Republicans who openly favors armed intervention, called attention to the distinction between the resolution in the precedent recited by MT. Bailey and the present resolution. In the former resolution it was contended that the dignity of the House had been in- fringed upon by the executive. There was no such contention here Contin- ufng he appealed to his colleagues to rally to the support of the Speaker The Republican members knew, he said, that within a brief time action would be had, so that there was no ne- cessity for resorting to revolutionary methods.
 Amid profound silence the Speaker then made his ruling. He spoke in de- fberate, distinct and emphatic tones and decided that the resolution was not privileged in the following ruling:
 A question of privilege which concerns the House is one which concerns the ex- ercise of it's functions in accordance with the principles which govern parliament tary bodies. Every parliamentary body has to have rules for it's government, otherwise 1t would have no government at all, and upon adherence to these rules depends its success as a parliamentary body. The rights of the House under the constitution are in no way to be con- founded with privileges of the House and of every member of it in me sense this matter is presented here to-day. Congress has certain powers conferred upon it. and in the exercise of those powers each House Is governed by it's rules. It is au- thorized expressly by the constitution to make rules, and without the authorization of the constitution it would be at liberty to make rules. These rules are the pro lection of the rights of the House. Now 1t would be noticed in the constitution, if any gentleman will turn to it, that there are certain powers conferred upon Con- gresS, the power to declare war, the power to legislate for the general welfare and series of other enumerated powers. No man up to this date has for an in- stant pretended or suggested that because Congress has the right to pass laws upon certain topics that proposals for these before, except once, and the chair will present the decision to the House. The same language IS used with reference to our relations with foreign nations that is used with reference to the creation of the courts of law and all other power which is concerned
 under the constitution by rules adopted by each body. This is the preliminary idea that We ought to have in regard to this matter. But this proposition in re- gard to the war, or about recognition, or any of those subjects which may or may not be within our .purview, do not become questions of privilege at all because we have a right to pass upon them, because that would make everything question of privilege and end by making nothing question of privilege. Now let us see what this is founded on. This is a mat ter that we should not have given any an- swer to, except in times of interest, not to say excitement. The gentleman from Maine (Boutelle) some time ago presented to Speaker Crisp a proposition which had in it certain clements charging that the executive was interfering with some of the rights and privileges of the legisla- tive body. The Speaker ruled that it was a question of privilege, and you will per ceiye that it is entirely different from the present proposition, has no aspect like 1t at all; not the fainteSt resemblance to it; but the Speaker ruled that that was a privileged question. He also ruled that, being a privileged question, it should go
 Well, now, to that doctrine the chair has always been opposed and the ques- tions as members will see by turning to
 
 were on that part of the Speakers de- cision as to whether it should go to committee or no, and if it appears, as the gentleman from Texas says. I voted on that subject, I voted according to my rights and voted against it. But he has omitted to state to you that this other question, the same question almost, was put before Speaker Crisp. and by him promptly decided to be out of order. at an earlier day, on the 30th of July, 1894.
 The gentleman from Maine (Mr. Bou- telle) demanded it's immediate considera- ton as presenting a privileged question. and the gentleman from Missouri an old and experienced member (Mr. Dockery), made the point of order that the resolu- ton was not privileged. Laughter and applause on the Republican Side.] Well, now, as a matter of course, the Speaker sustained the point-and that is precisely this question.
 Bailey-May I inquire of the chair if there was any appeal taken on the de- cision of the chair?
 The Speaker-There was no appeal It was too clear for an appeal even. Gaughter and applause from the Re publican side.)
 Bailey immediately appealed from the decision of the chair.
 In putting the question on the ap- peal, Speaker Reed made the follow