The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-26
RAISEDA HOWL AGAINST REED.
BAILEY OF TEXAS OBJECTS TO
THROTTLING FREE SPEECH.

Speaker Insisted on Enforcing the
Rule Compelling Members to Con-
fine Themselves TO the Subject Be-
fore the House-Mr. BaiIey's Mo-
ton That "A Member Be Allowed to
Proceed in Order Defeated-The
Minority Then Inaugurates a Fill
buster.
Washington, March 25.-The stirring
scenes of the Fifty-frst Congress, when
members of the minority were charging
down the aisles protesting against the rul-
ings of Speaker Reed, were recalled to-day
in the turbulent protests made by the
minority against a ruling of the chair
during the consideration of the naval ap-
preparation bill. The ruling. in effect.
compelled members to confine their re-
marks under the five-minute rule to the
subject before the House, and was made
against Mr.. Hartman, Sill. Rep, of Mon
tana, who attempted to make a political
speech.
Mr.. Bailey moved that he be allowed to
proceed in order"
The motion was opposed by the majority
and defeated by a vote of 81 to 10.
The minority then inaugurated a fiibus-
ter, demanding a vote by tellers on the
pro forma amendment to which Mr.. Hart
man had been speaking.
Mr.. Payne made the point that the de-
mand was dilatory. and was sustained.
The chair also sustained a similar point
against an appeal.
A moment later, when another demand
was made for tellers and it was denied
Mr.. Bailey denounced the ruling. "If you
90 not permit us 10 verify the count" hs
declared, you destroy the last safeguard
of the minority. dishonest man in the
chair, and there have been dishonest men
in the chair, could defeat the will of this
House. l am frank to say that my pur-
pose in inauguratng this filibuster was
to consume twice as much time as you
denied the gentleman from Montana, ana
/ intend to do 1t every time you deny
reasonable demand" democratic ap-
plause)
Denunciatory speeches were made by
Messrs. McMillin, Dem, of Tennessee, and
Bland, Dem. of Missouri
The chair finally announced that he did
not deprive any member of a right hon.
estly demanded. If the gentleman from
Texas would state that the demand for
tellers was made in good faith, he would
entertain the demand.
Il repel as an insult" retorted Mr..
Bailey, that demand from the occupant
of the chair. The chair has no right to
ask me to disclose my motive and you and
all the power behind you cannot compel
me to say what my motives are" Demo
cratic applause)
Thereupon, the chair insisted upon his
ruling and the reading of the bill pro-
ceeded.
At the end of the first paragraph read
Mr.. Hartman again offered a pro forma
amendment, and after some predatory re-
marks In denunciation of what he charac-
terized as an attempt to throttle free
Speech" was proceeding with the speech
he begun hours before, when he was again
called to order.
Every expedient was resorted to to block
progress with the bill. AS a result but
| four pages We're disposed of. Before the
! bill was taken up for amendment, Mr..
! Foss, Rep, of Illinois, a member of the
naval committee. made a general speech in
advocacy of the policy of building up a
| strong and powerful navy.
! Mr.. Pearson, Rep, of North Carolina,
denied a charge made by a North Caro-
| lima paper that he had abused the frank
| ing privilege.
| At sos o'clock the House adjourned.