Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-31

gentleman viii turn to 1t, that there are
| certain powers conferred upon congress
the power to declare war, the power
to legislate for general welfare and q
series of other enumerated powers.
mo man up to this date has for an in
slant pretended or suggested that, be-
cause the congress has the right to pass
laws upon certain topics, proposals for
these laws become questions Of prtvi-
lege; never 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. 1t is
a Legislative power, and is exercised I'M
der the constitution by the rule adopted
by each body. This Is the first prelin-
mary idea that we ought to have In re-
gard to the NATTER but this proposition
in regard to war or about recognition
Of any Of those subjects which may or
may not be within our purview, do noa
become questions of privilege at all, be-
cause we have a right to pass upon
them, because that would make every
thing question Of privilege, and end
by making nothing question Of prfvi-
lege.
Now let US see what this Is founded
on. This is a matter that we should
not have given any attention except in
times of interest not to say excitement
The gentleman from Maine (Mr. Bou-
telle) some time ago presented to Speak
er Crisp a proposition which had In 10
| certain elements charging that the ex-
ecutive was interfering with some of
the rights and privileges Of the legisla-
tive body. The speaker ruled that ID
was question of privilege, and you
will perceive that 1t is entirely dfffer--.
ent from the present proposition, has mo-
aspect like 1T at all, not the faintest re-
semblance 30 It; but the speaker ruled
that it was a privileged question. Ha
also ruled that being privileged ques-
ton, it should go to committee. Well.
now against that doctrine the chair has
always been opposed, and the question,
as members will see by turning to the
record, that was put to the house was
on that part of the speakers decision az
to whether it should go to a COMMITTEES
or not and If it appears, as the gentle
man from Texas says, that voted on
that subject, 1 voted according to my
lights and voted against It,
"But he has omitted to state to you
| that this other question, the same
| question almost, was put before Speak
er Crisp, and by him promptly decided
| to be out of order at an earlier day, on
the Both of July, 1894. The gentleman
| from Maine (Mr. Boutehe) demanded its
| immediate consideration as a privileged
question, and a gentleman from Mis-
souri,, an old and experienced member,
| (Mr. Dockery) made the point of order
that the resolution was not privileged.
| daughter and applause on republican
| side). Well, now as a matter of course.
| the speaker sustained the point, and
that is precisely this question
| Mr.. Bailey-'May inquire of the
chair If there was an appeal taken on
| the decision of the chair?"
| The speaker-'There was no appeal.
| 1t was too clear for an appeal even"
daughter and applause on republican
side.
Mr. Bailey Immediately appealed from
the decision of the chair. In putting the
question on the appeal, Speaker Reed
made the following significant and i'm
pressive statements
"As far as any question arising out
/ OF this matter is concerned, the chair
has not the slightest doubt that the
wisdom of the house, which mas always
been able to arrive at important ques-
tons in a suitable way, will get at them
now, and at a speedy time for the oc-
casion." applause on republican side.
Mr.. Bailey-"In reply to that sugges-
| ton, which was not a part of the de-
| cision, of course l understand that It
was made to hold our friends on the
| other side, and l venture to say
AT this point Mr.. Boutelle moved that
| the. appeal to be laid upon the table.
| The division was eagerly awaited The
| republicans rose en- masse when the
/ speaker called for the ayes The dem
ocrats, who anxiously surveyed the solid
| phalanx for a sign Of a break, were dis
appointed. A solid minority voted
against the republicans. The division
resulted, $50 ayes TO 1879 noes. AS soon
as the result was announced, the ayes
| and noes were demanded, and the roll
was called, resulting-ayes $780, noes 1885,
| On the roll call two republlcans-Ach-
| eson and Robbins of Pennsylvania
voted with the democrats.
| The republicans enthusiastically APP
proved their victory with round of
| applause. A parliamentary wrangle
| followed over an attempt of Mr.. Bailey
to appeal from what he commended was
a ruling of the chair relating to the dis
| position of the resolution he had Of
fered but the chair stated that there
could be no appeal from the reply TO q
parliamentary inquiry.
The house then entered into commit.
| tee of the whole, and resumed consfd-
Grafton of the naval appropriation bill.
| Mr.. Cannon, Republican, Ilis,) chair
man Of the appropriations committee.
made a point Of order against the par
agraph authorizing the construction OF
a floating steel dry dock at Algfers, La
! In the course of the debate on the point
| of order, Mr.. Cannon inVeighed against
reckless extravaganza under cover OF
emergency excitement. He was opposed
| to the Inauguration of new work not
absolutely necessary. Ground has not
been broken for tins dry dock vet"
said he.
| Mr. Boutelle-"We don't break ground
| for floating dock. 1t is built on the
water" Q1aughter) The chair over.
ruled the point Of order.
| From time to time during the after
nooon, the Cuban question was brought
forward and aroused intense feeling.
Mr.. Wheeler dem, Ala,,) said that this
tmorning the country had been stirred
| by the announcement that the republic
cans of the house had at last revolted.
and action was to be taken tomorrow.
The American people would be humilia-
| ted when they found that the republi-
| cans of the house had Joined the tenn
porizing policy which was hetraying the
American government and the Ameri-
| can name.
| Mr. Cummings dem, N. W: How
| much time would it require. considering
I the prospective alliance between the
| governments of Spain and the United
| States, to put down the patriots OF
Cuba?" Great applause in the gall
leries.)
| with my head bowed in humiliation
replied Mr. Wheeler, II have watched
how matters have gone, but 1 do not
believe the administration will go so far
| as to extend a friendly hand to the
murderers Of the sailors of the Maine
| and of the patriots of Cuba"
ado fe1