The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-15
SHARP PASSAGE At WORDS
Representative Bailey Vigorous
ly Attacks Speaker Reed.
He DEFENDS THE DEMOCRATS
The GENTLEMAN From Texas Declares
Tint the Responsibility for the
violent Scenes Enacted I'm the
House on Wednesday Rests Upon
the Big Man From Maine.

Immediately after the House convened
proceedings were enlivened by pictur-
esque and rather violent passage of
words between Representative Bailey of
Texas and Speaker Reed, which came in
the nature of an afterclap to the scenes
of Wednesday.
Representative Bailey was recognized
on question of personal privilege and
took the floor. At his request the clerk
of the House read an article from the
Philadelphia Press, in which an attempt
was made TO fix responsibility for last
Wednesdays disorder upon Mr.. Bailey.
The gentleman from Texas then said:
take occasion to right myself and
this side of the House before the eyes of
the country. The article just read fixes
responsibility for the scenes Of last We'd
nesday, primarily upon me and generally
upon our party.
II want to say that IL the responsible
ty is upon the floor it rests upon the
gentleman who had charge of the ma
jority resolution. (Mr. Hopkins). but the
floor is not responsible.
For the scenes enacted in the House
on that day responsibility rests upon the
Speaker of this body, and he must as
sumo 1t before the world"
Mr.. Bailey read from the record a
chronicle of the discussion and conten-
tons that proceeded the disorder and con-
tinued: THE Speaker took advantage of
his position to force his political oppo-
nents into a false light"
"A parliamentary inquiry?' interrupted
Representative Steele, of Indiana. rs
this an arraignment of the Speaker or u
question of personal privilege
THE chair doesn't know" answered
the Speaker.
But the country knows" shouted Mr..
Bailey.
1.-THE House will please be calm" ad-
ded the chair, and Mr.. Bailey continued.
Until last Wednesday / thought the
Speaker was as partisan as an honest
man could be, and honest as a par
tisan man could be. / cannot voice those
sentiments now"
Speaker Reed now interrupted the ar
raignment. His face was pale with an
ger, but his speech was calm.
1.-THE chair desires TO say simply that
what IL has done since the beginning Of
this has been done in the presence OF
the House and of thousands OF witnesses.
The chair does not feel il necessary to
discuss its conduct"
Vociferous applause from the Repub-
lican side made Speaker Reed so mad
he fairly danced. and shouted for order.
After two days elaboration the gen.
tleman from Texas thinks his conduct
needs an explanation. 1t is not the first
time the gentleman has attacked me-
1t will probably not be the last" cried
Mr.. Bailey.
The chair continued And / therefore
appeal 10 those who witnessed the con-
duct of the chair, and upon their iudg- +
ment I rest my case"
Taking their cue. several Republicans /
demanded regular order" and thus the
incident closed.
There was little or no manifestation
of interest in the House proceedings this /
morning.
Front rows even. in the galleries were 4
not filed. and the floor presented the .
appearance of a no session day. There
were more members of the House in the
Senate chamber than IN their own as
sembly hall.
However. representatives who are
earnest in their endeavors for immedi- /
ate action are engaged in persuading .
their more ObduTate colleagues to agree /
upon a unanimous passage Of the Sem
ate resolution after the higher body has .
taken action.
Regardless of party Affiliations the .
House members are almost unanimous
in their desire for action. as was evil I
denced in the final vote upon the House 4
resolution. The lower body or Congress .
is generally willing to sacrifice almost 1
anything likely TO block proceedings or
necessitate further delay. Everything
possible will be done TO prevent a dead .
lock. and the strong sentiment in favor of /
immediate action may eliminate in the
passage of the Senate resolution without
Informal party and independent confer .
ences between senators and representa-
tives are being held hourly in the cloak
rooms and corridors. Anyway, it is safe
to say that the majority in both bodies
favor prompt action, and will agree with
as little delay and difficulty as possible. |