The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
Speaker Reed Forced to Reprimand
the ObstreperOus Texan for Try
ing to Override the Rules.
INCIDENT IN THE SENATE
THE "CzAR" SEVERELY CRITICISED
BY NEBRAsKA's POPULIsT.
Enactment of MYSTERIOUS Legislation.
According to Mr.. Allen, Prevented
by the House Autocrat.

WASHINGTON. Feb. i0.-The House was
in a very bad temper to-day and the whole
session was consumed in hlibustering
against two bills of minor Importance, one
to issue a duplicate check and the other
TO make Rockland Me-, a SUPPORT of entry
Neither got further than the engrossment
and third reading. The trouble arose over
the enforcement of the rule against the dis
cussion Of irrelevant subjects when Mr..
Handy, Democrat, of Delaware, attempt
ed to reply on the floor during considera-
ton of those bills to letter recently writ
ten by Thomas L. Bayard secretary of
state under the Cleveland administration,
in denunciation of the free-silver Democ-
racy Roll call followed roll cali all day
long and partisan feeling reached a high
pitch. Finally, when 1t became evident that
no progress could be made with the bills
presented, an adjournment was taken until
Monday.
At the opening of the session. Mr.. Walker
CRep., va-) presented the report of COM
mittee on elections No. 3 on. the contested
election case of Thorp VS.. Epps from the
Fourth district of Virginia. The majority
report was signed by ali the Republican
members of the committee and was in fa-
v5r of seating the contestant, Mr.. Thorp.
1t was at this stage the trouble began.
Mr. Bailey, the Democratic leader, got time
from Mr.. Perkins (Rep., Ia.), during consid
GRAFTON of bill to issue duplicate check
issued by Charles E. McChesney. an Indian
agent. in favor of C. ]. Holman & Brother,
for $3.50. and yielded thirty minutes Of it
to Mr.. Handy (Dem., DELI Some question
was raised to the right of Mr.. Bailey
to yield time and considerable friction. de-
veloped. Mr.. Tawney rep, Minn) intima-
ted in an undertone that Mr.. Bailey had
secured time under false pretenses.
"Of course, the gentleman does not mean
that" said Mr.. Bailey. but il he does, I
denounce 1t as UNANIMOUSLY false
The situation Immediately became
strained, and when Mr.. Handy launched his
remarks which proved to be a criticism of
the Hon. Thomas f. Bayard's recent utter
ance on the money question. objection was
made that his remarks were irrelevant
Party feeling became infiamed by the incl
dent and the Democrats retaliated by con-
testing the passage of the BILL The pre-
vious question was ordered, but another
roll call vas forced on an Insignificant
amendment. On this vote most of the DEM
clned to vote. but the speaker noted
enough members present to make up a quo
rum and the amendment was adopted.
On the next vote, on the engrossment and
third reading of the bill, the speaker could
only count 40 present, and call of the
House was ordered A quorum appeared
and the bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr.. Bailey then formally demanded the
reading Of the engrossed bill. AS this could
or course, not be done, the bill was laid
aside. The speaker then began a call of
the committee for the presentation of bills
This was the first time this order of bus
mess has been entered upon at this session.
On the first bill presented Mr. Bailey
again got the floor and again yielded to
MT. Handy He had only uttered few
sentences, stating that he intended to reply
to Mr.. Bayard, when Mr.. Dalzell called him
Mr.. Bailey protested vehementIy that
there was no way of determining whether
Mr.. Handy was in order or not.
Mr.. Dalzeil replied that the statement was
Mr.. Williams (Dem. AIiss) and several
others were drawn into the controversy.
Suddenly the speaker Strengthened up in
MS chair. and. addressing Mr.. Bailey, said
THAT the gentleman from Delaware is out
of order can certainly not be disputed by
gentlemen who are locking each other in
the face; Continuing, the speaker said
that, while it had been the custom to allow
the widest latitude in debate in committee
of the whole, that had not been the prac-
tice III the House. There the debate was
confined TO the subject under consideration
and he thought members of both sides must
admit that ii would not be suitable to
fasten or the House system by which all
manner of questions could be discussed at
any time. 1t was wise, he said. to conform
70 the principles that governed every par
ltamentaTy body
Mr.. Bailey, in reply, maintained that GUS
tom was as binding as the rule, and ne
commended that il had always been the prac-
tce to give gentlemen latitude He had
never known, he said, Il case where a gem
tleman was called to order unless he was
attacking some one or INDUCING in per-
sonaiitics. He called attention to the
fact that last week for two hours during
consideration of a pension bill in the House
a debate on the Pacific Railroad had gone
on. yet to-day" said he THE rule is in
voked against this side of the house. When
gentleman on this side desires to reply to
with him he is silenced. appeal to gentle
men on the other side 10 reflect how far the
practice they contend for can CO."
The speaker said he Ia no desire to en-
force the rules vigorously except when they
were invoked. If the rule had not been en-
fortune of those other occasions. There
was no longer any pretense that Mr.. Handy
intended TO discuss the pending bill.
IL becoming evident that the Democrats
Intended to continue the tlibuster, and, as
the House lad no regular business 10 pro-
coed with, Mr. Dingley at this Juncture
moved an adjournment until Monday
Mr.. Richardson (Dem-, Tenn VINO. with
his Democrats, desired to have ses-
sion tomorrow for consideration of private
bills, contestedIhis motion with plain mo-
ton to adjourn. The speaker ruled that
Air. Dingley's motion took precedence. The
motion was carried-l2S To il6
Mr.. Henderson (Rep. Ia chairman of the
sent for consideration of the bankruptcy
bill on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
OF next week. and the provision for a vote
at o'clock ON the following Monday. There
was no objection, and. the order being en-
tered. at AIS p m. the House adjourned un-
I'll Monday.
ALLEN AsSAILs REED.