The San Francisco call., 1898-04-16
The Arraignment of the Speaker by the Demo-
 cratic Leader.
The Texan Accuses the Chair of Being Unfair and Unjust
 to the Minority.
The Presiding Officer of the House Replies Quietly and Creates
 Considerable Laughter
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
 Washington, April 15.

Call Office, Riggs House,
 Washington, April 15.
 Only a single incident in the session of the House to-day was worthy of public notice. Bailey, the Democratic leader, arose to a question of privilege to reply to a Philadelphia newspaper criticism charging him with responsi- bility for the disorderly scene in the House. on Wednesday. Bailey said that a public man " seldom justified in re- plying to criticism, but in this case he could not, in justice to himself, allow such a statement to pass without re- ply He affirmed that if there was any individual responsible for the scene it must rest upon the Speaker himself. He read from the Congressional Record the report of the colloquy to sustain his position. AS he proceeded with his arraignment of the Speaker there were manifestations of suppressed excite ment on the floor. The Speaker listened with imperturbable count lance Bai- ley said:
 Constrained by what I considered the unfair and unjust treatment of the chair, I objected and upon that objec- tion arose the scene of the disorder that is regretted by every member of this House. But for the results which followed it the responsibility is upon the Speaker of this House who sought a mean, partisan advantage by forcing his political opponents into a false po- sition. (ApplauSe on the Democratic side) And the country ought to know it. I understand the Speaker of the House"
 'Is this an arraignment of the Speak CT, or a question of personal privilege?" interposed Steele (R.) of Indiana.
 The, chair does not know, but will probably soon learn," observed the Speaker, blandly.
 Tt is the daily airing the gentleman gives himself calculated Dalzell (R.) of Pennsylvania.
 T did not understand the oracular statement of the gentleman" observed Bailey.
 Well. then, I will repeat it,, said Dalzell "It is the daily airing the gen tleman gives hil self
 And that is only the daily falsahood that men on that side are guilty of,'' retorted Bailey
 "The gentleman has demonstrated what the papers alleged. that he has lost his head" Dalzell replied.
 'The gentleman from Pennsylvania says, because I class his ungentlemanly interruption as it ought to be charac- terized, that I have lost my head,'' said Bailey. "The truth of it is that he and his associates imagine that men can be assailed and called liars and that if they resent they have lest their heads (Cries of An on the Republican side.) have not lost mine now and I did not lose it then. That a man may lose his temper under provocation, and under very great provocation, is a very nat ural thing; but men may still lose their tempers and not lose their heads. But if In order for man to preserve his equanimity and appear cool he must allow the insults to pass unanswered, then I prefer to be classed with those who lose their heads. I would infinitely rather lose my head in resenting an in suit than to lose my self-respect by submitting to one. Applause on the Democratic side.) I did not expect a man belonging to either party to cease to be partisan when he became Speaker of this House, and the Speak CT, whenever occasion offers, exercises his office for the advantage of his par ty. I expect the present Speaker to do 1t as certainly as any man who ever occupied the chair, but until a short while ago I believed that the present Speaker of this House was as parti- san as an honest man could be and as honest as a partisan could be; but after the performances of last Wednesday I would not be willing to father that sentiment any longer. I have never known on a great occasion any more unfair advantage attempted, and even if it had succeeded what little advan- tage there was would have passed from my memory long before the recollection of the Speakers partisan action"