The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26
Speaker Reeds Efforts TO Compel
Members to Conhne Their Remarks
to the Naval Bill Resisted.
DENOUNCED BY THE MINORITY
APPEAL AFTER APPEAL TAKEN
FROM THE GEARS, RULINGS,
And Nearly the Whole Day Wasted in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
Bailey the Leaders

Bailey the Leaders
WASHINGTON. March 25.-The stirring
scenes of the Fifty-first Congress- when
members Of the minority were charging
down the aisles protesting against the ruiz
ings of Speaker Reed, were recalled to-day
in the turbulent protests made by the
minority against a ruling of the chair dur
ing consideration of the naval appropriation
bill. The ruling in effect compelled MEM
bers to confine their remarks under the five
minute rule to the subject before the House
and was made against Mr.. Hartman (Silver
Rep, Montana), who attempted to make
political speech. The ruling was de-
nounced as usurpation. and appeal after
appeal was taken, When all else failed
every eXpedient was resorted to to block
progress with the bill AS result but four
pages were disposed of.
Before the bill was taken up for amend
ment Mr.. Foss (Rep., I'D, member of
the naval committee. made a general speech
in advocacy of the policy of building up a
strong and powerful navy. The eyes of the
American people, he said, were fixed upon
the American navy, the defender of the
living and the guardian of the honor of the
dead. If emergency was upon the
American navy was ready to meet it. With
glowing words he paid eloquent tribute
to the brilliant achievements of our navy
in the revolutionary war the war of 1872,
and the war of the rebellion, eulogizing the
deeds of John Paul Jones' Decatur, Perry,
Porter. Farragut and Dupont. He then de-
scribed the decay of the navy after the war
and the rebuilding of the new navy, which
began under Secretaries Chandler and Whit
ney.
Mr.. Bartholdt Rep., Mo- said that some
European papers and their echoes in this
country said that the foreign-born citizens
of this country would be a menace TO the
United States in case of war with a foreign
country. He resented this in the strongest
possible manner The flag of the United
States was the flag of its adopted citizens.
HARTMAN STARTS THE TROUBLE.
Mr.. Hartman created the diversion which
caused the blocking of business during the
rest of the day by delivering five-minute
speech, satrizing the Republican party and
when, under cover of a second pro forma
amendment, he attempted to proceed, Mr..
Boutelle called him to order He made the
point that Mr.. Hartmans remarks were not
pertinent to the amendment. A lively
parliamentary wrangle followed, when the
chair sustained the point of order.
After the debate on the appeal had run
on for an hour Mr.. Boutelle moved to close
the debate ON the appeal. Instantly point
of order was made against M. Boutelles
motion, which was overruled Party feel
ing ran high. The vote was taken Mr..
Boutelle's motion to close debate on the app
peal and it was carried-111 to 95. The vote
then came on the appeal from the decision
of the chair and the chair was sustained
100 to so.
Mr.. Hartman, after this two-hour wrangle,
again got the floor and was proceeding with
the speech, which had been interrupted
when Mr. Boutelle again interposed a point
of order. 1t was again sustained and when
Mr.. Bailey again appealed the point was
made that the appeal was dilatory and the
chair declined to entertain the appeal.
Mr. Hartman then changed his tactics,
and rose to a question of personal prvi-
lege. Mr.. Dingley made the point that no
question of privilege could be raised in COM
mittee of the whole. Pending a decision
upon Mr.. Dingley's point of order Mr..
Hartman was allowed to proceed, but Mr..
Payne objected. whereupon. with flushed
face Mr. Hartman shouted out that he
would refuse to be intimidated by the gen.
tleman from Maine. Thereupon Mr.. Payne
called him to order, and the chair ordered
him to take his seat. Mr.. Bailey moved
that he be allowed to proceed in order
The motion was opposed by the majority
and defeated-91 to ITO.
The minority then inaugurated filibuster.
demanding a vote by tellers on the pro
forma amendment to which Mr.. Hartman
point that the demand was dilatory and
was sustained. The chair also sustained a
similar point against an appeal
MR.. BAILEY'S PROTEST.
A moment later. when another demand
was made for tellers and it was denied. Mr..
Bailey denounced the ruling. IF you do
not permit us to verify the count he de-
clared, you destroy the last safeguard OF
the minority. A 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 purpose in in
augurating this fibuster was to consume
twice much time as you denied the gen.
tleman from Montana. and 1 intend to do
it every time you deny reasonable de-
mand." Democratic applause)
Denunciatory speeches were made by
Messrs. McMillin (Dem., TennA and Bland
(Dem., MOI, and the scenes of excitement
and confusion were reminiscent Of the SEN
sational days of the Eifty-drst Congress.
The chair finally announced that he did not
desire to deprive any member of a right
honestly demanded. If the gentleman from
Texas would state that the demand for tel
lers was made in good faith he would en-
terrain 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" Democratic APP
plause.
Thereupon the chair insisted on his ruling.
and the reading of the bill proceeded Al
the end of the first paragraph read Mr.
Hartman again offered q pro forma amend
ment, and, after some predatory remarks
in denunciation OF what he characterized as
an attempt to throttle free speech was
proceeding with the speech he began hours
before when he was again called to order
Mr.. Hartman was obliged to take his seat
while the confusion and the parliamentary
struggle went on. At last Mr. Bailey moved
that Mr. Hartman be permitted to explain
The motion was defeated-10i to 116
Debate was then closed on the paragraph.
and as soon as the next paragraph was
demanding recognition. the chair recognized
Mr.. Boutelle, who moved that all debate on
the paragraph be closed.
How can debate be closed before II Is be-
gum" asked Mr. Williams Dem, Miss.J.
amid laughter.
The turbulent scenes continued the re-
mainder of the day, the minority resisting
every step in the progress of the bill Only
four pages were disposed of
After the committee rose Mr. Pearson
lRep.. N Co denied a charge made by a
North Carolina paper that he had abused
the franking privilege.
At sos p. m. the House adjourned
Chairman Boutelle, or the naval affairs
committee, introduced this afternoon a
resolution calling on the committee on rules