The times., 1898-01-15
A TILT OVER 4 SUBSTITUTE
Democrats for 1t and Republi-
cans Against Ii.
MR.. PAYNE REFUSES TO RULE
He Is in the Chair and Reserves
His Decision n : to whether or Not
1t Is Acceptable Bone of Con-
tention the Southern Methodist
Book Concerns Bill.

For more than fifteen years the Book
Concern of the Methodist Church
South has petitioned Congress to in
demnify it for losses alleged to have
been sustained by the acts of Union
soldiers during the war The soldiers
took possession of the building and
used it, and il is claimed destroyed the
building and contents, creating loss
of s2SS, 900. Year. after year a bin has
been before Congress asking for relief,
but each year the MethOdists We're dis
appointed.
During the last session of Congress,
however, they succeeded in having the
Senate pass a bill TO refer the matter to
the Court of Claims for investigation
and to ascertain if the Government IS
liable for damages, and if so for what
amount. This bill came up in the
House. in the Committee of the Whole,
Yesterday and created considerable de-
bate.
The Democrats to man favored the
payment of the claim, and the Repup-
licans expressed a Willingness to pass
the bill to refer it to the court as the
friends of the bill, and Mr.. Cooper, OF
Texas. offered substitute TO the et-
feet that the House appropriate the
amount claimed to to be due Inc
claim had been well authenticated ana
a vast amount of evidence as 10 the
Justice of the claim was in the posses
sion of the House.
1t was the substitute for the senate
bill that created the debate. Mr. Rich-
ardson, of Tennessee, made an erect
i've appeal to the House to do justice,
and asked that the substitute pe az
cepted.
Mt Dingley. of Maine, made the
noint of order that the substitute could
not be accepted. because II changed
the motive of the bill, and it actually
became a new bill. He insisted that
substitute must be germane, and that
the one offered was not" He declared
that if the House accepted the SupSu-
tute it would establish a precedent tnat
would work much evil. 1t would open
the door to an army of claimants. He
demanded of the Democrats TO Know
why when they were in power,
they had not acted on the bill instead
of waiting until the Republicans were
in mower. Mr. Dalzel1, of Pennsylya-
MIA. backed up Mr.. Dingley as to the
rules. and asserted that, inasmuch as
the motive of the bill was changed, 1t
was not a substitute.
Half a dozen Democrats insisted upon
the adoption of the substitute, refuted
the assertions of Mr.. Dingley and Mr..
Dalzell. and while a general talking
match was in progress Mr. James
Hamilton Lewis, of Washington, raised
his voice above the oin anu ueiildiiueu
to be heard.
Mr.. Lewis. armed with an enormous
book. stepped into the aisle and
shouted:
II want to advise the chairman"
This was greeted with laughter, but
not at all disconnected, Mr.. Lewis re-
torted: You did not permit me to fin
ish my sentence" He then said that
he wanted to read a point made by Mr..
Reed, made in the Fifty third Congress
when he was on the floor, and Mr..
Crisn was Speaker. Mr.. Lewis read
the point of Mr.. Reed, which was sus-
tained by Speaker Crisp, and 1T was in
effect that if the House has the right
to change an appropriation it has an
equal right to change the motive.
Then Mr. Lewis laid the great book
on the desk beside him and shouted:
II demand a vote!"
This was greeted with shouts of
laughter. but undaunted Mr. Lewis
shouted again. L Hdt NaS d silp VI 'ie
tongue: | mean | demand asruling by
the chair, and 1 don't think be can go
behind the point made by Mr.. Reed"
The Republicans looked uneasy at
the clock and saw that it wanted but
FIVE minutes of O'Clock; the time for
adjournment, and while the Democrats
cried for a ruling. they began to talk
the matter out, and they succeeded, for
when Chairman Payne signified that he
had reached decision he said:
1T wants now but two minutes of
the time for the House to adjourn, and
in giving decision on such an import
ant matter / want to- explain my rea-
sons. 1 will reserve my decision"
AS he said that Speaker Reed took
his seat Mr.. Payne reported the Com
mittee of the Whole had no report to
make, and the Speaker adjourned the
House until today.