The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-04
ROASTED" EACH OTHER
DEMOCRATS HAD A WARM TIME IN
THE HOUSE YESTERDAY.
MIR. Lewis and Champ Clark Spitted
and Drowned by MIR. Cummings, a
Patriotic New Yorker.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-What promised
to be an uneventful and uninteresting ses-
sion of the House was thrown suddenly,
after three hours consideration of private
bills, into a session Of spirited speech-mak-
ing among Democratic members that saw
ored at times much Of acrimony. The storm
was ~precipitated by Mr.. Lewis Dem.,
Wash.), who referred in the course of a
speech to the recent vote of Mr.. Cummings,
of New York, in support of the war revenue
bill with its incorporate bond feature. He
made reference to Mr.. Cummings asser-
ton that this period was a time for placing
country above party, intimating that the
New York member had served the Repub-
lican party and perhaps contributed to the
satisfaction of unpatriotic monopolists and
capitalists. This brought an impassioned and
patriotic speech in reply from Mr.. Cum
mings interspersed with some sarcastic
comments that intensified the interest and
called an outpouring OF members from the
cloak rooms. Mr.. Clark Dem., Mo- entered
the lists and proceeded to ~criticise unre-
servediy the six Democrats who had voted
for the revenue bill ON it's final passage and
questioned their Democracy. Messrs. Fitz-
gerald, of Massachusetts, and McAleer, of
Pennsylvania, two other Democrats who
voted for the bill, were heard in defense of
their votes and in refutation of the imputa-
tons of the Missouri member. Just before
the recess until the night session was TAX
en- the leader of the Democrats, Mr.. Bailey,
of Texas, spoke briefly in depreciation of
the speeches of the Democratic members
as being subject to misconstruction indica-
tive of more serious differences within the
party than really existed. He reviewed the
record to show that no appreciable ground
for such construction existed.
Mr.. Cummings, in replying to Mr.. Lewis,
declared with much force that he was in
the time of the country's need and at all
times an American and a Democrat. 81 adj
mire," added the New York member, good
humoredly, the gentleman from Washing
ton. His raiment is spotless, his hirsute
auornments are exquisite and even his spats
are enulgent, all i'll delightful accord with
the finish and brilliance of his intellect
proceeding, he declared 1t was the duty of
members, intent upon asserting that their
governments agents were corrupt in admin
istratlon, first to produce their evidence, lay
It before the House and not rush to an in
duigence in bald assertion without sub
stance OF basis. SANDER of the government,
either by direct assertion or ~insinuatfon.
was TOO serious an occupation to be en-
tered upon lightly. Speaking of his support
OF the revenue measure embodying the bond
provision, Mr.. Cummings said it were bet
ter to authorize the President to issue the
DSHuS III VIC HdluIS VI d popular loan imam
to deny the express authority and the coun-
try in a war emergency with a pond issue
probably unavoidable and subject to the alb
Solute d1ctatiOn of a syndicate later on,
Mr.. Clark made quite a vicious attack up-
on ex-President Cleveland and denied that
ne was a Democrat. Speaking of Mr.. Cum
mings's speech, Mr.. Clark said it was the
most outrageous that had been made on the
floor Of the House. He characterized the
votes of Mr.. Cummings and other Demo-
Gratis who voted for the bond bill as unpar-
donabie. he said that they should be read
cut of the party. He said Cleveland was
nominated because the Democrats thought
he was the only man who could be elected.
Addressing the Republican side he said that
they talked of the war as a Republican war.
This he denied. I'VE took you by the
scruff of the neck and dragged you into it,"
he said. It's our war" The Democrats
had a right to claim the war together with
the Populists and silver Republicans who
are with the Democrats In most everything.
Mr.. Clark made a patriotic reference to
Commodore Dewey.
Mr.. Cummings, responding to Mr.. Clark,
said he reciprocated fully all 1.-THE kind
things said concerning him. by the GENTLE
man from Missouri. Continuing, he briefly
pointed out in a pointed anecdote that the
Missourian was himself responsible for
Missouri having advocated the last nominal
ton of Mr.. Cleveland.
Several more speeches were made and the
House then, at 5 p. M, took a recess till 8
o'clock.
At the night session twenty-five pension
itary records of and removing charges of
desertion standing against soldiers were
passed. The session continued until 1890
o'clock.