The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-04
CONGRESS-.
Mr.. Walkers Vale
dictory.
TUMULT IN HOUSE.
Usual Proceedings Incident
to Closing Hours.

Washington, March 3.-Crowded gall
leries looked down upon the struggling
members of the House today as the clio
sing scenes of the last legislative day
of this congress were being enacted.
Step by step the leaders in charge of
the appropriation bills pushed them
through the final stages and during
every hull in the consideration of con-
ference reports members clamored for
recognition for belated local bills in the
vain hope of rescuing them from death
on the calendar
At times the House was like bedlam.
Pound as the speaker would with his
gavel it was almost impossible to pre-
serve order and to the casual visitor in
the gallery the proceedings on the floor
must have been about as Ineligible
as an exciting day in the wheat pit
would be to a parish priest.
The noise and confusion on the floor,
punctuated with the constant banging
of the speakers gavel or back ground
ed with the droning voice of the clerk,
irate members facing each other and
talking at the same time, pages sour
rying up and down the alsles, all this
was utterly distracting
Mr. Walker of Massachusetts, after
many unsuccessful attempts, got an OPP
portunity during the afternoon, to voice
his views on currency reform and Sc
verely criticized some of his republ-
can colleagues.
| When the great beacon light on the
dome blazed forth as darkness fell,
| thousands upon thousands were attrac-
ted to the brilliantly illuminated wings
of the capitol where the two houses
were to sit out the night. The big
questions in dispute between the two
houses being naturally the last to be
adjusted were postponed far into the
night. From time to time short recesses
| we're taken. These were simply breath
ings spells, however, and soon leaders
were at it again harder than ever.
Shortly after the House convened, Mr..
Walker CrepD of Massachusetts, who
had been seeking the privilege of ad-
dressing the House for several days, Sc
cured unanimous consent to speak for
an hour, such time, however, not to in
| terfere with conference reports. He
made a statement largely personal
! showing his efforts during long series
\ of years to secure monetary legislation
He answered published criticisms of his
| course. and went into an elaborate ex-
PLANTATION of the long fight in his COM
mittee which resulted in the report of
a bill and it's subsequent withdrawal.
| His colleague, Mr.. Barrett (rep) of
! Massachusetts, demanded an opportu-
nifty to reply, claiming that Mr. Walker
had agreed to yield him time. This
I INT.,ll
| kept his promises to God and man, but
mot according to standards of his col
| leagues
| Mr. Barrett denounced the denial as
an 'unmitigated falsehood."
Mr. Walker proceeded to criticise the
currency committee selected by Mr..
| Grosvenor. chairman of the republican
| caucus. Mr.. Walker spoke in high
| terms Of FL. II. Hanna of the Indianap-
oils monetary committee, but de-
nounced the manner in which his coll
| leagues had lobbed about the capitol
for alleged currency reform.
THE difficulty with these reformers,
| said he lis that they obtain their facts
from canvas-back and terrapin, and
! their arguments from champagne. The
| result is robbery"
do you expect the next congress.
| interposed Mr.. Johnson (rep.) of In
diana, Ito enact any banking and cur
rency legislation worthy Of the name.
/ do not"
IF it does" replied Mr.. Walker, cit
will mean certain defeat for the re-
publican party. There is more dyna-
mite connected with banking and cur
rency than any subject ever introduced
in the House. Any party that attempts
settlement Of the currency question
before the silver question is settled, will
be swamped."
ri t,xr
stance: 1T was said by a man once
that he had fought a good fight and
had won the crown. For myself I have
exhausted this financial question So far
as 1t can be exhausted My reports and
speeches, mostly before The commit
tee nave been absolutely ignored by
every man on IL without exception.
(Laughter) Instead Of following ONT
my reports to their legitimate conclu-
sion as they should have done and
coming to me to explain wherein was
wrong, as they We're in duSy bound to
do, to man working day and night
as l have been for this great reform.
they have paid no attention to me. Now
| want to challenge this House and the
country to invalidate or contradict TO
the slightest degree n single position l
have taken. The facts | nave used are
official and are compiled from sources
open to all I want to thank this House
Tor It's UNIFORM courtesy TO me. / am
not the smoothest man in the world to
get along with. ] go for the truth d.
rect with light regard to who stands
between me and the truth. Only on
three occasions has any gentleman OBJ
jected to my having unanimous consent
when ] have asked for it. The gentle
man from Connecticut (Mr. Hiln, from
Massachusetts (Mr. Barrett), and from
New York (Mr. BennetD, have been
the only ones. Nobody on the dcmocrat-
ic side has ever objected. I'm fact the
opposition generally like to listen to
an Independent man, whether republic
can or not. Again thanking the House
for its abundant courtesy, | Weld The
balance of my time"
Mr.. Johnson followed taking the
time left by Mr. Walker.
Mr.. Cannon presented the conference
report upon the sundry civil appropri-
alton bill. The report was adopted
Upon the items still in dispute he
moved that the house insist upon It's
disagreement
The House insisted upon its disagree
ment 10 the items Of the sundf-y civil
bill still in dispute. and agreed to n
further conference The House con-
ferees were specifically instructed 10
insist upon their disagreement to the
Senate amendment increasing salaries