Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-12
In the House While Brothers Contest
Was Pending.
CHARGED With ABUSING PRIVILEGE
Senator Rawiins Opposes the
Spooner Bill.
ENATE VI EETS RLY

of the committee on library, vice Mr.. Har-
mer Pa.). deceased. MIR. Powers CVt) was
appointed to the vacancy the committee.
A bill was passed to authorize term OF
the United States court for the western dis
trict Of Virginia, to be held at Charlottes-
Vile, Va.
resolution was adopted to print 900
copies Of the eulogies delivered In Congress
upon The late Vice President Hobart.
An important bill reported last week from
the public lands committee, to extend the
placer mining laws of the United States
with certain modifica tons to shore rights
beach workings. etc, in Alaska, was
passed This bill is designed to meet the
conditions obtaining at Cape Nome. Mr..
said that the bill was Endorsed by the Alas
kan authorities and the miners generally.
An amendment was adopted prohibiting
corporation from locating claims.
a bill was also passed to attach the
county of Board to the Fort Worth d.
vision of the northern district of Texas.
The wise-Young Case.
The Wise-Young contested election case
from the second Virginia district, which
was debated for two days last week. was
then called up under the agreement to vote
at 2:3o pm. today. Mr.. briggs IN. " adj
dressed the House in support Of the claims
OF the sitting member-Mr. Young.
Mr.. briggs expressed his opinion that
contested election cases should be adjudi-
Gated by the courts and not by partisan ma
jortttes In the House.
Mr.. Hay Ca) closed for Mr.. Young. He
reviewed the situation in the district upon
the occasion OF the election, concluding that
there no equitable ground upon which
the sitting member could be deprived of
his seat If he was unseated. he said, 1t
would be by an arbitrary exercise of power,
unwarranted by facts, law or evidence.
Charge Against John s. Wise.
During the progress of the remarks of
Mr.. Weeks CMich), who closed the debate
for the contestant, some excitement was
caused by Mr. Clayton (Ala-). who arose
abruptly and protested that the contest
ants brother. John S. Wise, who is an ex-
member OF the fIouse. was abusing the
privileges of the floor. to which he was en-
titled as member, by interfering with the
debate
Mr.. Wise was sitting by the side of Mr..
Weeks at the time. He writing. AS
soon as the point was made Mr.. Wise hur-
r:edIy arose, handed Mr.. Weeks the note
and withdrew back Of the railing.
Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader,
backed up Mr.. Clayton's point of order. He
declared that Mr.. Wise was the attorney of
record in his brothers case. that he was
abusing the privilege accorded him by
prompting gentlemen in debate and inter
ferng generally. He adverted to the fact
that remark interJected by Mr.. Wise in
the course of the debate last Saturday
called forth a protest from Mr. Burke
tTeXas)- who was on the floor at the time
Mr.. Richardson said II was bad enough to
turn members out Of the House without
allowing attorneys to come on the floor and
psrSecute them. 1t was unfair he declared,
and he appealed to fair-minded men on the
abuses.
Mr.. Weeks replied that a good deal of
noise and confusion was being engendered
about nothing. He said that the note writ.
ten by Mr.. Wise related in no manner ID
The debate.
WISE l. the attorney Of record?'' inquired
The Speaker.
He was the attorney before the commit
tee. reqlied Mr.. Weeks
The Speaker called attention 70 the r,,las
hat gave ex-rnembers the privilege of the
H"or when not interested in any claim or
bill before Congress.
Mr. Wise Excluded
It was customary in cases of such al
legged offenses, the Speaker said, to refer
the case to a special committee for inyesti-
CATION. but as it was admitted that Mr..
Wise was the attorney of record It became
The duty of the chair to act, especially
during the tendency of the case.
=, me protection Of the dignity of the
House and every element of fair play re-
4ure that the chair should act" said the
Speaker and the chair holds that the
etmieInan shall not occupy place on this
nocr The doorheeper is directed to ex-
clude Mr. Wise until the case is disposed
Of Democratic applause)
The doorkeeper hurried to the cloak room
20 execute the Speakers order bu, Mr..
lse mad already passed out through a side
"ntrance 10 the corridor beyond
At 30. In accordance with the agree
ment, the previous question was ordered
and th; Vote was taken by yeas and nays,
first on the substitute resolutions declaring
me sitting member Mr.. Young entitled to
his seat.
20 I29 "
his caused great excitement, and the
vote was recapitulated
In Favor of Wise.
on The recapitulation the Speaker an
n"uncei his voEe in favor of Mr. Wise thus
making the vote tie, 100 to 1870.
Minority Resolution Defeated.
ON recapitulation the minority resolution.
declaring Young elected. was defeated IL,
10 12s.