The Portland daily press., 1900-04-13
Relief When Test Vote
Was Taken.
Every Member Who Could Get
There Was Present.
Especial TO THE PRRss.l

Washington, April i2.-Ihe final act In
the Porto Rico drama drew an unusually
large number Of people to the House side
of the Capitol on Wednesday. In the first
pIace every member Of the Houso who
could possibly get to Washington had re-
sponded TO urgent kilograms, and was
present. On the ordinary vote for several
weeks, barely two hundrtd of the three
hundred and six t. members would re-
spcnd. 1t lie the season Of the conventions
In the Congress sionsl districts, both North
and South, East and West, and many
members were absent looking after their
political fencss. These had been sum
moned In by imperative kilograms from
the leaders OF their respective parties;
and as the hour OF twelve o'clock ap-
preached on Wedn esday the floor Of the
House began to take on the animated APP
pearance Of an ant-hill. The floor was
flled with members. many Of them nav
ly-afrived that morning, The galleries
also were filled. even those reserved for
the President and diplomatic corps being
relieved of their usual emptiness by the
presence Of several ladies who had been
favored with these exclusive seats for the
mem orable occasion. Many officials OF
the government were among the crowd In
the galleries, including General Miles,
who led she ar my into Porto kicn Gen.
Wheeler Of Alabama, who has chosen to
stay In the army instead of taking the
eeat in the House to which he was
elected, came into the House lobby and
greeted old acquaintance. He did not
come onto the floor. however. His name
was not called on the roll call, having
been dropped several weeks ago, when 1t
became evident that he had forfeited his
seat In the House.
The proceedings began really an hour
before the meeting OF the House, when
the committee on rules met In the Speak
sr's room to adopt the special order under
which the proceedings were to take placs.
There were present the Speaker and
Messrs. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Grosve.
nor Of Ohio. and Richardson Of Tennes-
see, the latter the Democratic leader on
the floor. Mr.. GrosVenor could not vote
as he was paired with the other Demo-
cratic member Of the committee, Mir.
Bailey, who is absent In Texas conduct
ing O canvass for the United States Sem
ate. The foITu Of rule agreed to BY the
Republican memb ers OF the committee
was read to Mr. Richardson, and he
agreed humorously that he must submit
to over whelming numbers and allow the
rule to be reported to the Houss.
MIR. Dalzeil, as ranking member Of the
committee on rules, reported the rule to
the Houss. he was recognized as soon as
the Speaker had called the House to or
der, and the debate on the rule at once
began. MIR. Richardson, who had been so
passive In the committed, became a roar
ing lion now, and he told to the Rspubli-
cans all the unpleasant things about their
party that he could think of. But he got
as good as he sent from Messrs. Grosvenor
and DAlzell who recalled many foolish
Democratic doings In the last six years.
The applause rolled up, first from one
side and then from the other, rs this
skirmisding proceeded, preliminary to
the main battle. There were frequent in
terruptions or the speakers by parliament
tary "sniping," to borrow word from
the Boer war. One of this most musing
Of these interruptions was made during
Mr.. Grosvenor's speech. There were
much olapping of hands, and minor signs
of appreciation or disapprobation, when
tina tall form of Judge Terry OF Arkansas
aIoIe on the farside Of the Democratic
section. Judge Terry is a perpetual