The times., 1900-12-19

lar order,'' from the Republican side Of
the chamber drowned the sound Of his
voice.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole, wish MI Moody of Massachu-
setts in the chair The amendments 10 the
bill reported by the District Committee
were read.
The Chairman said that without objee-
tion the committee amendments would be
considered in gross, but Mr. Cowherd OBJ
jected and called for their separate con-
sideration. Mr.. Sewlands took the floor
on the first amendment to strike out
Eighth Street" and insert eleventh
Street" He urged that the bill be recon-
mitted to the District Committee with in
structions to report bill in harmony
with the plans prepared by Mr.. Parsons
but which would allow of the construction
of a terminal station Oh Pennsylvania
Avenue AT the close of five minutes Mr.
Babcock moved that all debate on the
pending amendment close in one minute.
The question being put. the ayes had 1t,
when Mr. Cowherd called for division
resulting. ayes So. noes 80. The question
then being upon agreeing to the amend
ment, another contest ensued but the
amendment was agreed to.
Then arose marked confusion as TO
whether the second committee amendment.
same paragraph Of the bill. was embraced
in the first amendment which had been
agreed to- Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee
maintained that they were independent
amendments, but the Chairman ruled, af-
ter considerable time had been expended
in discussion, that the two amendments
should be considered as one.
Mr. Fitzgerald OF Massachusetts OBJ
tanned recognition. He said that the Penn
Dat a n
FAINT industry but one OF the most power
full, and one of the richest, corporations in
the country Confusion resulted from
points of order being made from various
parts of the Republican side that Mr.. Fitz-
gerald was not addressing himself to the
anne ndment.
A Parliamentary WrRngle.
Mr.. Babcock moved that debate on the
pending amendment and on the section
should close in one minute. This motion
precipitated a parliamentary wrangie, Mr..
Richardson of Tennessee contending that
the rules of the House provided for five
minutes debate for and five minutes
against each amendment
Sections and of Rule XIII Of The
House were invoked. In these sections it
is provided that:
"5. When general debate, by order OF
the House, any member shall be allowed
five minutes to explain any amendment he
may offer, after which the member who
shall first obtain the floor shall be allowed
to speak five minutes in opposition TO 1t,
and there shall be no further debate
thereon, but the same privilege OF debate
shall be allowed In favor of and against
apy amendment that may be offered to an
amendment; and neither an amendment,
nor an amendment to an amendment shail
be withdrawn by the mover thereof unless
by the unanimous consent OF the commit
tee.
&c. The committee may. by the vote OF
a majority of the members present, at any
time after the FIVE minutes debate has
begun upon proposed amendments to ony
section or paragraph of a bill, close all
debate upon such section or paragraph
or. at its election, upon the pending
amendments only (Which motion shall be
decided without debate), but this shall not
preclude further amendment. to be decid-
ed without debate"
There was quite a wrangle, the minor
ity meanwhile gaining time. While Mr.
Richardson of Tennessee was argumenta-
lively splitting hairs and incidentally
consuming about fifteen minutes in the
discussion Of the question as TO whether
II was five or ten minutes that might
be consumed in speaking to an amend
u
would he in order, Mr. Payne, Republican
floor leader, sought to silence Mr.. Rich
ardson by endeayoring TO gain recogni-
tion for a parliamentary enquiry. But
Mr.. Richardson, re-enforced by a Demo-
cratic chorus, cried that he would not be
taken off the floor by a parliamentary en-
curry; there was no rule OF the House
whereby that could be done. Mr.. Rich
ardson would not yield, nor make pause
in his vehement protest. The Chairman
refused TO recognize Mr.. Payne for a par
liamentary enquiry Applause was rip
pling over the Democratic side of the
Chamber. Mr.. Payne then changed his
plan OF action and gained recognition on
a point of order. His point was that
Mr.. Richardson was out of order in that
the Chair was about to rule. Demo-
cratic chorus cried out that this So
called point of order WIS In itself out of
order.
The Chairman, amid Democratic ap-
pIause, announced that he was ready to
rule but would not do so until the gem
tleman from Tennessee. tMr. Richardson)
had ceased to address the Chair. Mr..
Payne sought again TO secure the floor
from Mr.. Richardson. but Mr.. Moody,
pounding sternly, cried: THE gentleman
from Tennessee has the floor and declines
TO yield" This caused a little storm OF
Democratic handclapping.
Mr.. Richardson, apparently somewhat
unnerved by this display OF good treat