Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-25

of Gen. Henderson,. At times he has
reversed the precedentS established by
his predecessor. One case in point. A
Dill giving the Secretary of the Navy
the same power to settle cases of de-
sertlon as that held under the law by
the Secretary of War, was called up in
the morning hour in the Fifty-fifth
Congress. Speaker Reed ruled 1t out of
order because it appeared upon the
Union calendar, and constructively in
vowed an appropriation. The desert
err whose disabilities were thus re-
moved might make an application for
pension. The same bill was called IN
in the morning hour in the present
Congress point of order was made
against 1T on the ground that 1t was
on the Union calendar. Speaker Hen
derson ruled that it had been improD-
erly placed upon this calendar. and
mat 1t ought to appear upon the
rouse calendar. When n further
point Of order was made on the ground
that it. might involve pension appro-
prlatiCns. he again overruled the point
Oh order. The rule specified that it
must involve an appropriation, and not
mat Il might do so. Such are some OF
me characteristics evolved by the new
speaker In the three months and more
III III, Which the House has been in session.
lhcy indicate that David Il. Hendcr-
son is worthy successor not only OF
Ihomns B. Reed. but of John G.. Car
isle. Samuel j. Randall, Michael G.
Kerr and Henry Clay.
The clerk will call my name" said
the Speaker when the vote was taken
upon the Porto Rico bill.
INC Speaker' shouted the clerk.
Aye responded the Speaker. and
his vote was recorded among the yeas.
Zen. Henderson has voted four times
since the opening OF the present session
OF congress when his vote was not re-
CURED to break a tie. His last vote
maze Tie. and that tie sealed the
doom OF CASTOR a. Robbins. whose seat
wa, contested by William f. Aldrich.
rms Is the third time in succession
that Aldrich has been seated on a con-
test. Speaker Reed rarely recorded his
vote on roll call When he did so in
me last Congress 1t appeared to have
necn given to emphasize his animusity
toward the administration
A MEMORABLE CONTEST.
Six times in the history of the coun-
try has the Speakers vote broken a
tie. One of the most memorable oc-
Cured on December 5. 1876, the year of
the Presidential election, when Samuel
j. Iildcn and Rutherford B.-Hayes
were the opposing candidates. Michael
{. Kerr, Speaker of the House, had died
In the interim. The second session was
called to order by George NJ. Adams,
the clerk. James G.. Blaine and w. II.
lSarlium had resigned their seats in the
House after they had been elected
United States Senators. Colorado had
been admitted to the Union by The
PRESIDENTS proclamation, and had
elected James Bedford. better knowh
as the "Red-headed Rooster of the
Rockies" to the House of Representa-
tives. The clerk had not placed his
name upon the roll, as he had no off,
cial information that Colorado was
state, An effort TO have the name put
upon the roll before candidates for
Speaker were named failed. The clerk
ruled that 1T was not in order. An ap-
peal was taken from his decision, but
the clerk was sustained.
Samuel ]. Randall was then elected
Speaker. Belford's cGse was referred
to the Committee on Judiciary Abram
>. Hewitt offered a resolution providing
for the appointment OF three spccial
committees by the Speaker. One of flf-
teen members was to go to Louisiana,
one OF six embers to go to Florida,
and third Of nine members to go to
South Carolina to Investigate the Pres
idential election and report all the facts
essential to an honest return of the
votes. The committees were to have
leave TO report at any time. Hewitt
asked unanimous consent for the con-
sideration of the resolution and was
refused. Afterwards he moved to sus-
pend the rules and pass the resolution.
The chair decided the motion in order.
and Mr.. Kasson, of Iowa, appealed.
The appeal was not sustained. Mo-
tons To adjourn were voted down. and
Hewitts resolution was finally passed,
1856 to rs, exactly two-thirds of the
votes required to suspend the rules.
LIKE A BOMBSHELL.
The committee were not announced
by the Speaker until the following day.
Then bombshell was thrown into
camp. After the reading of the journal
with other business lntervcning) Mr..
Plaisted. of Maine. arose TO a question
OF privilege. He announced that he
had voted NO" on the Hewitt resolu-
tion, and that his vote did not appear
III the journal, although he had heard
-lt-fead~iii- -rCCapituiItfUn or The Vote.
bitter discussion arose. Plaisted in
sisted that his recollection of the mat
ter was very distinct, because of a re-
mark made to him by member on
tie outer row of seats when he voted.
The members said that perhaps the
clerk did not get his vote or hear him.
In consequence of that remark"
said Plaisted. II listened very atten-
lively, and my name was read among
those who voted in the negative"
OF course, the recording of Mr..
Plaisted's vote would destroy the two
thirds vote of the preceding day and
prevent the appointment OF the COM
mittees. Henry w. Blair, of New
hampshire. declared that he heard
Plaisted vote NO" in loud and clear
voice. The discussion continued for an
nour or more, and the Speaker, much
to the chagrin of the members OF his
OWE party, decided against the techni-
calrties OF the case. declaring that the
word of Mr.. Plaistcd himself could not
be questioned. and told the clerk TO re-
cord his vote. This decision was rem
dered despite the bitter protests of his
Democratic colleagues, including Sun
set Cox.