The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-27
AN UPROAR In THE HOUSE
Mr.. Lentz Accuses the Speaker of
Holding Up His Speech.
The Address Not Printed in the
"Record" hut Turned Over to Mr..
Grosvenor-Thc Action Denounced
in Resolutions by MIR. Richardson.

| 6rosVenor-Thc Action Denounced
in Resolutions by MIR. Richardson
The Republicans of the House were yes
terday obliged to move an adjournment
in order to cut off discussion on a sub
ject that promised to bring them not only
trouble, but to throw q shadow upon the
| integrity of Speaker Henderson. The
Democrats were fighting as they claimed
for free speech, which they declared
had been. and was being. denied them by
the Republican leader. They were in re-
volt against what they considered patent
case Of gag law" which they asserted
was only type of the indignities which,
as party. they had been forced to suffer
in more Or less important matters all dur
| ing the present session of Congress.
The House adjourned in an uproar which
would have done honor to the Austrian
| Reichsrath. The affair was the result of a
| statement made by Mr.. Lentz that he had
| delivered speech to the Public Printer:
| that that speech had not been printed. and
| that, on enquiry. he had found the speech
had been sent TO Speaker Henderson. and
| that Speaker Henderson had turned it
over to Mr.. GrosvenOr. who had expressed
an intention of replying to it The Speaker
was vigorously attacked first for with
| holding the speech from print. and then
! for turning 1t over to Mr.. Grosvenor.
| At the Capitol yesterday it was stated
| that no such action had ever before been
| taken by any Speaker of the House. and
J that Mr.. Henderson. though he might be
| able to show precedent for holding out
| manuscript of a speech which he thought
| in the interests of the dignity of the
House might be improved by revision. he
| could certainly not give any precedent for
| allowing one member access to the un-
| printed speech of another
| The rules of the House state specifically
| that the House and not the Speaker is
| the judge of things to be printed in the
record and they also provide that no MEM
Der shall have access to even the notes of
| the reporters on another members speech
which has been withheld for revision.
Last Wednesday during the debate on
| the General Deficiency bill Mr. Lertz took
occasion to make five-minute speech on
the political situation in Ohio. charging
that the Legislature in that State had been
bribed and that Senator Hanna had OBJ
tanned his seat through most corrupt poll
tics. He was granted leave to extend his
remarks in the Record" that privilege
having been granted to all meiui,-rs .,y
unanimous consent.
During the disc Cussion on the Naval APP
preparation bill yesterday Mr.. Lentz arose,
as he said, to a question OF personal
privilege. Mr.. Speaker" he said, yes
terday ] took my speech to the Public
Printer. He told me that ne was very
much pressed for space. and could not
assure me that the speech would be
printed today. l went again to him to-
day. finding my speech had not ap-
peared. He told me that the speech had
been returned to the reporters. BY the
reporters | was told that it had been
/ given to the Speaker. and had been
passed on to Mr.. Grosvenor. Mr. Speak
er. | desire to protest most emphaticaIly
against this unwarrantable liberty taken
with my speech. l consider that it was
my property and could not be disposed
of by anybody but myself
The SpeakeT-The gentleman is mis-
taken in his assumption
MIR. Lentz-I was allowed to extend my
REMARKS in the Record" Had It not
been interfcred with the speech would |
nave appeared today. That would have
iett ample opportunity for my remarks to
b'. answered on the floor of the House
The Speaker was Informed v.srer |
day that there had been an abuse by tn. |
gentleman from Ohio of the privilege |
GRANTED to extend remarks
MI. Lentz-Mr. Speaker. until o'clock |
IN the evening no one under the sun could |
pave known the contents of my speech |
tut my secretary and myself / cannot
Understand how the Speaker could have |
that information. Some one must have |
taisitied the facts to him
Ihe Spcaker-The speech was brought /
to me by the messenger from the Print |
ing Office
IT was my intention to investigate the !
matter and to attempt to make some com |
promise upon II. Press of business pre-
vented me from doing it today. The Chair |
desires 10 adjust any disputes amicably !
II 1t can. The question of censorship is |
to adjudicate.
resolution
MIR. Cannon-A point of order There Is
special business before the House The
conference report takes precedence Of |
everything.
Upon this statement the House broke
into an uproar, the Democrats cIamoring
for a consideration of the resolution Of
fered by Mr.. Richardson. the Republicans |
trying to insist upon the further consider
alton of the conference report. Mr.. Rich |
ards0n, on his feet, at the top of his voice
called for recognition from the Chair
You cannot take me off my feet in
that manner" he shouted Order was
partially restored and Speaker Henderson
said: There are questions of privilege |
and privileged matters. This is a ques-
ton OF personal privilege and has prece-
dence>
After much more loud expostuiation
from members on the Republican side
anu many tAltS bl 10 on from MS Dem /
ocratic supporters, Mr. Richardson read
his resolution:
Resolved That the speaker OF the Housr Of
Representative has right to withhold from
the Record speech made hy a member under
general leave 10 print
Mr. Caunou--I raise the point of order
against that resolution that ii is not
proper 1t this time.
Mir LACEY ask vote on the reSoIu-
lion.
After good deal Of hubbub the vote
was ordered and the roll called. The Dem
ocrutS failed to get sufficient votes Ia ptss
the resolution. Mr. Richardson then as
soon as he could obtain recognition amid
the noise of the half dozen men cIanur-
ing for the Speakers ear. presented a sec
ond resolution, more strong than the
first 10 the following effect:
Whereas the speech oi Mr. Lentz has been with
held after permission 70 print had been given.
and by the Speaker Of the House of Renr,Santa
tves delivered to somebody else be il
Resolved, That the action Of the Speaker he
condemned and he be- ordered to deliver the
speech to the Public Printer 10 be printed
This resolution brought the Republfcans
in mass to their feet. Mr.. Lacey ASK !
ed that consideration be ordered Nr !
Richardson faced him quickly and spoke
angrilN.
to print viii expire by limitation. You
are attempting to infringe the right of |
FREE. speech in this House. This is "A mat
ter which affects the integrity of the | .
House. and it should have precedence |
,vn,- everything else |