Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-29
NO BLOWS STRUCK
Representative Stephens and Delegate
Flynn Only Talk at Each Other.
HOUSE THEN GETS TO BUSINESS
Both Branches of Congress Con-
slider Appropriation Bills.
OTHER FEATU RES TODAY

When the House met today Mr.. Stephens
,Texy arose to a question of privilege in
connection with the exchange which took
place between himself and Mr.. Flynn, the
delegate from Oklahoma, just prior to ad-
journment yesterday. when the direct lie
was almost passed. Mr. Stephens read the
language used by Mr.. Flynn, in which the
latter charged that Mr.. Stephens had sur
reptitiously inserted in the bill to ratify the
agreement with the Kiowa and Comanche
Indians which became a law June @, 1900,
a clause giving white settlers the right to
take up such of these Indian lands as con-
tanned minerals.
Mr.. Stephens said II was unfortunate for
Mr.. Flynn that he himself had introduced
bill in January. 1900. which contained the
identical language which he now charged
was surrepti,iously inserted in the bill. He
Indignantly repealed thu insinuation to which
Mr.. Flynn had given utterance.
Mr.. Flynn arose and dec'ared in even
more specific language than he used yester-
gay that when the bill passed no one on the
floor except Mr. Stephens knew the section
was I'm the BILL would we have allowed a
section to go in" he aSked, which per-
United whites to take without compensation
lands we were allotting to the Indians"
The Irate Twain Confront.
Didn't you introduce a bill containing
similar language?" asked Mr.. Stephens. who
now confronted the irate Oklahoma delegate
across the aisle.
Il had sufficient confidence in the gentle
man at that time" retorted Mr.. Flynn.
What Led to the investigation which
-arthed the facts" he continued, was that
the moment the bill passed the gentleman
from Texas telegraphed his friends to go
into the lands and locate claims"
Did you not telegraph your friends?'
interposed Mr. SteDheuS
Yes. that the bill had passed. bu, insist
that the investigation developed the fact
that the gentleman from Texas was the
only member of either House who knew the
mining clause was in the BILL
That statement" cried Mr.. Stephens.
raising his arm threateningly, rs utterly
unfounded, and l believe ii is knowingly
and maliciously made"
That Is strong language" retorted Mr..
Flynn. who preserved his equanimty. II
received my information upon visit to the
reservation"
Disappointed In Getting Sensation.
The members Of the House at this point
expected sensational explosion, but the
incident fiattened out Mr.. Stephens called
upon Mr.. Curtis (Kan) of the committee
on Indian affairs, and Mr.. Little fArkD.
who. he said. knew the section was in the
bill. to bear testimony to that effect.
Neither of the gentlemen appealed TO arose
y
THE gentlemen do not seem to be rising"
This produced a burst of laughter, in the
midst Of which Mr.. Little rose and said he
supposed the House knew all about the sec
ton; he did. and was In favor of it,
Did you know that it proposed to take
The land of Indians without compensation"
asked Mr.. Flynn.
MIR. Little replied that he knew the sec
ton was In the bill. The incident was cut
short at this point by the ruling of the
Speaker that the matter was getting be-
yond the limits Of the question of personal
privilege.
Army Hill Returned to Conference.
Thereupon Mr.. Hull Uowa) called UP the
conference report upon the army reorgani-
cation bill. and moved that the bill be sent
back to conference. The parliamentary
tangle resulting from the errors discovered
in the original conference report was made
the occasion Of some sarcastic comment by
Mr. Richardson. the minority leader, but
after A brief wrangle the motion to send
the bill back to conference was agreed to.
The House then went into committee of
the whole and took up the agricultural ap-
preparation bill. Mr.. Wadsworth, chair
man Of the agricultural committee. ex-
planned the salient features of the measure,
which carries s4.377 go, being an increase
Of 1888. 100 voer the amount of the current
law.
Tribute to Secretary Wilson.
Mr.. Wadsworth was closely questioned
by members as to why the Secretary of
Agriculture kept the lists of eligibles for
appointment I'm his department closed.
Mr.. Fitzgerald (Mass) asked if Mr. Wads-
worth would accept amendment to re-
quire the Secretary to make the list pub
lie. To this Mr.. Wadsworth declined to
accede- The subject precipitated consider
able debate. which was finally concluded
by Mr.. Williams (Miss), a member of the
committee, with strong tribute to Sec
rotary Wilson, whom he pronounced alb
solutely the best Secretary of Agriculture
the country had ever had-the most nom
partisan and impartial. Mr.. Williams said
he thought Secretary Wilson's reason for
keeping the eligible LIST closed might be to
protect himself against partisan republic
can pressure for appointments.
Mr. Thayer (Mass) took advantage of
the latitude allowed during general debate
upon appropriation bills to make speech
In nnpnsiiiOn To the shin snhsidY bill.