The Portland daily press., 1901-02-27
Accused Speaker Of Withholding
Speech.
Latter Explains Why
It w as Done.
Resolu ti0ns COndemning Speak.
er Voted Down.

Washington, February 2s.--Ths House
was the scene OF sensational incident
late this afternoon which threw that
body into violent state OF excitement
For an hour the storm ragged, ending
taken, on motion Of Mr.. Payne, the floor
| reader Of the majority. MIR. Lentz, an
Ohio Democrat, stirred the Democrats to
fever pitch by rising TO IA question OF
privilege ana alleging that a speech ne
had turned over to the public printer
under general leave 60 print, had been
withheld from the record and had been
surned over to Gen. Grosvenor Of Ohio,
by the speaker. The nature of the speech
was not developed during the events
that followed, but 1t was learned that IL
was an attack upon Senator Hanna and
the methods by which he was elected TO
| the Senate. The Speaker explained that
II had been represented TO him that the
speech violated the privileges OF the
House, and he had directed that 1t be
withheld until he could look over 1t.
Pressure of business had prevented him
from doing 30, however. and only 20
minutes before, he said, he had directed
that the speech go into the Record, be-
Iieving that II 1t contained anything
offensive is could be stricken out of the
Record by the House later.
Intense excitement followed Several
points OF order were made byRspubliesns,
but the Speaker declined to side track the
matter in that way, holding, however,
that TO prooeed a proposition OF some
kind must be before the House. There
upon MIR. RlohArdson, the Democratic
leader. offered a resolution declaring that
the Speaker had no right to withhold
speeches Against this the question OF
consideration was raised by Mr.. Lacey
and by a strict party vote the House de-
cided not to consider 1t. Amid still great
er excitement and confusion, MIR. Rich
ardson offered another resolution con-
demning the Speakers action. Again
Mr. Lacey raised the question Of oonsid-
GRAFTON and again by strict party vote
the house refused to consider It, AT
this point further proceedings were
cut on by an adjournment taken on mo
ton of Mr.. Payns, the floor leader OF
the majority and again sustained in
strict party vote. The controversy prob
ably win be raised tomorrow.
IN THE sen ATE.
Washington, February 26.-An impor
tant amendment to the Philippine
amendment to the army appropriation
bill was agreed to in the Senate today.
IL was an amplification OF the amend
ment previously offered by Mr.. Hoar OF
Massachusetts,, laying restrictions upon
the sale of pnblic lands and the granting
of franchises and concessions In the
Philippines 1t was accepted by the
committee in charge of the measure and
Ia now part of the committee amend
ment. Mr. Morgan OF Alabama eontin-
usd his speech begun yesterday and occu-
pied the floor during the greater part OF
the day. During the afternoon Mr. Allen
obtained the floor from mir. Morgan and
severely srraigned Rear Admiral Samp-
son for some endorsements he 10 alleged
60 have made upon an application Of
Chief Gunner Charles Morgan of the
navy, for promotion to the grade Of COM
manding officer. Mr.. Aliens denuncia-
tion ofAdmiraI Sampson was a sensation.
During the day the conference report up
on the District OF Columbia appropri
alton bill was agreed to, rs was also
artial report Of the oonferees on she
post office appropriation bill.