The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-06
Litt1efeld of Maine and Hopkins Of Illinois Had
a Wordy War in the House of
Representatives.
And the Wicked Democrats Sat Back and
Laughed at Dalzelrs Puny Efforts to Stem
His Colleagues Wrath

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Speaker Hen
derson was again today detained at his
home by illness, and Mr.. Dalzen (Pa.),
by designation Of the speaker, presided
over the deliberations of the house.
Without intervening business, debate, up
on the reapportionment bill was resum-
ed. Mr.. Littlefield (Mo.) was the first
speaker. His argument was in favor Of
the Burleigh bill. That bill provided
for a house of 3S6 members. Mr.. Little
field declared that the Hopkins bill could
properly be entitled IAN act to cripple the
state of Maine in her representation in
the house and in the electoral college"
He resented what he termed Mr. Hop
kins' assault upon the state Of Maine.
That statement drew from Mr.. Hopkins
an indignant denial which led to a sharp
exchange between the two members.
Mr.. Littlefield sarcastically called Mr..
Hopkins attention to the men wlio like
John Fuller, had gone to Illinois to give
distinction to the state. yet" said he,
the gentleman's speech yesterday was
saturated with pettifogging assault
upon Maine"
IF there is any member OF this house
who is an expert on pettifogging it is
the gentleman from Maine" retorted Mr..
Hopkins
The gentleman from Maine" replied
Mr. Littlefeld, never defended a Grim
inal, but he has prosecuted several, and
is prosecuting one now" daughter and
applause)
DEBATE WAS PERSONAL.
"That is just the sort of remark I
should have expected from the gentle
man, judging by his previous course up
on this floor answered Mr.. Hopkins.
The proposition of the minority was.
Mr.. Littlefeld said, that no state should
lose representation under the new appor-
tionment.
Mr.. Littlefield called attention to the
paradox of Mr.. Hopkins system of COM
putation. The system seemed designed,
he said, to play battledore and shuttle
cock with the state of Maine.
I'm it goes and out it goes" said he.
whether the representation goes up or
down"
''The gentleman points out these alleged
paradoXes in the report of the director
of the census" replied Mr.. Hopkins,
yet the Burleigh bill is predicated upon
the same process
After a sharper exchange than usual
with Mr.. Hopkins, the chair was obliged
to call the gentlemen to order and to call
attention to the rule which provides that
the gentleman on the floor can not be in
terrupted without the consent of the 9TH
er, and also to the rule that members
cannot address each other by the second
person.
THE gentleman has already interrupt
ed me about twenty-five times in viola
tion of the rule" observed Mr.. Little
field as he was about to resume.
And the gentleman from Maine has
violated the rule with reference to the
second person about fifty times,' ex-
claimed Mr. Hopkins.
SCORE ONE FOR LITTLEFIELD.
''The gentleman is becoming exceeding
ly technical and sensitive, retorted Mr..
Littlelleld 'I will refer to him later in
the third person. and later still 1 antici-
pate he will have shrunk sufficiently to
permit me to refer to him in the fourth
or fifth person, and perhaps in the end
l can eliminate him altogether Oaugh-
ter aud applause)
Proceeding, Mr.. Littlefield argued that
the constitution in providing for decen-
nial apportionment contemplated an in