The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-13
FIELD DAY IN THE HOUSE.
Trouble Made by Messrs. Sims, Cor
Hiss and Richardson.

ings were enlivened by a clash between Mr..
Corliss. of Michigan, and Mr.. Richard
son, Of Alabama, on the subject of the
Pacific cable. This is the second time these
two members have locked horns on the
cable question. Mr. Sims, of Tennessee,
devoted some time TO showing how the
House had been "buncoed." he called il.
in connection with the permanent census
bill Mr.. Dougherty. Of Missouri, discussed
rural free delivery, Mr.. Jackson, OF Kan
sas, the government ownership Of tele-
graph and Mr.. Green, of Pennsylvania,
the Philippine situation. The latter ar
gued that If we would proclaim our pur-
pose to grant independence to the FiHpinos
the instruction would cease instantly.
The. House adjourned at 4:30 out of re-
spect TO the memory Of Doorkeeper Glenn,
who died to-day.
Mr.. Sims, in his speech, reviewed the
facts in connection with the enactment
Of the census law and asserted that the
House had been grossly deceived by the
action of the conferees. IL had been the
intention of both the House and the Sen
ate he said, to enact a provision which
would cover all the employees of the Cen
sus Bureau into the classified service and
make them eligible for transfer, but the
conferees had substituted a provision
which defeated the object sought TO be
obtained by the two houses. He charged
that Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois, who pre-
scented the conference report, had deceived
the House. Mr.. Hopkinss action, he de-
clared, called for the strongest censure of
the House, but as the gentleman was not
present he would not propose action along
that line. The wrong accomplished. he
said, was not comparable to the act OF de-
ception practiced, which he declared in
volved the integrity of the House.
Mr.. Loud Interrupted 70 say that the con-
ference on the census bill deserved the
thanks of the country for. what they had
tempted to steal something and the con-
ferees prevented il"
Il take issue with the gentleman" re-
torted Mr.. Sims Congress passed the
section openly Stealing is done secretly,
after the manner in which this bunco game
was worked" [Applause.l
Mr.. Crumpacker, of Indiana, contended
that the recasting of the section of the bill
complained of was necessary to make II
constitutional He did not believe the con-
ferees had intended to deceive the House.
Mr.. Griffith, OF Indiana, who was one or
the conferees on the bill, called attention
to three decisions of the Supreme Court
which would have nullifed Section as
agreed to by the House and Senate Under
the circumstances he said ii was the duty
of the conference to perfect the section so
to reflect the legislative will and intent.
The conferees, he said. thought they were
doing so, and, for himself, he said 1t was
far from his purpose either to deceive or
mislead the House.
Mr. Sims accepted Mr.. Griffiths explana-
ton and acquitted him and his colleagues
of the deliberate purpose to deceive, but
said the effect had been % mislead the
House
Mr. Gardner. of New Jersey, claimed that
If the House had been buncOed II had pun
coed itself.
After some remarks by Mr.. Dougherty,
OF Missouri on the subject of rural Tree
delivery, Mr.. Corliss, of Michigan, secured
the floor and launched an assault on Mr.
Richardson. of Alabama, who some time
ago replied to Mr.. Corlisss speech in favor
of the construction by the government or
the Pacific cable He went so far as TO
question the sincerity of Mr.. Richardson
and intimated broadly that there was some
Interior motive behind the latter speech
which he expressed here in support Of the
Pacific cable monopoly. with the hope,
no doubt" said he, sarcaStically, "of illus
trating his Observation-Disclosures, he placidly
tells US that in his own long experience at
the bar he has never represented corpora
tons. What prompts the gentleman 10
display such zeal as he manifested IN ms
effort to defend a corporation which seeks
to usurp, without permission or authority,
one of the most important privileges held
by our country? Why does not the gentle
man from Alabama wait until the conSld-
era ton of this measure has been properly
brought before the House? What purpose
has the gentleman in mind or object to OBJ
tain, in rushing TO the defense of this cor
pOration? From my long experience in the
practice of the profession 10 which the gen
tleman belongs / am led to believe that
there is a motive back of every act in hu-
man life, whether in private or official ca
pacity, and i would be glad if the gentle
man would interest US in the subject and
explain his own zeal and motive In this
measure.
He questions my zeal and seeks to find
the motive which prompts such action. He
should study the scheme methods by which
the Commercial Gable interests have been
transformed from active ally of a gov
eminent cable into a partnership with an
English corporation holding exclusive priv
ilegeS and the monopoly of the cable rights
in the far East" He paid his respects to
those who opposed the government cable,
with whom he said Mr.. Richardson has not
allied himself. He was especially severe
upon the United States Export Association
of New York and of its president +. b.
Thurber He coupled Thurbers name with
that of an officer of the American Asiatic
Association, styling them the devils duet
in the garb of the heavenly twins seek
ing to mislead the public and conceal the
iniquity of the cable monopoly in its efforts
10 steal this most valuable public fran
chise."
Mr.. Corliss read a resolution which. he
said, he would ask 10 have considered later.
1t recites that an officer of the Commercial
Gable Company has made combination
with other cable companies in violation of
conditions imposed upon the lines and In
violation of the Sherman antitrust law,
and directs the attorney general TO insti-
tute proceeding 10 destroy the monopoly.
Mr.. Jackson, of Kansas, followed with a
set speech in favor or government owner
ship of the telegraphs.
Mr. Richardson then secured recognition
to reply to Mr.. Corllss. He said he would
not have replied had the gentleman from
Michigan not INDUCED in remarks per
sonal 10 himself. Il regret" said he, THAI
the gentleman, is not in his seat az this
time, as l do not believe in the policy OF
shooting and then running" Mr.. Richard
son then proceeded 10 make some very caus-
tic comment upon the remarkable and ex-
elusive facilities possessed by the gentle
man from Michigan for the advance deliV-
cry of his speeches throughout the coun-
try. He disclaimed any intention 20 reflect
upon the correspondents I'm the press gal
lery, but he expressed his surprise that
the speech made by Mr.. Corliss earlier IN
the day had been typewriter and lying In
soak for two weeks. Thereupon he drew
from his desk a COPY OF a prepared synOp-
SIS of Mr.. Corliss's speech, literally inter
lined with editorial comment, and proceed
ed TO read some of the characterizations II
contained.
BY this the members of the House were
/ interested and began crowding around the
place where Mr.. Richardson was standing
! Mr. Corliss himself entered the hall. Be
fore he sat down he denied he had written
/ the advance newspaper articles describing
/ his speech which had Deen circulated Mr.
/ Richardson said he would decline 10 become
/ excited. He was conscious or the correct
ness OF his own motives, he said, and re-
/ fused 10 be diverted from the real issue
! BY the rawnead and bloody bones CON
ilired w by the gentleman from Michigan
/ Ii was all the veriest claptrap, he said
What is this proposition. said Mr.
/ Richardson. that we have TO discuss2 The
/ gentleman from Michigan and his friend:
! propose that the government of the United
states shall lay this cable from the coast
] -. .~rafn II a. a a a CON.