Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-27
BUTLER IS UNSEATED
THE HOUSE DECLARES WAGNER
WAS ELECTED.
Exciting Scenes Late Yesterday After
noon-Democrats Filibuster
Without Effect.

Congress, when party feeling ran hercely
and the Hall of Representatives resounded
with denunciations Of the alleged "high-
handed methods of the majority. James ].
Butler of Missouri was unseated yesterday
afternoon by the House Of Representatives
and George G. r. Wagner was seated in
his place. Roll call followed roll call in
the democratic campaign Of delay, and 1t
took over three hours to approve the Jour-
nal Of the previous days proceedings. Then
when the decks were cleared the case was
called. A spirited debate of two hours fol-
lowed, and finally after repeated roll calls
| the case was brought to a vote. The dem
ocrats then attempted to block things by
leaving the hall, but enough absentees final
ly were brought in to make up the neces-
sary quorum.
Dalzell Of Pennsylvania, who was in the
chair, declined to recognize a demand for
division, and Mr.. Richardson, the minority
leader, stood in his place and denounced
his course in unmeasured terms, amid the
jeers of the republican side. The handful
of democrats present were overridden
roughshod, and Mr.. Wagner was seated.
The House decided by 1853 to 109-a party
vote to consider the case. Mr.. Olmsted,
in charge Of it, then took the floor II sup
port of the majority report, which recon-
mtnded the unseating of Mr.. Butler and
the seating Of Mr.. Wagner.
Mr.. Feeley spoke for f1fty-one minutes for
Mr.. Butler. and yielded the remaining nine
minutes of his time to Mr.. DeArmond CMo.).
Mr.. De Almonds Denunciation.
Mr.. DeArmond was exceedingly severe in
his arrangement Of the majority, and
aroused his side to great enthusiasm. He
denounced the conduct Of the case as ire
markable proceeding, devoid Of honesty or
decency, a shameful spectacle whose base
and sordid motive was to vote the con-
testant $1O,O in salary" He declared that
it was an act of theft, and in conclusion
warned the other side that from now until
March the democrats proposed to do what
they could to impress upon the country
and upon the record the fact that they
would not tamely submit to this larceny"
IF legislation fails" said he, addressing
the republican side, remember that when
you vote to steal Buffers seat you vote to
Kill measures in which you are interested"
Democratic abplause.)
Mr. Miller (Kan.) replied to Mr.. Dear
mond, declaring amid applause on his side
Of the House that neither vituperation nor
threats could prevent the majority from
doing it's duty"
five-minute speech, and then demanded the
previous question.
1t was ordered-150 to Ill. The vote was
then taken upon the minority resolutions
declaring Mr. Butler entitled to his seat.
They were voted down-112 to 155.
Mr.. Underwood (Ala) then moved to re-
commit the case to the committee on cleo
tions, and on that motion Mr.. Payne de-
| manded the previous question.
Democrats Leave the Hail.
Meantime the democrats had left the hall,
and when the House divided the vote stood
156 to 4, disclosing the absence of a quo
| rum. This forced call of the House.
After waiting an hour quorum appeared
| and the previous question was ordered
147 to -, with IS present and not answer
| ing to their names. The vote then required
on the motion to recommit. On rising di.
vision the vote stood 5 to 165.
Mr.. Richardson demanded a. division. but
the chair ruled that the demand was dila-
tory. A scene Of wild confusion followed
The republicans cheered the ruling of Mr.
Dalzell Pa.), who was in the chair, while
Mr. Richardson (Tenn.) and Mr. Under
wood (Ala) stood in their places and de-
nounced it in unmeasured terms. The vote
was then taken on the resolution declaring
Mr. Butler not entitled to the seat
On viva voce vote the chair declared
the motion carried, declining to recognize
Mr.. Richardson's demand for division.
Mr.. Richardson again denounced the
chairs action, crying out that ic was
'tyrannical," unheard Of, unfair and I'M
just"
The republicans jeered, but he continued
to inveigh against the chairs action in
loud tones.
Wagner Declared Elected.
When the vote on the resolution declar-
ing Mr.. Wagner entitled to the seat was
taken similar scene followed. A division
was allowed and the chair declared the
resolution adopted-161 to 2, declining to
entertain the noint that NO n,,or,,r, mo g