Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-04-27
DOINGs OF CONGRESS
The House Passes a Number of I'm.
bortat1f Bills.

The House Passes Number of I'm.
portat1t Bills.
After a debate extending through
the entire session, the House passed
the Statehood bill providing for joint
statehood of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory under the name of Okla.
homa, and of Arizona and New Mexi-
co under the name Of Arizona. In
discussing the rule which had been
reported by the committee on rules,
providing for the immediate consider
alton OF the bill, Mr. Williams, the
minority leader, declared that no Re,
publican had any idea that the bill
would become, law at this session.
In opposing the rule, Mr.. Moon, OF
Tennessee. declared that the bill was
an intensely wicked and partisan
measure which, l. passed, would vio-
late the plighted faith and honor OF
the United States to the five civilized
tribes of Indians in the matter OF
treaty obligations. He inquired OF
the. Republicans if they were going
to pass the bill in violation of their
party platform, and of treaty obliga-
tions. The territorial delegates in
the House, he maintained, had pro-
tested until the hour of coercion by
the Republicans to meet political eX.
igencies."
Denying that the Republicans had
been guilty of bad faith, MI. Dalzell
said that the bill would take its course
as party measure because 1t was
reported by the majority of the COM
mitree, submitted to a party caucus,
and brought into the House pursuant
to a rule adopted by that caucus:
He justified the measure on the
ground 'that we are endeayoring to
sustain the relative power of the Sen.
ate and House of Representatives in
legislation"
The rule WAS adopted, $50 to Ill,
a strict. party vote. The bill then
was taken up. Speeches were made
for the bill by Messrs. spalding, OF
North Dakota; Sterling. Of Illinois;
Curtis, of Kansas; Mcclure, Of Okla
homa, and Rodey, of New Mexico, and
against the bill by Messrs. Grosvenor,
of Ohioi Reid, of Arkansas; Lloyd,
Of Missouri: Needham, of California;
Russell, of Texas, and Wilson, or
Arizona.
The third reading of the bill had
been directed by the Speaker, when
one of the most amusing incidents OF
the session occurred. Mr.. Moon In
quired if the third reading Of the bill
was to be by title only. In the midst
of an elaborate decision the Speaker
turned to the parliamentarian. Mr.
Kinds, fer further advice. and then
announced that he would resolve the
whole question in favor of the lndi'
vidual privilege of each member, any
one of whom could demand the read
ing Of the bill.
MIR. Williams, the minority leader,
iocularly inquired of the Speaker II
his decision had been arrived at "af-
ter consultation.
The Speaker promptly replied that
it had been, and he set the House IN
an uproar when he added: 1.-THE skill
ed parliamentarian who has been at
this desk for many years can give
the chair" and after pause. and
the gentleman from Mississippi, cards
and spades, and then have fountain
of parliamentary knowledge left" 1t
was some moments before the ap.
plause and laughter which greeted
this sally subsidized. Mr. Maddox, CT
Georgia, demanded the reading of the
bill, which was begun, but later ne
withdrew his request.
Speaker Cannon further convulsed
the House when he asked: us there
any other gentleman who desires the
bill read?" No one responding, the
bill was put upon it's passage, the
Democrats demanding the yeas and
nays.
The bill was passed, 147 to- 1O4, a
strict party vote.