The Washington times., 1904-04-28
NIGHT SESSION
OF THE HOUSE
Merrymaking of Members
in ClOakrOOms.
THE ROLL CALL AND QUORUM
Littlefeld and Williams Measure Lauces
on Tarif-Two Able Speeches
on the Subject.

The first night session of the Fifty
eighth Congress was held last night. In
the Senate 1t lasted until shortly after
IL o'clock. but In the House = was pro-
longed until O'Clock this morning, and
was attended with much hilarity on the
part of the members, many of whom
gathered In the cloakrooms, sang. dane
ed. and told stories while the few who
remained upon the floor answered roll
calls and followed the run of routine
BUSINESS.
When the merrymakers were needed
TO respond TO their names in order to
make a quorum the doors of the smoking
room few open, and the members poured
forth like boys coming from school. In
the cloak room the utmost good nature
prevailed. but on the floor there was an
occasional clash. A fight was precipi-
tated at midnight which kept the House
in session for an hour longer.
Mr.. Mondell CRep, Wyo.), sought TO
agree to a Senate amendment to a House
bill to open up the Wind River Indian
reservation in Wyoming. The Senate
amendment struck out the provision to
require the consent of the Indians.
Fitzgerald Protests.
Mr.. Fitzgerald Dem n. W. protested
vigorously against this. raised the ques-
ton OF consideration. and fought the
proposition for an hour. during which
the Republicans had great difficulty in
maintaining a quorum so that they
could take a recess until 1889 this morn
ing rather than in the absence of .
quorum be forced to adjourn until II to-
day, and thus prolong the session and
the time of final adjournment for sew
eral hours. On the question a bare
quorum was found by counting the
Speaker and one Democrat who was de-
olared TO be present. but Who did not
vote.
At ! o'clock il was clear that there
was no quorum. and when Mr.. Mondel
/ abandoned for the night the considera
ton of the measure and Mr.. Payne NOV
/ ed to take a RECESS, Mr.. Fitzgerald re-
/ newed the point Of no quorum, but Later
withdrew IL in order that the HOUSE
might meet at 1880 instead of II O'CLOCK
/ today
Throughout the night session of tn
/ House which began at O'Clock. Their
I were repeated roll calls. so many, II
/ fact that together with all the othe
/ reading necessary the reading clerl
/ last roll call by Representative Vreelan,
of New York. who distinguished himsel
in that capacity
Shipping to Philippines.
The major portion of the time not con
stunned by roll calls was devoted to con
| sideratioa of the bill providing tina
! Government supplies for the Philippine
must be shipped in American bottoms
Mr.. Lucklng Dem, Mich) opposed IN
measure and Representative Grosveno
(Rep.. Ohio advocated its passage.
went through by a strict party vote.
| The afternoon session was character
lied by a lively tariff debate betwee
Representative Littleheld (Rep. Me
and Representative Williams (Dem
Miss) }. the former taking the side c
protection, and the latter speaking fo
revision of the tariff. The debate wa
| of a high order and not contaminate
! with personalities as was the Dalzel
/ Cochran discussion of the day befor
| Mr. Littlefield made an especially stron
tariff argument. in fact the ablest whlC
has Yet been made this session on n
/ Republican side of the chamber.
was stronger than the speech of NJ
same topic. Mr. Littleheld, admitte
however amid Democratic applaus
that he would remove the tariff fro
trust-made goods where IL was clear
demonstrated that by reason OF Il
, tariff itself a manufacturer was enable
to sell his goods cheaper abroad tina
at home; he would reduce the tarin
that extent.
Mr.. williams replied with a vigoro'
sDeech in which he set forth the Dem
cratic position on this question.