Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
RESENT THEIR ARREST
Members of the House Detail
Their Experiences.
Mr.. GAINES GRIEVANCE
Intimates Discrimination Against
Democrats.
MR.. RUCKER Is INDIGNANT
Calls the Sergeant-at-Arms "a
Usurper With No Authority
to Arrest"
MR.. RUCKER Is INDIGNANT

the House of Representatives 1t grew out
OF the arrests made by the sergeant-at-
arms and his officers and haline members
before the bar of the House In order to
complete quorum under a call OF the
House last evening. The journal set forth
the names of the members who had been
placed under arrest by the officers and who.
upon presentation at the bar of The House
were discharged from arrest and permitted
to vote
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee stated that he
had left the House at g O'Clock upon a
mission of humanity, to inquire after a sick
brother He had gone to his hotel and was
notifed that 'call of the House" was on.
he went into the cafe of his hotel and saw
number of members there and notified
them that there was a call for a quorum
He responded with others and was over
taken by an officer of the House. who placed
MIN under arrest and he was presented to
the bar
lie wanted to take this opportunity to
ask why the democrats were singled out
LOT arrest and the republicans immune and
ne desired TO serve notice that officers Of
the House must treat all alike So far as
ne was concerned he did not care for tho
arrest. Tor he was doing duty to the sick
W Wnicn ne would do again, House or no
Calls Official a Usurper.
Mr.. Rucker CMo.). another OF those
brought before the bar, followed along sim
liar hnes, except to call the sergeant-at
arms a usurper with no authority tn ar
rest He told how a member of the Pres-
ioehts family last week (meaning Mr.
Longworth) with a number of members
% under call OF the House had been Car
rested py the sergeant-at- arms but had
not been presented before the bar of The
house, and he insisted that the discrimi
nation ought to stop.
MT. Sibley (Pa-), who was included with
those who had been apprehended at
oase Dali park, rose to deny an assertion
OF mr. Rucker that a bicycle cop" had
enueavored to arrest the party, which was
osiEIng motor car through the streets
OF washington at high rate of speed in
order to answer the call Of the House.
Story Out of Whole Cloth.
Mr. Sibley stated that the report that
the party had resisted arrest on the part
OF the municipal authorities had been
made up out of the whole CLOTH Neither
he nor his party had ever seen such an
official as stated in some of the newspa-
pers.
Mr. Rucker said he was glad to know
that his friend from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Sibley) had been arrested but once He
characterized the arrest Of himself and
his colleague, Mr.. Murphy (Mo.) as foul
and contemptible," and that so far as he
was concerned, he could afford to go home
with his head erect to the work he has
done in the present Congress.
Arrested Under Misapprehension.
Mr.. Wallace (Ark.), who had been arrest
ed under a Misrepresentation, told his story.
He had been serving on a committee of in
vestigation, and had gone home to supper
in order to get an early start on reviewing
x1rx i
ed by telephone that "cal of the House"
was in progress, and had responded, voting
on the bill then before the body. Later he
had been placed under arrest, with his
friend. Mr.. Wiley (Ala.), and together they
were presented to the bar and excused He
thought that under these circums tances he
should be absolved.
He said he did not approach the discus
sion of the question in any partisan spirit
and paid compliment to the officer who
had hailed him before the bar of the House
for his courteous treatment
Mr.. Payne On. V, the floor leader of the
majority, then rose to move the previous
question on the approval of the journal.
AS Mr.. Payne began his explanation 1t
became apparent that the events OF last
night were the outcome of scheme on the
part of the leaders of the republican side to
keep tho republican majority present to
enact legislation Mr.. Payne said there
was no animus whatsoever back of the ar
rests, but practical application OF a rule
that has been dormant for years.
Duty Of the Members.
Mr.. Payne declared 1T was the primary
duty Of the members to attend upon the
sittings ofthe House daily and remain until
the House adjourned. He recalled the fact
that in former congresses members for
feited their days pay for absence, and In
several instances members had paid as
high as 5000 for their non-attendance.
Mr. Payne yielded to Mr.. Olmsted (Pa.)
to amend the motion to approve the journal
by striking out all reference to the arrests
made yesterday.
The previous question was then ordered
on the approval of the journal, which pre-
vailed-ayes III noes II; present, 1s.
Mr. Olmsteds motion to strike from the
journal the names of those who had been
placed under arrest was lost. The yeas and
nays were demanded by Mr.. Williams on
the approval of the journal, which was ap-
proved-yeas, 223. nays Z; present, 16.