Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN The STAR

was in its prime. No Thomas b. Reed
had arisen to grapple with
Checking the problem Of unlimited
n.h.4. debate but reform was in
the air. In The Star OF
February 1. 1853. is an article on the sub
ject. as follows:
I'VE hear that the Hon. Mr.. Burnett OF
Kentucky is about to propose a simple
change in one Of the rules governing the
proceedings Of the House which, II adopt
ed can hardly fail to economic the time
of the: body greatly: and to much profit.
as far as the public interest is concerned.
AS the rule now stands any member may
waste the time of the House when in
committee OF the whole on the state OF
the Union. to his. hearts content. until
general debate nominally on any subject
terminates That Is. he may claim an
hour.of the time OF the House for the de-
livery of-his Bunkum at any time In the
nominal discussion OF any bill in commit
tee-of the whole on the state of the Union
before the advent of the hour when the
'five-minute rule becomes operative. That
time is<usually fixed by resolution day
or two before its advent Mr.. Burnett is
about to. propose that after it shall be 50
speak to any question other than the one
formally no for consideration, The adop-
ton of such an: amendment will save the
filembers the expenditure Of much breath
and. the Treasury the expenditure of need
less. milfions-as it will give more time for
the. careful examination of real business
and will. enable the House to dispose OF
much more, business 'understandingly than
atpresent." f..
! - - - - -
While Washington: had "a mayor and
boa I'd, Of aldermen and common council
=. elected by the people. In
Local 1853. Congress expressed
= - occasionally it's right Of
Legislature. Exclusive. Jurisdiction
over the ten miles square, In The Star
OF February ;. 1853. is news article set
ting forth the latest information from the
Capitol on that point:
sin the Senate ON Tuesday. on motion OF
Mr.. Hale. a resolution was adopted in.
structilg the committee on the District OF
Columbia to inquire into the state and
condition of the prisons in the District OF
Columbia: their suficiency to prevent the
escape Of prisoners: the nature and pro-
rriety Of the rules and regulations fol-
mates of the penitentiary: the capacity OF
the present building used as peniten-
tiary for the efficient and convenient dis
charge Of AL the duties incident to such
an institution: the expediencv and pro-
priety of erecting new building for a
penitentiary and procuring a different site
from the one now occupied. and also the
expediency Of comforting the appointment
OF warden Of the penitentiary on the
board of inspectors Of prisons. and ins gen.
eral what improvements and alterations
are necessary to render the prison system
in the District equal to that in any Of the
states
ION motion of Mr.. Yulee a resolution
was adopted directing the judiciary COM
mittee to inquire what alterations are
advisable to be made in existing laws
regulating the fees Of marshals and other
officers connected with the courts Of the
United States in the several states and
in the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Yulee. from the District Of Column
bia committee, reported joint resolution
laborers in the employment of the execu-
tive and legislative departments of the
government in the city Of Washington
which was read and passed to a second
reading.
''Mr. Brown presented a petition signed
by a large number of citizens of Wash.
ington. complaining of the poor quality OF
the gas. and the high prices paid for the
same. and praying Congress to incorpo-
rate another gas company; which was re-
ferred to the District of Columbia COM
mittee.'
An incident of the congressional session
Of 1858. reported in The Star of February
that year. may be re-
Free garded as a striking indi-
MT. cation OF the steadily in
HAsn'' creasing sectional tension.
DIAL
special message on the Kansas troubles.
which had aroused keen partisanship in
Congress. The House was having an
all-night session. the abolitionists trying.
by filibustering to prevent the reference
of the message and Lecompton constitu-
ton to a committee. The Stars report
continues:
Finally Mr.. Quitman of Mississippi at
tempted to introduce . resolution. OF
course. unanimous consent was necessary
for Its submission. and. no objection be-
ing made. the Speaker proceeded to put
1t to a vote. At this stage Mr.. Grow of
Pennsylvania. from a position on the OPP
posite side Of the House from where his
seat Is situated and while passing down
the aisle. objected to the resolution Mr..
Keitt OF South Carolina said to Mr.. Grow:
Go on your own side of the House and
object" Mr.. G. replied: I'll object where
I please and. report says he added,
without being intimidated by any south
ern negro driver
but few words passed before these
gentlemen were engaged in a. pitched bat
tie, but as to which OF them commenced
it We cannot say. In the attempt of their
friends and the officers Of the House to
sepa1ate them Mr.. X. was pushed down,
but both the belligerents were carried
from the scene in a very short time, be-
fore they had received any serious in
jures. In the meantime. however a
large number of Mr.. Grows friends
headed. 1t is said. by Mr.. Potter OF Wis
consin. poured into the arena Immediately
in front OF the Speakers stand. Here
they were met by a nearly equal force
Of the opposition, and here a regular free
fight ragged few minutes, but was final
ly broken up by the prompt intervention
Of the officers Of the House and many of
the more thoughtful and considerate
members. Nobody was hurt to any ex-
tent worth noticing.
ITO say the best of the affair." it was
disgraceful. but it will no doubt be great
ly magnified by letter writers. From
what we can learn not more than ten or
twelve members were really engaged In
1t as belligerents. the others having
crowded up for the purpose of quelling
the disturbance. Its principal result is
deep modification to the most active
participants. After the termination of the
ARRAY the session was conducted with
quiet and order until adjournment"