Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1882 — FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

In the House of Representative*, noSatruftay, May 27, after several dilatory motions, Mr. Calkins obtained consent to submit a proposition to d.scuss the South Carolina contested-election case for six hours, the House then to vote on the question of recommittal. Mr. R indall objeced. Ro Ileal In on filibustering motions showed the lack of a quorum* Mr. Dunn int reduced a petition ror an appropriation of SIOO,OOO for the relief of sufferers by the overfl iw of the Mississippi, accompanied by a letter from Commissioner Mangum, of Arkansas. Mr. Reed presented an amendment to the rules to limit filibustering on election cases. The Senate was not in session.

Mr. Garland offered a resolution in the Senate, on the 29th Inst-, which was adopted, for an inquiry into the necessity of aiding sufferers by the overflow in Arkansas. Messrs. Cockrell, Sherman and McMiltan spoke in opposition to the bill to reimburse the Creek Indian orphan fund, which was laid over. An act was passed for the sale of the old postoffice site in New York for $500,000. Mr. Lapham presented a resolation for the payment of $5,000 to the administratrix of John C. Underwood for prosecuting his claim to a seat in the Senate from Virginia. Mr. Plumb reported bills to set aside lands for a park in Arizona and to enlarge the powers of the Department of Agriculture. The Japanese In-demnity-Fund bill was discussed and laid over. In the House, Mr. Reed called up the proposed amendment to the rules prohibiting dilatory motions on a contested-election ease. Mr. Randall raised a question of consideration. Mr. Kenna moved an immediate adjournment, and Mr. Blackburn proposed to adjourn over Decoration day. Lost—yeas, 2; nays, 145. Mr. Randall then moved that the House adjourn to Juno 1. On that, Mr. Reed made a point of order that on the proposition to amend the rules dilatory motions cannot be entertained. Mr. Randall denied the right of the Speaker to put any such construction on his motion. Mr. Reed proposed to discuss the point of order, and suggested a limit be put on that discussion. No agreement to that end, however, was made, and the Speaker said he would not make the limitation less than an hour on each side. Mr. Reed then opened the discussion. He claimed tnat the House had, under the constitution, certain powers expressly conferred upon it—powers which it could exercise without let or hindrance by any other body ; powers which it could not surrender, which it could not trade away, which it must perform, and the first of these powers was to judge of the election returns and qualifications of its own members. This House has been endeavoring during the last .ten days to perform that duty, but had been prevented by dilatory motions. The best and most orderly way to put a stop to that course was to amend the rules, and that was the object now. He maintained the proposition that wherever there is a duty imposed upon Congress to accomplish a certain work, it is the duty of the Speaker to carry out that rule of law or of the constitution. He cited the ruling of Speaker Randall when there was filibustering against the execution of the Electoral Count law, and when an obstruction was attempted by Springer, to the effect that he (the chair) had al lowed this, and had allowed that, and had allowed the other, in the way of motions, but the House was now brought to a point where it must act. Mr. Reed referred to the decision by Mr. Blaine to the effect that, pending a proposition to- change the rules, dilatory motions cannot be entertained. He closed by stating that the minority had no right further to delay the action of the Hon e. R indall proceeded to reply to Mr. Reed. He admitted that the rules of a legislative body were first for the orderly conduct of business, and next for the protection of the rights of the minority. In this latter point he quoted from the rulings of the Speakers of the English House of Commons. He argued that, just as the constitution prescribed the manner in which it should be amended, so the rules prescribed the manner in which they should be changed. As to his own decision in the electoral-count case, he put it on the ground that the law under which the House was then acting was greater than the rules, and cut off dilatory motions. In the present cape, however, there was no law interfering with the rules. As to Mr. Blaine’s ruling, or rather dictum, Mr. Randall asserted that it had never been pressed, nor any advantage taken of it, but that, on the contrary, iff iris had been made on that occasion (when the Civil Rights bill was under consideration) to suspend the rules so as to cut off dilatory motions, but without success, so that, after Blaine’s dictum, it had been conceded that only by a two-thirds vote could dilatory motions be cut off. In conclusion, ho justified the action of the minority in this contested election. Messrs. Kasson, Carlisle, Haskell, Blackburn, Robeson, Cox, Hooker, McLean, Reagan, Randall and Hazelton aired their views on the issue, consuming three hours. The Speaker sustained Mr. Reed’s point of order. Mr. Randall took an appeal, which was tabled by 150 to 0. Mr. Cox presented a protest by 100 Democratic members. The report of the Committee on Rules was adopted by 150 to 2. Mr. Miller, of Pennsylvania, obtained the floor on the South Carolina contested-election case, when the House adjourned for the day.

Immediately after the reading of the journal in the House, on the 30th ult., Mr. Springer, of Illinois, objected to its approval as it omitted mention of two important motions made by him and ignored by the Speaker. In proceeding with his argument he was called to order by the Speaker. “I have the right to speak,” said Mr. Springer. “If I am not in order let my remarks be taken down. The Speaker in the chair can very well afford—” Mr. Springer attempted amid excitement and confusion to proceed with his remarks, but was told peremptorily by the Speaker that the Sergeant-at-Arms would be directed to force him, at least to desist. The Democratic members gathered around Mr. Springer, giving him aid and encouragement, while many Republican members were also on their feet, protesting angrily against Mr. Springer’s course. Mr. Springer informed the Speaker defiantly that he would not be taken from the. floor. Mr. Humphreys —“ You can and will; I can do it myself.” [Laughter.] Mr. Springer—“lt would take a larger pattern than you to do it.” [Continued laughter.] The Speaker—- “ The chair can very well afford to allow the gentleman from Illinois to make improper remarks in so far as they apply to the chair alone, but it is quite another thing when the gentleman undertakes to destroy th e dignity of the House by his own conduct.” Mr. Springer—“ That has been already destroyed.” “That is so,” said Reed, “by your side of the House.” The Speaker—“ Any proper motion that the gentleman may wish to make relating to correcting the journal will be entertained by the chair and submitted to the House. The Journal Clerk, in omitting motions that were not entertained, proceeded exactly in accordance with the rule.” Mr. Knott claimed that the Speaker had made a mistake in refusing to entertain a legitimate motion. A proposition to correct the journal was lost by 89 to 134. Mr. Miller then argued for two hours in support of the report of the Elections Committee on the South Carolina contested-seat case, and exhibited tickets used in the elections in that State. The discussion was continued by Mr. Davis, of Missouri, against the report, and by Mr. Paul, of Virginia, in favor of the report At the conclusion of Mr. Paul’s speech Mr. Calkins inquired whether, if an evening session were dispensed with, and the House now adjourned, the discussion would be resumed to-morrow without any obstruction from the Democratic The answer came back resolutely from Messrs. Morrison, Atkins, Randall and other Democratic members, that no agreement whatever would be made. Mr. Calkins then gave notice that he would call the previous question on the contestedelectien case at 5 o’clock the following day. A recess to 8 o’clock was taken, at which hour Mr. Atherton moved to adjourn to morning. A claim that no quorum was present caused a call of the House, which consumed two hours. The House then adjourned. The Senate was not in session. Mr. Sewell, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to the Senate, on the 31st ult., for the relief of Fitz John PorterThe bill authorizes the appointment of Mr. Porter to the position of Colonel in the army," with the same'grade and rank held by him at the time of dismissal frem the army, provided he shad receive no pay, compensation or allowance whatsoever for the time intervening between his dismissal from the service and his appointment under this act Mr. Logan presented the views of the minority of the committee, ani both reports were ordered printed. Mr. Logan presented an act to allow the widow of Minister Hurlbut his salary for one year. A long debate took place on the bill to reimburse the Creek orpha n fund. Mr. Garland called up an act to grant the right of way through Indian Territory to the Mississippi, Albuquerque and Inter-Ocean railway, but Mr. Ingalls objected. The Japanese Indemnity bill was discussed. In the House, the contested-election case of Mackey vs. Dibble was, after a most exciting and disorderly scene, finally disposed of, Mackey being seated by a vote of 150 to 3. Mr. McLane, of Maryland, then rose to a question of privilege, and sent to the Clerk’s desk and had read a resolution reciting the fact that the House, in the exercise of power expressly conferred upon it by the constitution, has ordained and established a code of rules for the government of its proceedings and for the guidance of its presiding officer; also reciting the facts in connection with the Speaker’s refusing to entertain motions and appeals of Mr. Springer on Monday, the 29th, declaring that lie was not allowed his right as a representative of the people to submit motions affecting the merits of the measure then pending, and that this right of the House to construe its own rules was not accorded ; also declaring that it Is the duty of the House to maintain the integrity and regularity of its proceedings and to preserve the rights and privileges of its members, and therefore resolving that, in the judgment of the House, said

motions and appeals were in order at the time, they were made and taken under existing rules, and ought to have been entertained and submitted by the Speaker to the House tor its action thereon; also resolving that said decision and ruling of the chair and his refusal to allow appeals therefrom, were arbitrary and ere condemned by the House. Mr. Reed, of Maine, immediately moved to table the resolution, and it was entertained by the Speaker, thus cutting off Mr. McLane. The scene which followed was the wildest ever known in the House, fifty numbers shouting simultaneously for recognition, and Speaker Keifer being pate with anger. Finally, by a party vote, the resolutions were tabled. The Republicans then called up the Florida case of Bisbee vs. Finley. The House voted to consider it, and then adjourned, A bill authorizing the construction at a railroad bridge across the Sault Stc. Marie river, to connect with the Canadian road’, was passed by the Senate on the Ist inst The bill to reimburse the Creek orphan fund was amended and passed. Mr. Allison reported the House b 11 to extend the charters of national bank-’, with sun iry amendments. The Army Appropriation bill was cilled up. Mr. Bayard opposed compulsory retirement at 62, and Mr. Logan defended it Mr. Batter gave notice of an amendment excepting Geus. Sherman, Sheridan, Hancock and Howard. Mr. Maxev announced a motion to strike the clause from the bill. A pro onged debate ensued, but no action was taken. The H mse took up the Florida contested-election case of B sbee vs. Finley. Speeches were made by Messrs. Beltzhoover," Jones, McMillan and Bisbee, when a resolution declaring the latter e ntitled to a seat was passed by 141 to 9, and he was sworn in. Mr. Hazdtine called up the contested-election case of Lowe vs. Wheeler, from Alabama, and the House decided to consider it. Then Messrs. Kenna and Cox, of New York, rose respectively to a parliamentary inquiry and a point of order, and a stormy scene ensued which continued some time. Mr. Cox insisted that he had made a motion to adjourn (Mr. Hazleton having yielded to him for that purpose), which he had never withdrawn, “ and [to the Speaker] you, know it. ’’ Mr. Page, of California, rose excitedly, and demanded that the gentleman from New York should be respectful to the chair. [Derisive laughter and shouts of “Oh,” “Oh, on the Democratic side.] Mr. Cox (to Mr. Page)—"You cannot lecture me ; you are not the Speaker.” The Speaker stated that Mr. Cox had withdrawn his motion to adjourn, and that thereafter he had not been entitled to the floor. Mr. Cox asked to make a statement in reply, but the Speaker stated he had already made his statement, and th® chair was willing the two statements should stand side bv side. Mr. Reed then moved to adjourn, and the Speaker put the question, notwithstanding Mr. Cox’s efforts to be heard. “Well,” said Mr. Cox. “that is what I call brute force—mere brute force.” “It is not,” replied the Speaker. The House then adjourned. The Senate found itself without a presiding officer when it convened on Friday, June 2, owing to the absence of David Davis. He designated Mr. Ingalls to act for the day. 'Die point was immediately taken that the Acting Vice President had no right to make such designation. and that the President would have to be elected by the Senate. The parliamentarians were instantly ready with precedents for and against the power of the President of the Senate to make the appointment. Meanwhile the Secretary of the Senate presided. Mr. Morgan said he viewed the position that the Actin; Vice President could so delegate his authority with extreme alarm, since President Arthur might be stricken down, and Ingalls might then succeed to the Presidency, without having been elected by the Senate. Mr. Morgan said that to avoid difficulty he should move to adjourn until Monday, which would leave Mr. Davis’ tenure perfect to the succession in the event of any accident to President Arthur. The motion was adopted. «The House took up the Alabama contested-election case of Lowe vs. Wheeler, on which speeches were made by Messrs. Mills, Jones, Atherton and Horr. The General Deficiency bill and the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Appropriation were reported, and referred to the committee of the whole.