Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1893 — UPROAR IN THE HOUSE [ARTICLE]

UPROAR IN THE HOUSE

ANGRY WORDS AND SCURRILOUS OBSERVATIONS USED. Excitement Caused by a Sharp Exchange of Word* Between Congressmen Flthlan and Morse—Arrest of a Crank In the White House. the Ue Is Passed. Washington special: The lie was passed at the opening of the session of the Home this morning between Mr. Morse, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Fithian, of Illinois, but no blows were struck and no blood will be spilled. The altercation was an outgrowth of Mr. Morse’s filibutt ring course. Mr. Morse, in a five-minute speech this morning, tried to justify his action, during the course of which he charged Mr. Fithian with being solely responsible for the refusal of the House to permit him to print in the Recoi d somo newspaper extracts attacking Commissioner Loehren. Mr. Fithian, rising to reply, said ina much as Mr. Morse had seen fit to criticise him ti at' he had desired to call the attention of the House to a rather dubious proposition made by Mr. Morse to him. He t aid Mr. Morse, when he iFithian) objected to his leave to print, came to him with honeyed words and informed him that he was a member of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds and intimated that he (Fithiani had a public building bill he (Morsel might be able to help him if the Illinois Congressman could see his way clear to withdraw his objection. “That is absolutely false!” shouted Mr. Morse, striding in a warlike manner toward Mr. Fithian. “If the gentleman from Massachusetts denies this statement, I have proof to adduce that will satisfy any member of the House. My colleague, Mr. Goldzier, heard tho conversation.” As Mr. Fithian said this, Mr. Morse backed against the rails and replied meekly; “What the gentleman says has the color of truth, but the construction he places on it is unqualifiedly false.” “If the gentleman denies my statement,” shouted Mr. Fithian, shaking his fist angrily at the Massachusetts Congressman, “he is wilfully lying himself. ” In a minute the House was in an uproar. The Speaker quelled the impending riot by pounding his desk vigorously with the gavel and declaring both gentlemen out of order. This closed the incident.