Schenck scatters members to flight whenever he introduces his tariff
bill. This disgusts SCHENCK, and he has been trying to bring back the
erring Representatives by the use of the Sergeant-at-Arms and fines. The
House has lately amused itself by listening to excuses.
Mr. BUTLER'S name was called. Mr. BUTLER was not there. Mr. SCHENCK
proposed to fine him.
Mr. COX objected. Why, he said, should the sweet boon of BUTLER'S
absence rouse the anger of SCHENCK. He would suggest an amendment that
BUTLER be fined when present and blessed when away. The less they had of
BUTLER the better.
Mr. AMES was making money, and therefore he could not come.
Mr. DAVIS was prosecuting MCFARLAND, which he considered better fun than
discussing the tariff.
Mr. FITCH had gone to take a bath. Mr. LOGAN said that was ridiculous.
He himself had never found it necessary to absent himself on such a
ground. No representative of the people ought to take a bath.
He was sorry to see this tendency to aristocracy on the part of members.
West Point and the bath-tub were undermining our institutions.
Mr. POLAND said that he had been to call on a clergyman. Mr. LOGAN said
that was worse if possible than the bath. He much preferred immersion to
sprinkling.
Mr. SWEENEY (who is Mr. SWEENEY?) had been superintending the birth of
an infant SWEENEY. Mr. KELLEY said a man who would basely look after his
young when the fate of pig-iron was trembling in the balance, was
unworthy to represent American freemen. What was the interesting
situation of any individual, male or female, compared to the interesting
situation of "fish-plates." The same fiendish spirit that animated the
Confederate armies was still alive. But it now found expression in vile
and insidious attacks upon the "scrap-iron" which was the pride of every
true American heart. He did not hesitate to say that the man who would
vote against an increase of 7000 per cent, _ad valorem_, upon railway
iron would, if his cowardly soul would let him, have aimed the pistol of
the assassin at the late Mr. LINCOLN.
Mr. LOGAN said there was no occasion for Mr. KELLEY to say any thing
about any man from Illinois. He, LOGAN, could take care of that State
without KELLEY'S assistance. He had observed with grief and shame that
KELLEY had made several more speeches this session than he (LOGAN) had.
He did not intend to suffer this in future.
Mr. KELLEY said he voted for his constituents, who were ironmongers; but
ho spoke, in an iron-ical way, for the whole country. He meant to speak
early and speak often.
Mr. SCHENCK upheld the income-tax. He said it bore very lightly on
Congressmen, for none but honest men were compelled to pay it.
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