There was a chorus of ayes, and the Chairman declared the motion carried. "The clerk of the Committee," he said, "will now read the bill." Joel Phipps turned to the pile of papers in front of him and began turning them over one by one. He reached the bottom of the heap without discovering the Cleverly bill. Then he turned them over and went through the pile again, very carefully and very painstakingly. A look of perplexity gathered on his face. The members were becoming impatient. The Chairman seemed to voice the opinion of his colleagues. "The clerk will read the bill," he said, curtly. "In a moment, sir," said Phipps, in an agitated voice. He continued to fumble among the documents on his desk. He looked very much embarrassed. He moistened his lips with his tongue and then looked about the room helplessly. "Well," demanded John Carlton, "why don't you read the bill?" "I am sorry to say that I can't find it." "How is that?" "I don't know, sir; but I can't put my hand on it." "Well," said Carlton, addressing the Chairman, "I have a typewritten copy of the measure in my pocket, and if the Chairman is agreeable, I will have that read in place of the original bill." Jesse Hudson was on his feet in an instant. "I object," he shouted. "I object to this method of doing business. We have very important matters to consider before this Committee and we cannot afford to transact them in an irregular and possibly an illegal manner. The only bills that this Committee has a right to consider are the bills that are in its custody. If you permit the members to substitute other bills at their pleasure, no one can tell where it will lead nor what the consequence may be." "But," persisted Carlton, "the bill that I am going to hand you is identical with the one that was in the possession of the Committee." "That may be," was Hudson's smooth retort, "but it is not the identical bill that was before the Committee. I object to its consideration." His remarks appeared to have made some impression upon the members of the Committee. Indeed, one of the Congressmen, who was known to be friendly to Carlton, arose in his place and said: "I think there is some merit in what Mr. Hudson says. At any rate it will do no harm to postpone this matter until the public printer can supply the Committee with another copy of the bill." "Am I to regard that as a motion?" queried the Chairman. "Yes, sir," was the response. "The members have heard the motion," said the Chairman, "all in favor of postponing the consideration of the Cleverly bill for the present will say aye." There was a loud chorus of ayes. "All those who oppose it, say no." A few scattered voices called out "no." "The ayes have it," said the Chairman, "and the motion to postpone is carried." Carlton was plainly nettled at the turn of affairs. He turned to the clerk angrily and said: