The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-03-25

| TOT UtUk6S EGe u. a. senate Rel 2IbtE
eGn-An EGciti1lg Scene Wisconsin
at the White House.
/ WASHINGTON, March 81. 1881.
| The question of an extra session of
Congress is not definitely settled; some
leading members of the Senate favor
it. Among the chief reasons for an
extra session is the necessity of pass.
ing Funding bill. This is one Of the
important measures which failed to
become law at the recent session. a
proper funding bill would save the gov
Iernment millions of dollars, in the
shape of high interest, now being paid
on outstanding bonds. The funding
bill which passed both Houses at the
late session was properly vetoed by
President Hayes; it was a dangerous
and ill-contrived sort of legislation
calculated tc damage the business in.
terests of the country.
Another reason for an extra session
is the early settlement of the contested
seats in the House of Representatives.
There are quite number in the south
ern states who claim to have been
elected to Congress at the last Novem-
Der election, and who hold their certi-
ficates of Office as the result of fraudu-
lent counting and ballot-box uffing.
The sooner the cases are investigated
the better, and the legally chosen mem
bers obtain their rights. The country
will then understand that it is one
thing for southern brigadier to be
declared elected at home and quite an
other affair to secure seat in Congress,
where the method employed in his
election will be inquired into The
practice of excluding legal voters from
the polls on account of their color has
been tolerated too long. A free ballot
must be assured to all qualified voters,
if it takes all the powers of the general
government to secure it.
HON. WILLIAM MAHoNE-THE CRISIS
PAST THE SENATE REPUBLICAN
EXCITING SCENE.
One of the most exciting and dra-
matte scenes witnessed in Congress for
years occurred in the Senate on Mon
day, the l4th inst. The readers of the
TELEGRAPH have doubtless seen in the
papers accounts of this extraordinary
exhibition, but it will bear referring to
again. The occasion was the advent
OF the new Senator, Hon. William Ma
hone, of Virginia. For months past
the political calculators and newspa-
pers of all shades of politics had been
discussing the political status of Mir.
Malone. The great importance at
tached to it was that after the 4th of
March the United States Senate would
be either republican or democratic, a.
cording to which side Mr.. Malone
should give his vote. If he voted with
the democrats that party would nave
majority Of one, counting the nondes-
cript Senator Davis, of Illinois. If he
voted with the republicans. then there
would be a tie in the Senate, but the
casting vote of the Vice-P President
would give the republicans the ascend
ancy. This state of the case invested
the action of Malone with extraordi-
nary interest; his vote would deter
mine the political status of the q. S.
Senate. 1t is not strange that republi-
cans and democrats throughout the
country anxiously awaited the action
Of this mau.
On the morning of the 1Ath the Sem
ate galleries were filled with spectators
long before the meeting of the Senate;
the issue was of national moment. The
Senate having been called to order, a
motion came from the republican side
involving test question. AS the ayes
and noes were called and the name of
Malone nearly reached the silence pre-.
vailing in the galleries and floor of the
Senate was impressive; Malone voted
with the republicans. The die was cast,
"a republican Senate was assured.
There was an outburst of applause.
which the presiding officer could not
suppress until the first impulse had
spent its force. Some of the democratic
Senators took it with composure, 9th
ers looked mad.
Now followed a scene Of unusual ex-
element in the Senate. Ben. Hill,
of Georgia, volunteered to be the
spokesman for the democrats. He took
the floor and worked himself into
violent passion. He insinuated all sorts
of dishoneSties against Malone, and
was unsparing in his abuse. When Hill
had finished his TRADE, Malone took
his stand where he had a full view of
all the Senators. He is a small, slim
man, with little show of physical
strength. 1t was critical moment.
He had never been heard In the Senate
chamber, and there was a feeling of
uncertainty how he might acquit him.
self. But this, his first effort, proved
success. He more than equaled the
expectations of his most sanguine
friends. A simple newspaper letter
cannot do him justice. He laid bare
the political views of the staggering
Ben. Hill, and gave such a chastise-
ment as never before had in the Sem
ate. Malone, while speaking, was in
terrupted with questions calculated to
embarrass him, but he made ready
answer for all of them. Other men,
b rs participated in the debate, which
was intensely exciting and lasted for
hours. At the close the democrats, who
had for days been pushing forward the
measure for organizing the new COM
mittees of the Senate, on democratic
basis, hauled off and abandoned their
purpose. They were satisfied that with
a full Senate, of which there would be a
certainty in few days, the republicans
would have control.
WISCONSIN AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
On Tuesday evening of last week the
members of the Wisconsin Republican
Association, and others in this city
claiming a residence in Wisconsin, in
accordance with previous arrange
ments, called on President Garfield.
The callers gathered at seven o'clock
in one of the parlors of the Riggs
House, and proceeded in a body to the
Presidential mansion. Tie reception
took place in the large east room, where
each visitor was formally introduced
to the President and Mrs. Garfield. The
President and his wife appeared in the
best of spirits, and received their Wis
consin visitors with affability. There