The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-27
THE FORTY NINTH CONGRESS-
Mr.. Blair Secures the Floor and Makes
Speech Fayoring Prohibition.
Mr. Van Wyck Delivers Few Characteristic
Remarks Concerning Jay Gould-Mr. STAN
ford Discusses Interstate Commerce.
THE SENATE.
Enr. Diair Talks Prohibition, and Mr. Var
Wyck Scores Jay Gould.

WAsHINGrON, April 26.-Mr. Harris presented
she credentials of Mr.. Washington c. Whit
thorne, appointed by the Governor of Tennessee
to be United States Senator from that State to
all the vacancy caused by the resignation Of
Senator Jackson. The credentials having been
read. Mr.. Whitthorne was conducted to the desk
by Mr.. Harris and the oath of Office was ad-
ministered In due form by the President pro tenn
of the Senate. Mr.. Whitthorne then took seat
on the Democratic side of the chamber. on the
extreme right of the Chair and received the con
gratulations of many Senators.
When the new Senator had taken his seat,
Mr.. Hoar called attention to the form of the Gre
dentials. not having desired, he said. to say any
thing which might seem like an objection to the
swearing in of Mr.. Whitthorne. The form of
the credentials Mr.. Hoar thought defective. in
asmuch as the certificate stated that the appoint
ment WAS for Senator Jackson's unexpired term.
It should read until the next meeting Of the
Legislature" The point was Of no great conse-
quence at present. but in case of a close party
division in the Senate the question, Mr.. Hoar
thought, might become one of great Importance.
and public attention ought to be directed to it in
order that the difficulty might, as far as posi-
ble be avoided
Mr.. Harris remarked that Mr.. Whitthorne's
credentials, in using the word term, made ref
erence to the term" as fixed by law. He
thought this qualifying phrase cured the point.
Mr.. Hoar reported from the committee on the
judiciary bill extending the time for the com
pletion Of the records of the clerk of the Com
missioners of Alabama Claims. 1t was passed.
Mr. Morrill,. from the committee on finance,
reported, with an amendment, the House bill re-
lAting to the bonds of brewers.
The Senate committee amended the bill so as
to require in addition, that at least in four
years the bonds shall, in any event. be renewed
whether the collector requests it or not.
After debate the Senate amendment was
agreed to, and the bill, as amended, was passed
A bill was reported by Mr.. Harris. making an
appropriation to complete the public building at
jackson. Tenn. 1t was passed.
Mir. Van Wyck desired to take up the bill tax
ing railroad lands but yielded to Mr.. Blair who
according to previous notice, then addressed the
Senate on his proposed constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the manufacture or sale of al
coholc liquors as beverages. He announced his
well known views upon the subject at consider
able length. and then entered upon the political
aspect of the measure. and said that the move
ment for local option and amendments to State
constitutions was of great impor tance a means
of creating an enlightened public opinion in
the States, but falling short Of movement
based on the national idea and presenting clear
prospect of complete success. 1t was time for
the prohibition idea to assume control Of nation
al partieS-at least of the Republican party.
That party could not permanently remain three
fourths for prohibition and one-fourth against it
That was less possible lna... it once was for the
Nation to remain permanently one ia Ana
One-half free. Ideas never compromised. We
were now at the dividing of the ways. For him
self. he Mr.. Blair had been down in this hole
long enough Sooner orlater, and he hoped not
much later, we might come to ourselves like the
psBeigsl. and proceed to climb up and out Il
will remain here, said he. $50 long as think
can persuade others to climb with me- in order
that we may stand on each others shoulders.
and that those first out may, with proper tackle,
lift tho remainder, for the hole is very deep.
Only for this will remain longer in the hole;
and for this will / remain if need be- for great
while" He mr. Blair had this occasion
spoken partly az a Republican, but he did this
only because he believed that thus did he speak
most as an American and most as man. That
party, with all its faultswith all its failures to
reach its ideals-was the great agency which,
under God. had saved the Republic. That party
would yet, from the law OF its superior being
saEd unfinished mission, concentrate its tremen-
dous energies and perfected equipment upon
this gigantic national evil until the evil was de-
Etroyed
The interstate commercial bill was then taken
up, and MIR. Van Wyck addressed the Senate on
It, We were, he said, in the midst OF depres-
sion, yet all pursuits must be laid under contri
butions, that full dividends shall be cleared by
ulent bonds. Grain, beef and pork might be re-
duced one-half In price, yet there could be no
abatement in freight charges. Railroad and tel
egraph rates west of the Missouri river were
about four times greater than rates east of that
river. For years capital had been organized,
INSCRIPTIONS and rapacious, moving, as Gould
had moved, according to his sworn testimony,
and as huntington, according to his written his
tory had moved, on State legislatures, the
courts and Congress, unblushingly purchasing
4ud nd louia Rrf ois
Ing. There was irrspressible conflict between
right and wrong. Could the Nation be made to
believe that the 81, 000, 600 of watered stock
and bonds were honestly deserving Of protec-
Vanderbilt. and the 5000, 900 claimed
by Gould were honestly obtainedf The own
ers of these fctions should accord decent
treatment to the remainder of mankind from
whom they expected TO force dividends and in
terest If the industries were only required to
pay fair dividend on the real cost of the rail-
railroads the Nation would be prosperous. The
SENATE could take an example from Jay Gould.
She Senate committee on education and labor
had obtained from that worthy q complete his
tory OF his life, probably for the youth of
America to initiate. The committee had tremb-
hngiy and beseechingly impiored him to give a
minute account of his daring exploits and he
had consented. Early in life, when hard pressed
for dinner. he adopted his sisters method and
went behind the blacksmith shop to pray. The
blessing came In great measure In a few
years the tanning business in which ne
was engaged was in financial stress.
30 overwhelming that his partner was driven to
suicide. while he himself bought railroad The
wrong partner had committed suicide. The COM
mittee was doubtless dazed as much by Gould's
recital as by reading the exploits of Jack the
Giant Killer, or Kidd, the pirate. Modesty in
duced Gould to refrain from telling some feat
ures of the history of the time At Kansas City,
he was once overtaken with another religious
spasm and wrestled second time in prayer
telling the people how happy he was, and that
no wanted no more money He had purchased
fhe Missouri Pacific only for the good of man
kind. and should use it only for the glory Of
God and the benefit OF the people, AS he was
contemplating another raid. he felt the neces-
eity OF another installment OF divine grace;
90 he went short on the promise by
himself by the blessing It was to be hoped he
would not indulge in third prayer on earth.
Should he. il the end, secure an entrance into