Evening star., 1886-07-21
PAYNE CASE IN THE SENATE.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR PETITIONS,
Van Wyck and Logan Have a Bout
TO ADJOURN JULY 29TH
The Resolution Adopted in the House.
The Senate.

man Oh the legislative committee OF the
knights OF Labor (by whom these petitions
nave been sent to SO many Senators>. stating
Tin response to Senator Vests remarks yester-
oay) that these petitions were genuine, and
were sent to him either directly or by authority
OF the persons purporting to have signed them,
and further, that they were expressly author
lzcd and sanctioned by the grand general
States.
He also read a letter from MIR. Powderly to
Chlef Bushyhead (of the Cherokee Indians).
somewhat modifying that produced Yesterday
and asserted the good faith existing in regard 10
these petitions. In those which he now prese ented
iron Nebraska) he recognized names with
sand OF these petitions, he said, had been pre-
sented to Congress. and very nearly 300, 600
nrorid more were @ on in their way The great railroad
presidents OF the country did not need any
petitions to influence Congress; they came
themselves. One OF them had only to knock at
the door and it was thrown open TO him imme-
diateiy, that's OFF, and ii he wanted time it
Was very cheerfuiy given. He (Mr.Van Wyck)
referred briefly to each of the bills the passage
OF winch was prayed for in these petitions, and
expressed himself generally in their favor.
The Chair tMr. Shermanl caused TO be read
ton OF petitions and said he had done SO, not
Dy way OF reproach to the Senator, but TO show
that II the rule were not observed it would be
impossible to transact the business of the morn
Ing hour.
MR.. LOGAN DEFENDED HIMSELF
from what he considered reflections on himself
In what he characterized as the remarkable ti-
rade' to which the Senate had just been treated.
He had never refused to present petitions sent
10 him, and all that he had done in the case Of
theSe knights OF Labor petitions was to cali at
tentlon to the fact that the signatures ap-
peared to be in the same handwriting. And
now 1t appears from the statement just made
tnat ne was correct in his Opini ion. and yet the
Senate had to listen to hall an hours speech
which might have led one TO suppose that the
Capitol was on fire or that a great revolution
had broken out. The Senator from Nebraska
seemed TO take advantage OF things of that kind
lor the purpose of ''bcosting" himself by char
MIR. Van Wyck denied having made any
statement rejecting on the Senator from Iii
nOis or any other Senators.
Alter some further remarks on the same sub
Ject by senator Brown the petitions and several
other patches of them from other states were
referred 10 the committee on finance.
THE PAYNE CASE.
The Senate then, at noon, proceeded to the
consideration OF the report in the matter of the
election Of Senator Payne, and was addressed
by Mr.. Pugh in advocacy of the position taken
to the ibere M bad ana M
preston OF belief or suspicion on the part of
My sy Hemoer ot the committee to the etfect effect that
gree, by act or knowledge, with ANYTHING
wrong, criminal or immoral in his election,
should be made. He criticised the views OF the
minority (Messrs. Hoar and Frye and argued
that they were In coHtic, with the precedents
OF the Senate in former cases OF a similar char
acter. One remarkable feature in the report of
the minority was that, after declaring the Sen
ate to be court which would have to hear and
pass upon the title OF Mr.. Payne to his seat
they had dumped" on the Senate all the
trash and filth that could be scraped
aponns up from dem democratc pewspapers and
means employed to secure MIR Payne's cleo
ton. Could it be that the minority believed
that such stuff would have any weight GU the
MINDS OF SenatOrSG Ii never cOud have
feathers We. 1T On the Senate. He had merely
desired to present the case briefly, and now, in
the committee on privileges and elections, he
moved that that committee be discharged from
the further consideration OF the subject.
Mr.. uOar addressed the Senate in support of
the views of himself and MIR. Frye, recon-
mendlns an investigation Of the charges. Such
investigation, he argued, was due to Senator
Payne because 1t could only make it appear
that the suspicion which all Senators were SO
eager to remove did not rest upon him per-
Sonaiiy and ought not to rest on friends nearest
MIN or upon the state that had so hOnOred him.
Pure and stainless lives were sufficient shields
against every weapon OF scandal or malice; but
corruption and bribery should be exposed and
punished. The conscience and judgment OF the
country should govern and had Il right to gov
ern, and the Senate must respect them or cease
to be itself respected. The question before the
Senate was, not how case should be decided,
Dut only whether an inquiry should be instilu-
ted. AS to the source OF the charges, all that
the Senate required was that the charge should
come from individuals or from a body OF sutIi-
clenC weight 10 assure Tie Senate that the charge
was not made lightly or without reason. 1t was
not necessary to define exactly the qualitic;,-
lions for such complaint; but surely, the legis-
lature of the state chiefly concerned was such a
complainant Surely tue governor OF the state
Was such complainant; surely ten members
OF the House OF Representatives OF the United
surely the conductors of the press OF both poll
cAl parties of state of four million OF people
SohsIttutcu sucH cUihPiainahts ouL When taS
here) these were all com nbned, it Was impossi-
bic that there ever could be u suitor who could
more rightiully bring a case to the judgment OF
the Senate ii these could not.
House of Representatives.
THE RESOLUTION TO ADJOURN JULY % AGREED
To BY A LARGE MAJORITY.
Mr.. Morrison lIiis) called up rs a question OF
privilege, the concurrent resolution providing
tor final adjournment on the 2Sth instant
Mr.. Reagan Tex.), while he expressed his
anxiety for a final adjournment, thought that
the date fixed was too early, and that should
the resolution be agreed to, the House would
fail to perform very importan part of its duty.
II the date were fixed as 4th of August, the
House might be able to act upon the Interstate
commerce. bill and the Northern Pacific land
forfeiture bill.
Mr. Weaver Qowa) concurred in this view and
cited the Oklahoma bill as another measure
which should be acted upon before adjourn
ment.
Mr.. Dunn (Ark.) thought that the friends OF
the river and harbor bill should not vote for a
day OF adjournment which would not give am.
Mr.. Bayne (PaJ said Congress should stay here
until the legislation demanded by the country
had been enacted into law.
MIR. Hepburn (Iowa) could see no excuse for
adjournment until Congress had passed upon
such measures as the Interstate commerce,
bankruptcy, polygamy and copyright bills.
Mr.. w iilis tky.) thought that 1t would he un-
wise to agree to the resolution, which would
put 1t In the power OF q small minority to pre-
vent any action upon i'm pOrtant measures. The
Senate was not in a condition to adjourn. There
were three appropriation bills pending In that
body and the surplus resolution remained un.
acted upon.
In advocating this resolution which, he said,
was nothing more than Information TO the Sen.
ate that the House was ready to adjourn, Mr.
| Morrison referred to the surplus resolution and
remarked that he did not think that 1t would
| be ever heard OF In the Senate. As to The
measures which 1t was said should be passed
| he directed attention to the fact That II mem
bers would only cease talking and go to work
they could all be passed previous TO adjourn
| menL
Mr.. Reed (Me.) said that the country was sat
| tsfied that Congress had had q full trial and
| that II could do nothing better than make an
attempt to find an adjournment.
| Ihe concurrent resolution was agreed to-
l45 to SO.
Mr.. Morrison then called up the resolution
| setting apart Thursday and Saturday of this
| week Tor the consideration OF the bill for the
| increase OF the navy. Adopted-yeas, 192
| nays, Al.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
| The House then went into committee OF the
| whole (Mr. Hatch, Of Missouri, in the chair or
the Senate amendment TO the river and harbol
bill, the pending question being on the motion
made by Mr.. Hewitt. IN. W, striking out the
clause for the Improvement OF New York har