The Portland daily press., 1890-04-26
SEEN AND HEARD IN THE CAPITOL
a Congressman Bothered Because
Maine Baby late Creenback.
Major H'erriII's Opportunity to Join
In the Rebel Yell.
Scenes In the House During the
Turmult of the Week.
[special to the Press. !

tion bill this week, Mr.. Butterworth of
Ohio, received great deal of applause for a
lew sharp words about the way in which a
Congressman's time is taken up. The mo-
tion pending was to strike out the clause of
the appropriation bill giving private secreta-
ries to theSenators. Mr.. r.Butterworth thought
1t would be better for both Senators and
Representatives to have clerks, for the rea-
son that the people would be enough better
served. He said now that'a Congressman
time was taken up journeying to and fro
from department to department getting doc
uments, and information and offices for con-
stituents. Their efforts which should be ap.
piled to the study of public questions were
trittered away doing private erranGs, and
the people Of the country were the losers.
The applause which greeted Mr.. Butter
worth showed that he had told an admitted
truth
This debate recalls one of the favors want
ed of Maine Congressman the other day.
Somewhere in Maine the baby of the family
got hold of dollar bill and chewed up one
half of 1t before this contraction of the ma
tional currency was stopped by a prudent
grandparent. 1t was expected of the Con-
gresham that his influences would persuade
the United States Treasury to issue a new
bill for the mutilated half This bill was
taken to the Treasury and half dollar was
given for the half bill, with the information
that the loss could not be repaid in full ex-
cept on presentation OF an affidavit setting
by's inordinate appetite for greenbacks.
Such duties as these wear away the Con-
gressman's time; but if he neglects them he
IS liable to be regarded in his district as in
different to the interests of his constituents
The debate over the Senator'S secretaries
was led by Mr.. .Breckinridge of Kentucky,
into discussion of the relative dignities of
the two branches of the legislative portion
Of the government. Mr.. Breckenridge
thought the Senate was waxing in dignity
and influence while the House was waning.
Although posing as a disinterested states
man it is noticeable that Mr.. Breckinridge
did not fail to trace this decadence of the
influence and reputation of the House to the
new rules. The rules of the House did not
allow sufficient opportunity for such debate
and amendment as should be carried on by
such great deliberative body; and there
fore, Mr.. Breckenridge was sure, the Senate
was nsurpng the place of the House in the
affections Of the people.
AS in those Congresses lately where Mr.
Breckenridge and bis friends have had con-
troll there has been plenty of debate and
amendment but very lame and impotent
result so far as the transaction of the public
business Is concerned, it must be inferred
that much talk and few results is Mr..
Breckinridge's ideal of the work of a legisla-
tive body which would preserve its in
fuence.
However. the Republicans of the House
are quite we'll satisfied, in spite of Mr.
Breckenridge, that Congress which does
more and talks less will be quite as much
admired by the. people as one that talks
much and does little.
The sectional debate which was pre-
cipitated during the discussion ON the legis-
lative appropriation bill this week was an
other of the innumerable reminders of the
terrible store of mischief brought into this
country with the first cargo Of slaves. John
Allen, of Mississippi. who is known as the
funny man of. the House started the sec
tional issue by complaining of tee Post Office
Departments appointments in Mississippi.
Allen has quaint way that must make him
a power about the country stores of Missis-
sippi; and he worked off a great number of
funny stories, some new and some old, to the
ridicule of the administration. Kelley of
Kansas took an opportunity to reply the
next day; and asserted that t. Q post Office
department was not so much to blame as the
people of Mississippi, ~ho abused and boy
went on and arraigned the Democratic party
in the South for murders, brutality and bar
barism. Then the tumult began.
Mr.. Kelley is a stout man, little beyond
middle life, with a bald head such as
philosopher might have, a gray beard and
the general air of man who has abundant
good nature and good intentions bpt little
quickness of perception or readiness in
repartee. But right here is where the Kansas
Congressman illustrates the truth of the say
ing that you cannot tell how far a toad will
hop by the looks of him. As soon as Kelley
began his arraignment the Democrats began
to jeer him and try by every sort of question
and interruption to break him up. They
even laid against him personally the accusa-
tlon that he, as an owner of real estate at
Fort Smith, Arkansas, has tried to prevent
the erection Of a., negro church
near his land On the ground that
a negro church was a nuisance.
But the old gentleman kept on as calmly and
severely as Spanish galleon under full sail
And when he had finished there was no
doubt that he had held his own against the
whole Democratic party south of Mason and
Dixon's line.
Then the Democrats took turns in reply
;nc, ood +ba xybn1a caotiopo1 ;co no ,uac cnpa
over. The Democrats insisted, as usual, that
there were no more outrages in their states
than in any other state. They could not
gloss over what Kelley had shown. but they
doubtless made themselves all right with
their constituents.
But there was one speech the charges of
which they could not gloss over. .The state
ments of Northern Republicans like Kelley
of Kansas are often open to the suspicion
that the evidence on which they are based
may not be the best. The Southern Demo-
Gratis always avail themselves of this to the
fullest extent. But after all the Arkansas
Democratic members had taken their turn at
answering Kelley, Featherstone, the member
lately seated for the first Arkansas district,
made reply that left the Democrats from
his state silent. Featherstone is smart
man and man of courage, as any man must
be who defies the Democratic machine in
Arkansas. He is white man and used to
be Democrat. He was elected to Congress
by the Farmers Alliance. He told the truth
about the state of affairs in his state. that as
sassination was a recognized political
weapon, and that the assassins walked the
streets, known and uDpunished His speech
was most earnest, and no one can doubt that
he spoke the truth. 1t was the most valuable
portion of heated debate which consumed
the time of the House when time is valuable.
The finest thing in the whole series OF
bushwhacking forays was Henry Cabo'
Lodges defense of the Civil Service Com
mission and Its methods Some who heard
Lodge speak were surprised to find that he
had so much fire. The young Massachusetts
Congressman has a way of thrusting his
hands into his pockets while he strolls about
the House as if the only business Of Con-
gresham were careless enjoyment of the
legislative circus which generally performs
IN the House about once day. But he Is
LOADED for bear" all the time, as his associ-
ates have begun to find out.
Major E. l. Merrill of Pennington, who
has charge Of the little library of the House
OF Representatives, tells good story of the
parliamentary insurrecton which took place
wnen the Speaker made the famous rn,ino