The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-21
THE SENATE WANTS GENERAL HYDE,
The House Wants Col. Farnham
and Neither Will Yield.
Seaside Congressman Troubling
Those Who Stay Behind.
Our Aristocratic Defenders-Mr.
Grain of Texas and His Gun.
Especial to the Press.l

Lille Malne poSltiOn on the D0arQ OF managers
of the Soldiers Homes came up again Satur-
day in the Senate when a clause was incor
porated in the sundry civil appropriation
bill naming several men for places on the
board Among these names was that of
Gen. T. w. Hyde of Bath. This is the re.
appearance In another form of the con-
troversy between the House and Senate as
to whether Col. A. B. Farnham of Bangor
or Gen. Hyde shall be appointed from
Maine. 1t will be remembered that some
time ago the House military committee. as is
the custom, nominated members of this
board and the House passed the resolution
of nominations. Col. Farnham was made
the member from Maine because the military
committee felt that purely honorary POSI-
tion like this should be passed around among
the old soldiers. General Hyde had the
place for six years and no 6isrespect was
intended for him as he is every where re-
garded as a gallant officer, but some of
General Hyde's friends wished him to have
the place for another six years so when the
resolution went to the Senate that body
substituted his name for Farnham. The
House thought this unreasonable and disa-
greed so the matter went into conference
between the two Houses where it is now in
the hands of conference committee. But
evidently fearing that the House would not
consent to have its nominee put aside in this
way. the Senate have endeavored to get
around the conference already existing by
tackiDg the nominations on to the sundry
civil bill. 1t is difficult to see how anything
can be gained by this If the House continues
to insist, as it probably will. No salary is
attached to the position and it is purely
honorary.
How to bring back the absentees who are
having good time by lake and sea shore is
problem that gives congressman no little
trouble. A group were discussing it the
other day, and among other plans it was
suggested that every absentee be fined, and
the opinion was expressed that such a course
would start them back. 1t happenen to be
one of the hottest hours of this very hot
week, and Congressman Milliken came along
at that instant vigorously mopping his brow,
upon which the drops of sweat were break.
Ing into rivulets. THAT Is all right to talk
of, said Mr.. Milliken, "but if was at this
time on the coast of Maine enjoying those
sea breezes from the deck of yacht, do you
think any fine this House might impose
rather guess not" This seemed to be the
average sense of the company, for it at once
broke up and each man sought shady place
or the congressional lemonade tub.
Last Wednesday night, as the House was
about ready to adjourn, Mr.. Rogers malicious
ly made the point Of ''no quorum" Instead of
adiourning the Republicans, who were con-
siderably vexed, decided to show Mr.. Rogers
that he could not take the whole charge of
the House of Representatives. So they re-
fused to adjourn and ordered call of the
House. A quorum was found not to be
present. So the names of the absentees
were noted. The doors of the House had in
the meantime been closed to prevent the es-
cape of any members who were already
there. A warrant was made out in due form,
signed by the Speaker and clerk of the House
and impressed with the great seal of the
House of Representatives, and with this the
sergeant-at-arms started out to arrest and
bring TO the House enough members to make
a quorum. He visited the hotels and homes
of members, arresting them wherever found.
One member was at dinner with his family,
but he was taken at once, although his wife
pleaded that he might be allowed to give
bail. She was informed that it was not
bailable offence, and her lord was dragged
forth to appear at the bar of the House and
explain why he had been away from the post
OF duty; 1t IS slow work hunting members
a quorum was obtained Wednesday night the
majority got weary and adjourned abandon
ing the proceedings.
All these troubles which have been brought
upon the faithful remnant by the self-indul
gent absentees are having an effect upon the
transaction of the public business; and
were it not for the fact that the House has
already transacted its most important busi-
ness the delays would be seriously embar-
RAISING.
Whether prohibition is upon the whole
success or failure it may be impossible to
determine from the mere assertions of its
friends upon the one side and its enemies
upon the other. But the action of Congress
in regard to legislation upon the "original
package" question developes the fact that,
whatever assertions may be made, the manu-
faeturers of beer do not consider prohibition
a good thing for their business. Among the
package" bill in the House, are the Repre-
sentative from Milwaukee, the great beer
manufacturing city of the nation, and an
other Representative of one of the Chicago
districts where the brewing interests afS
very large. These men must be opposing
this legislation only because they think it will
have depressing effect upon the beer in
dustry, and it can only have depressing
effect upon the beer industry by curtailing
the market. This is the best possible evi-
dence that the men who know most about
the situation regard prohibition as success
so far as beer Is concerned at least
1t has long been the complaint of Congress
that the army and navy, SO far las their Off
GERS are concerned, are altogether too aristo-
cratic bodies. Their ideas of rank and posi-
ton, are. in the estimation of those of most
democratic proclivities, too lofty and un.
: republican. Occasionally a Congressman
| expresses the wish that the life tenure sys.
TEN might be repealed in order that
the two bands might get Ia Shaking
up" Very likely there may be
more expressions of this sort when petition
recently put before Congress gets into the
House. AT present the President has the
appointment of four cadets at large to the
military academy at West Point. All the
other cadets are selected by the Congressmen
| in the several congressional districts. BY
get his SON into West Point has very diff
| cult task, as he generally has a residence lin
no congressional district whence an appoint,
ment can be arranged, and the four appoint
ments at large will not go around. So the
| army officers petition that the President
may have the appointment of 20 cadets al
large, and that the sons of officers of the
army may have the preference The effect
of this would be to make the army somewhat
of an hereditary body, as well as an exclu-
sive one, and 1t is safe to say that Congress
will not allow it. Besides objections upon
principle there will be the objections of jeal
ousy. The officers of the army and navy
being coteries of men who are independent
of politics, and feeling secure in their pres.
ent positions, with the assurance of retired
| pay when they shall become old, are left
free to exercise influence among congress
men for promotions and for favOrs for their
respective branches of the service, and they
have great influence. The navy will prob.
ably. get the revenue marine, and has beer
reaching out for the life saving service. Il
hass even contended also that the diplo-
matte service ought to be given over to it:
care. and has given some very plausible
reasons therefor. All these things preiudicf