The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-04-11
HI VETERAN L u
An Animated Discussion Over the
Recent Tyrannous Oppression OF
the Malta, With an Impromptu
Clash Between Col. Hotcopper
Smith and Ex-senator Cash.
(Copyriqhtedby The Recorder Compdny.)

The Veteran Club met last evening
pursuant to a special call. Ex-Judge
Leonidas Bungstarter in the chair.
A quorum was present.
That clause in the minutes of +he
last meeting in which Col. Hotcopper
Smith was mentioned as having en-
tered the room "in his too-frequently
irresponsible condition." and then as
having "sunk hopelessly into an up
roarions s~lumber,n was, after a heated
discussion. so altered as to state that
the Colonel appeared before the club
"'somewhat enfeebled after a prolonged
session with a special committee of
the House at Chamberlins S" and that
'later i'm the evening it was sadly dis
covered that nature had given way
under the strain, and he was seen to
have lapSed into IL coma, accompanied
by stertorous breathing" in which
state he was removed by the j%tnitor
and three assistants ION a rude stretch
er which had been hurriedlv impro-
vised by taking one of the shutters of
the building from its hinges This
amendment was made III the motion
of Major Cadwallader, as an honorable
tribute" he said. ito Il gentleman
whose reputation entitled him to free
dom from suspicion. 10 matter what
his physical infirmities.h
Judge Bungstarter now stated the
object for which this special meeting
leans events of recent daie had be-
come Of international Importance, and
with a view of maintaining the bal
ance of power i'll Europe, and at the
same time to avoid placing the dignity
of the Republic in jeopardy, he bad at
nee appointed a special committee to
ascertain and report on the facts. and
had issued this special call To the
members mt large. The committee, of
which Gen. Muzzle. was chairman.
would now report.
Ex-senator Cash of West Virginia
rose to a question of privilege. If any
member of the club present happened
also to be Il member of the Malta would
that member honorably withdraw from
the meeting? There were reasons
which
Col. Hotcopper Smith, in a some
what heated manner. interrupted the
speaker with his desire to know if he.
the speaker, alluded to him, the Col
onelP
The ex-senator claimed the protec-
ton fthe chair. He had not men
toned any names and
Col. Smith again interrupted. The
ex-senator had indeed mentioned no
names, bnt he had, while making his
request, looked him, the Colonel, in
the eyes.
The ex-senator expressed his sor-
row. If the honorable Colonel was
sensitive on the subject of looking, or
being looked at, in the eye, he, the ex
Senator, would hereafter look him in
the ear, or down the mouth. Or
The gavel fell. The Chair ruled
that both gentlemen were out of order.
The Colonel objected to the ruling.
The ex-senator had taken advantage
of the time and place to insult him in
a circuitous II and
The gavel fell Would the honora-
BILE Colonel sit down, or would the
Chair be compelled to request the
Sergeant-at-Arms to
Interruption by the ex-senator:
"Let the Colonel go ahead. I'm fixed
now and
Cries of s'Order," Shamem .Sit
down. etc, curing which the Ser
geant-at-Arms appeared with the
mace of authority, and the Colonel and
ex-senator sat down.
Elk Commissioner Tugalo moved
that the Special Committees report be
heard.
Col. Hotcopper Smith rose to a ques-
ton of privilege. He begged to state
that he was not and never had been IL
member ofthe Malta but that he would
see II gentleman. honorable or other
wise, outside, later.
Ex-senator Cash rose to a question
of privilege. He begged to state that
he had not affirmed that any member
present was a member of the Malta.
He may have had private opinions, and
might still have them, all declarations
to the contrary Notwithstanding. He
furthermore desired to state that later
in the evening and on the broad as
phalt expanse fronting the Capitol he
would be happy to entertain any mem
Der who desired entertainment, and in
any manner in which the desire might
shape itself.
Gen. Mueller now presented the re-
port. AS nearly as the committee
could ascertain, the facts were these:
Certain gentlemen who were exotics
to this country had pleasantly organ
lied themselves in the Crescent City
for the purposes of mutual recreation
after the manner peculiar to their cir