Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-18
SCENES IN THE SENATE.
Senator Eyarts' Bad Fix-Plumb Works
Platt Very Neatly.


Senator Eyarts' Bad Fix-Plumb Works
Platt Very Neatly.
Special Telegram TO the Sunday Register.
WASHINGTON, January IA good story
showing the lengths TO which Senatorial
courtesy may go, is told concerning the
resuscitation of the Force bill on Wednes-
day night. II is generally supposed, OF
course, that the bill was taken up as mat
ter of party expediency pure and simple,
but such is not the fact Most OF the votes
were controlled by party expedlency but
! there were not enough OF them 10 nave ac-
complished the object The other reces-
sarv votes were given solely 10 oblige Sen
ator Evarts That gentleman prepared
long speech on the Force bill some weeks
ago when the measure was before under
consideration. II is said that he had the
speech put in type and proof sheets OF IL
sent to the leading papers OF the country 10
be held until the speech was actually ue-
| livered in the Senate. When the force
/ hill was suddenly side-tracked couple OIL
weeks ago Mr. Evarts had not had
chance to deliver his speech, and
he was left in rather an embarrass,
/ ing predicament He is.a sensitive and
nervous man, and feared that II the Dill
should never again come up he would De
placed in a very ridiculous light with the
proofs of his undelivered speech scattered
all over the country. Further, he feared
that by some accident the speech might get
| into the papers, which would be sun more
embarrassing to him. So IN the last lew
davs while Mr. Hoar has been making ap-
meals for the resuscitation of the Force bill
on political grounds, Mr.. Evarts has been
appealing on personal grounds for the same
object. Mr. EVarts is said 10 have earnest
! lv besought a number of his Republican
colleagues who were hostile TO the bill TO
waive their opposition and vote TO take the
bill up again just long enough TO allow nun
TO work off his speech and get MIN out OF
his dilemma. These appeals were success
full. and the bill was taken up again as al
ready known. II was probably the sever
est strain that was ever put on Senatorial
courtesy.
One of the most amusing scenes that
have occurred in the Senate in long time
was that between Senator Platt and Sena-
tor Plumb over the calling up OF the Copy
right bill. on Tuesday Senator Plumb IS
supposed to be considerably interested in
the Pure Food dill, and wanted TO get II up
/ as soon as possible. Senator Platt is spe-
cially interested in the Copyright bill.
Senator Platt was also interested in bill
creating new bureau in the War Depart
ment. The latter bill was got up ana
passed on Tuesday before the Senate re-
sumed discussion on the Financial Dill.
Senator Plumb seems to have taken 1t for
granted that if this was done itwould clear
the way for taking up the Pure Food bill
as soon as the Financial bill was disposed
of But Senator Platt did not understand
the matter in this way, and gave notice
that he would ask consideration
on the Copyright bill. Now, while
the Copyright bill is not
measure calculated to excite enthusiasm
among its supporters, 1t has some very de
termined enemies. There is strong looOy
here working against it tooth and nail.
This lobby is mainly composed OF men who
own be boiler plate or patent inside estab-
lishments where matter is got up for coun-
try weeklies These establishments pl-
rate the works of foreign authors by whole
sale. and hence their bitter opposition TO
the Copyright bill They have had their
agents in Washington all winter and these
agents have done some very effective work.
Ii is possible that with their insinuating
wavs they succeeded in preiudicing Sena-
tor Plumb against the Copyright bill. His
actions in the Senate on Tuesday made 1t
look very much that way. While Senator
Plumb is to a certain extent guileleSs, then,
again. he is very shrewd. He no doubt
mad made up his mind TO strongly oppose
the Copyright bill, and naturally desired
an excuse for doing so. So, when Sen
atOr Platt arose and gave notice that
he would move TO take up the Copyright
bill. Mr.. Plumb did little bit of acting
that comedian Crane would have been
proud Of He jumped TO his feet and threw
himself into a towering passion instanter,
aud growled and glowered at the Connectl-
cut Senator. He danced around his desk
very much as a bantam rooster might have
done in defiance at the approach OF an enc
nv. ierked out few incoherent words OF
reproach, and eXpectOrated in several dlrec-
tions. Hewas surprised, astonished, pam
ed. angry and indignant all at once, because
Senator Platt wanted TO take up the Copy
right bill in opposition TO Mr. Plumo's
desire TO take up the Pure Food
bill. Senator Plattt was as surprised
and puzzled as every one else at Mr..
Plumb's curious outburst, and stood quite
dumbfounded at the trouble his motion hao
caused. He tried to explain and justify his
course, but Mr.. Plumb would listen TO no
explanations, and fumed and tidgeted and
/ exDectorated again and again, until he got
| Mr.. Platt all mixed up and so nervous that
in irving To speak on the point at issue he
called the Pure Food Bill the poor feud
| bill land sat down in confusion and humll-
| iation. A moment later both Senator'S left
their seats. and met as they were about to
enter the cloak room. Mr.. Platt was still
evidently much disturbed by the incident,
and tried 10 explain to Mr.. Plumb, brt Mr..
Plumb had done his little comedy act and
wanted no explanation. He had gained ms
point and was content, and laughed the
/ -, 1o ~