Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-04
IN CONGRESS TODAY.
A Lively Little Tilt in the Senate
This Morning.
MESRS. C0CKERELL AND DAWES
Indulge in Some Personal Pleas
antries.
THE DIPLOMATIC BILL,
SENATE.

SENATE.
Among the bills reported and placed on the
calendar were the following:
Senate bill to provide for the inspection Of
vessels carrying export cattle from the United
States to foreign countries.
Senate bill to allow leave Of absence to per
diem employees of the Navy Department.
Senate bill to prevent adulterations OF food
and drugs.
TO SIT DURING RECESS.
Mr.. Cameron, from the committee on naval
affcirs, reported a resolution (Which was re-
ferred to the committee on contingent ex-
penses) authorizing the committee on naval
affairs to sit during the coming recess for the
purpose of considering the various bills rela-
tive to the personnel of the navy and Of inves-
tigating the condition of naval vessels, with
power to take testimony.
Mr.. Payne, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported a Joint resolution authoriz-
ing George II. Skidmore, United States vice
consul general at Kanagawa, Japan, to accept q
silver medal presented to him by the Emperor
of Japan for saving a Japanese subject from
death by drowning. Passed.
DIR. GALLINGER's CREDENTIALS PRESENTED.
Mr.. Blair presented the credentials of his
successor, Jacob H. Gallinger, and they were
placed on file After short executive session
the doors we're reogened and the Legislative
business was resumed.
MR.. cocKRELL ON THE ORIGIN OF PETITION.
In reference to the presentation of petitions
as to the Conger lard bill a colloquy took place
going to show that all these petitions emanate
from the same source and go back to that
source before they are forwarded to Senators;
that they are distributed from a central agency
and that they seem to be the result not OF
licitation. Apropos Of the manner
in which such memorials are got up, and in
order to show that all ignorance as to legisla-
ton is not confined to the farmers and labor
associations. MIR. Cockrell read resolutions of
the Philadelphia Maritime Exchange protesting
against the passage by the House of Represent
atives of the Senate bill Of May, 1890, for the
monthly purchase of 4, SOC, 900 ounces of silver.
There was no such bill, he said, passed by
the Senate in May, $780, and yet those wise
acres" in Philadelphia were meeting and pro-
testing against it, He went on to critlcise Sc
verely the views and action of Mr.. Edward At
kinson on the silver and other economic ques-
tions, and was prompted and encouraged by
questions and remarks from Mr.. Stewart and
Mr.. Reagan.
MR.. DAWES DEFENDS MR.. ATKINSON.
This criticism of Mr.. Atkinson was taken up
by Mr.. Dawes, who said that that gentleman
was a constituent of his, bu. that his Mr.. At
kinson's) political and economical affiliations
were with the Senators who were traducing
him. As man Mr.. Atkinson was the peer Che
did not know but that he ought to apologize to
him for saying it) of those Senators, and as an
investigatOr-an earnest, honest, conscientious.
intelligent investigator-he had no equal in
the United States. His contributions to in
dustrial statistics would live long after any of
the effusions of those who now turned their
back on their associate and ally.
Mr. Cockrell (evcitadlyl Who has been ira
ducing Mr.. Atkinson? Will the Senator please
specify?
Mr.. Dawes-There is no occasion to specify.
/ assume that the effusions of the Senator this
morning are perfectly understood and need no
specification from me.
Mr.. Cockrell (who had moved forward from
his own seat to the middle aisle near which Mr..
Dawes sat)-Have said a word this morning
that is not true: and is that an effuson, sir! Ii
it an effusion or reflection on Mr.. Atkinson
to tell what he said under oath! Is that a re-
fiection? What does the Senator means
[Iaughter.l Can / not tell what a democrat
sworo to under oath without slandering ademo-
crat?
II do not know about that" Mr.. Dawes re-
marked, facetiously.
MR.. cocKRELL GETS ANGRY.
The remark seemed to irritate Mr.. Cockrell to
still higher degree, and he shook his FORE
finger angrily at Mr.. Dawes, declaring that il
was beneath that Senator's position to take
such an underhand, backhanded way of meet
ing the question. The scene was a ludicrous
one and provoked general laughter. There
was some further interchange of sentiment be-
tween the Senators in the same general direc-
tion after which the fertilization bill was taken
up and proceeded with.
THE FoRTIFIcATIoN BILL TAKEN Up.
The amendment reported by the appropria-
tions committee appropriating $4,000 for
rifed sea-coast mortars of cast iron, ,hooped with
steel with Mr.. Chandler's amendment to it re-
quiring them to be wholly of steel gave rise to
a long discussions at the close Of which Mr.
Chambers amendmentw was agreed to, and then,
at the suggestion Of Mr.. Dawes, the committee
amendment as amended was rejected.
The next committee amendment was to strike
out the item of SIS, 500 with previous appro-
priation of S13 500 for the gun carriages of the
disappearing type, and it was agreed to with
out discussion. The next committee amend
ment was to reduce the item for completing
the army gun factory at Wstervlict, NY, from
s24S, 743 to Sl4S, 743.
HOUSE.
A hopdsovno Aoral des;On xad <l.