The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-20

terers were still in possession of the hall.
An extraordinary session Of congress was
convened in two weeks, but the opposition
was renewed with such vigor that it was
the middle of June before a compromise
was reached. In this deadlock Congress,
man (afterward Prcsident) Garfield took a
prominent part.
4 Night of Tragedy.
In the Forty-seventh congress there was
another bitter struggle, with many excit-
ing night sessions. The house had passeda
Dill reducing the tax on tobacco, and upon
this bill the senate had tackled n complete
tariff bill. When it came back to the
house thus amended, the late S. S. Cox,
MIR. Springer and others deliberately pro-
ceeded to talk it to death. They kept up
their warfare for some weeks, and finally,
when only one-third of the bill had been
considered, and the Republicans saw that
1t would take at least two years to get
through the whole bill at the rate of prog
ress then being made, they temporarily sur
rendered. Later Speaker Kefer made some
arbitrary rulings which permitted the Re
pubicans to pass the bill. The struggle
ended in a tragedy, for Representative Has
kell, the Republican leader, smoked SO
much and talked so much during its con-
tinuance that he died soon afterward.
Mr.. w. a. Croffut OF the geological survey
calls attention to Il remarkable contest of en-
durancc made III the Legislative assembly of
Australia II few years ago, which also result
ed in tragedy A factious minority had
carried on its opposition with such ferocity
and passion that member, who had Just
made speech "a hours in length, fell to the
floor with a bursted blood vessel and died
III few minutes in the legislative cham
Der. Mr.. Croffut also cites q case in which
majority of the cortes in old Spain found
way in which to rule the majority. There
was long and wearisome debate. some
what like that which we have had in the
senate, and when fatigue had become I'M
endurable and the minority still persisted
wild bull was led into the hall by the To-
cal toreador, and while the panic which his
appearance caused was at its height the
majority passed the bill
Night of Combat.
One of the most remarkable deadlocks
and night sessions known in the house was
that over the bill to refund the direct tax
a lew years ago. 1t grew out of the refusal
Oh The majority to give General Oates, the
one armed fighter from Alabama, and his
associates six hours in which to debate.
Assisted by General Weaver of Iowa and
CLIFTON breckenridge of Arkansas. General
Oates fought one of the bravest and most
successful fights ever seen in the house.
FOR three days and nights they held up the
house, and the deadlock was at last broken
by the action of Il Democratic caucus.
oates had originally asked for only six
hours OF debate. The majority gladly gave
nm three days. 1t was Il notable victory.
Ben; Perley Poore gives an account of a
night session which occurred during the
Van Buren, administration: ''As midnipbt
approached it was curious to watch tho
various effects produced by the scene on
different tcmperaments. Some yawned
feartully; Others cursed and swore; others
shook their sides with merriment: others
reasoned and demonstrated with their
nelHhbors some very composedly stretched
themselves upon the sofas, having first bor
rowed chair cushions enough to support
their somnolcnt heads; others bivouaclled
On three chairs, While some, not finding
olher convenient couch, stretched them
selves flat on the floor of the house. with
perhaps volume of the laws of the United
states as their pillow. Thus rolled AWAY
the hours. Candles burned down to their
sockets, forming picturesque grottos of
spermaceti ms they declined; lamps went
out i'll suffocating fumes. Some insisted
on having window up; others on having
it down"
a Fruitless Night.
memorable all night session was that
Acid lust before the war when n Z. Banks
was finally elected speaker. 1t is Mr.. Poore
VINO describes that scene in his usual han
Ply manner: EARLY in January an ATTEMPT
was made 10 sit it out and all night the
house seethed like n boiling caldron. Yer
dant novices were