Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-19
AN ECHO OF DESPAIR.
How Senator Palmer Managed to Create
Much Amusement
An Incident That Relieved the Strain
of the Warning Factions in
the Senate.

The gravity Of the situation in the Senate
was broken this afternoon by a most anus
Ing incident. At about ! o'clock Senator
Palmer took the floor to ask for the extern
sion of the renowned senatorial courtesy to
Ser ator Teller
Il was considerably puzzled" he said,
during the speech of the Senator from Ne
vada as to the exact nature Of the question
before the Senate. After considerable in
Quiry, however, 1 have ascertained that the
question is the motion Of the Senator from
Colorado CMr Teller) to amend the journal
OF Mondays proceedings by inserting his
own name in the last roll call. Now this is
q very simple request. It is purely a per-
sonal plea. 1t seems to me there should be
no hesitation about granting 1t. Yet there
has been a debate Of many hours over this
question Of personal privilege, over this
almost fearful request OF the Senator from
Colorado, to permit him to be enrolled in
the journal. This is very discourteous. 1t
Is unusual. unnatural and cruel. 1t is not
treating the Senator from Colorado with
proper consideration. Now. therefore. ask
unanimous consent that this rather very
simple request be complied with. 1t seems
to me that there should be no objection to
such a petition so politely preferred"
Several ODJeCt1OnS.
A roar Of laughter greeted the conclusion
of Senator Palmer's remarks. in the midst
Of which Senator Dubois sang out II OBJ
ject." then Senator Call noted his objection
and Senator Faulkner secured the floor to
make a third one.
Senator Palmer held up his hands in mock
horror. His face wore an amused smile Of
perplexity.
II am amazed" he said. "at this callous
indifference on the part of the Senate. I
made the motion in the hope Of preserving
the traditions Of the courtesy of the Senate.
but in the face of this tremendous oppo-
sitton am forced to despair"
A Child's Crying.
During a murmur Of amusement that
rippled over the floor and galleries there
came the sound of the voice of a small
child. 1t rose and rose and swelled and
swelled until it had developed into a verit-
able YELL In the space next to the diplo-
matte gallery reserved for ladies could be
seen a frantic mother endeavoring to calm
the youngster. She had him down on one
Of the seats and seemed to be trying to
smother him with a shawl. but his lungs
had the call on the situation The door
keeper of the gallery rushed wildly down
the aisle and yanked the child out by the
arms with his mother hold Of one foot.
The yelling continued louder than ever.
The Senatorial smiles grew into a giggle
and then into q guffaw. The watchman,
less tender than he might have been, had
nearly succeeded in initiating Solomon in
his famous act of the division of the popu-
lation by the time that the door was reach
ed and the curtain had dropped upon this
little comedy.
senator Palmer's Happy Hit.
Though shaking with laughter Senator
Palmer struggled to his feet and his voice
rang through the noise. Waving his arm
In the direction Of the gallery, he said:
''Mr. President even the children echo
my despair" ana for fuI1y two minutes the
chairmans gavel could not be heard.
This incident relieved the strain upon the
Senate considerably. and put the warning
factions into a better humor for a speech
from Senator Call, who took the floor In
defense of filbustefing.