The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-26
LATEST
is SIGNIFICANT.
Senator Mcpherson Asks and
Gets Leave of Absence.
What Does This Signify in Relation to
the TariH-Proceedings Quiet.
BY The Associated Press.

III NV f'~
WASHINGTON, July 26.-A general i'm
preston in the galleries when the
Senate met today wal that the oratorical
pyrotechnic display was over for the
present unless the Republicans seized the
opportunity to harass their political ad-
versaries. BY agreement IL was decided
not to call up the conference report on the
tariff bill until 2 o'clock.
Mr.. Aliens resolution calling on the
Attorney General for copies OF all cores
pondence with railroad officials in con-
nection with the recent strike was
agreed to. The Senate then proceeded to
consider bills on the calendar.
Mr.. Mcpherson (Dem., N. J.),. inter-
rupted the consideration of the bills on
the calendar to ask indefinite leave of
absence. His request was based on ''per-
sistent Illness caused by the bad air in the
Senate chamber"
The request was granted.
At 2 o'clock Mr.. Jones called up the
conference report on the tariff bill.
Mr.. Villas Dem., Wis., J, was Immediate
ly recognized. but yielded to Mr.. Quay,
(Rep., Pal who withdrew the sugar
amendments he offered just before adj
journment last night.
Mr.. Gray Dem, Deli suggested the
absence OF a quorum and the absentees
came trooping in, in response to the sum
mons OF the electric bells. Mr.. Brice (Dem.,
Ohio), came in and held a whispered con-
sultation with Mr.. Villas. 1t was expect
ed that the Ohio Senator would make a
statement before Mr.. Villas proceeded, but
he did not do SO.
Villas Defends Cleveland.
The Wisconsin senator began his speech
by saying that an extraordinary scene oc-
Cured On Monday last in the nate
A Democratic Senator, he said, saw fit
to attact the President without precedent
he thought, or IL there was a precedent it
was one that ought to be Stunned
instead OF followed. II was a
personal assault upon the President.
and his character. He had hoped, he said,
that the remarks of Mr.. German and
those who joined with him on that occa-
sion would have appeared in the record
before he (Mr. Vilas) replied.
But, he went on sarcastically, he pre-
sumed the engagements of the Maryland
Senator were so pressing that he had no
time to revise them. Mr.. Villas considered
II his duty to reply TO the assault.
He would speak, he said, as the per-
sonal as well as the political friend OF the
President. IL was his honest testimony
to his character that never at any mo-
ment in any temptation, political
or personal, had he failed to see in Mr..
Cleveland the pure white light of an up
right purpose. For such a man he saw fit
to say some w~ords-not in defense
Che needed none) but some correction
OF a discoloration of facts by which Mr..
Cleveland has been placed in a false light
before the country. He would make this
statement i'm behalf Of the truth Of the
history. =,
What were the points or accusation"
inquired Mr., Villas, {" in the remarkable
assault to which ] have alluded ?" He re-
GREETED, he said, that MIR. German was
absent from the Senate chamber. The first
accusation, he proceeded, was that the
President was open to the charge ofdupli-
city. That was based Upon a letter IN
which Mr.. Cleveland expressed the hope
that iron and coal should 60 on the free
list in the tariff bill.
The second was that the executive had
by that encroached on the proceedings of
Congress, and third, that the President
had traduced the Senate. Those
charges were true or false, not as a
matter OF argument, but as a matter
OF fact. Mr.. Villas then took up the charges
named by him in detail, after he had paid
compliment to Mr.. Hill as follows: al de-
sire to say here that / am under
deep obligation 10 the Senator from
New York who never in his public career
made such an able exposition of any sub-
tsct as he did on Tuesday last"