The record-union., 1895-02-06
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
A Breezy Session of the United
States Senate.
WORDY ALTERATION BETWEEN
HARRIS AND MITCHELL.
For Time 1t Looked as Though the
Senate Chamber Might Witness
Repetition of the BelliGerent Scene
ministration Currency Bill Debated
In the House.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

WASHINGTON, t eD. 0.-Ihe senate Ses-
sion opened to-day with very breezy
personal altercation between Mitchell
(Rep.D of Oregon and Harris (Dem.) of
Tennessee. The words 'ungentlemanly"
and 'contemptible" were exchanged.
and for time it looked as though the
Senate Chamber might witness repeti-
ton of the belligerent scene in the House
last week. But the conflict assumed
somewhat serio-comic aspect, and the
Senate soon relapsed into an uneventful
consideration of routine business. The
District of Columbia appropriation bill
was passed, after having been before the
Senate more than week, and discussion
of the diplomatic and consular bill was
begun. The credentials OF Perkins of
California for the unexpired term of the
late Leland Stanford were presented and
the Senator was sworn in. lie has pre-
viousIy served, on an appointment from
the Governor, pending the choice Of the
Legislature.
The sensational episode referred to
above occurred in the Senate as soon as
the session opened to-day.
Mitchell OF Oregon wished to make
report on certain sugar bounty claims on
which. he said, he desired to make a brief
explanation.
''Ihere will have to be an explanation
when the subject comes" interposed
Harris OF Tennessee, $50 it will be
waste of time to have an explanation
now. l therefore object"
Mitchell urged that the explanation
would not take three minutes, but harris
shook his head.
Them said Mitchell, with growing
impatience, Il viii not make the report;
I viii withdraw it. 1t is most extraordl-
nary that Senators cannot su bmit a brief
explanation il they so desire. 1t is re-
inarkable." MitchelPs words were snap
ped out vehemently.
at is needless for the Senator to pro-
test.'' said Harris. 81 object and | en-
phasize it, l object"
Then l withdraw the report" declared
Mitchell.
Withdraw it, them" exclaimed Harris,
defautly.
Mitchell showed intense irritation at
this defiance, and, raising his voice he
SAID to Harris The action of the Sena-
tor is unusual, most unusual"
II want this fellow to understand" re-
turned Harris, measuring each word,
''that / am capable of doing unusual
things, and l am responsible for doing
unusual things"
Yes" answered Mitchell, his flushed
face showing intense Indignation. ~ ap-
prcciale that the Senator is capable of do
ing unusual things.' And then Mitchell
added: And he is capable OF doing un-
genllemanly things"
Harris stepped forward from his desk
and for moment ii seemed that he was
about TO resent the statement in an I'M
usual and emphatic way.
He paused, however, and with gesture
toward Mitchell and addressing him di-
rectly said:
Let me tell you. sir. that your con-
duct is empuble-contempti tibler'
The presiding officer had been rapping
vigorously as the controversy proceeded.
The Senators must proceed in order,''
he repeated.
gathered about them, and their indignant
eXpostulations continued in subdued
tones.
The presiding officer directed the clerk
to proceed with other business and the
incident was sum mmariiy closed.
Mitchell moved about the chamber re-
i;erating his protests, while Harris sat
at his desk apparently unmoved by the
sharp exchange OF personalities.
After considering minor routine sub
jects, the Senate again took up the Dis
trict OF Columbia appropriation bill.
McLaurin offered an amendmeuJ to the
bond amendment TO the bill providing
for the coinage OF the silver. seigniorage
in the treasury amounting to 900. .OOJ COO
which shoulG be used in paving the ex-
penses OF the improvements coutem-
plated by the amendments.
Harris appealed TO McLaurin to with
draw the amendment. because ii was gen.
eral legislation, and in no wise pertinent
TO the pending bill.
McLaurin said lie could not consent to
Withdraw the amendment, because of his
objection to bond issue of any Kind by
the Government when it could be
avoided.
Mills tDem.) of Texas made the point
of order that the original amendment
was also out of order, on the ground that
IL was provision for general legislation.
4 long debate followed as to the prior
jty of the points of order made bv
Hale and Mills. The Vice President said
he would submit the two points of order
10 the Senate. There was a viva yoce
vote, ON which the point OF order was
sustained by large majority.
The District OF Columbia appropriation
bill was then passed.
The diplomatic and consular appro-
priation bill was made the next order of
business.
The Senate then held a brief executive
session, alter which, at 4:4O p NJ, it ad-
journed.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The debate on
the Admins tration bill to authorize the
issue Of Sl0J,00O,000 gold bonds for the
purpose of retiring the legal tenders and
treasury notes. began in the House TO-
day, and continued for six hours. 1t de-
veloped widely divergent views at the
outset. The silver Democrats and Popu-
lists opposed it outright. Some of the
Administration Democrats, like Hall of
Missouri favored n substitute on the
lines of the Carlisle BILL while Reed,
after aspeech charging the present trouble
to the deficiency in the revenue, intro
duced q bill authorizing the Secretary of
the Treasury 10 sell three per cent. coin
bonds TO keep up the gold reserve and
certificates OF Indebtedness, redeemable
at the pleasure Of the Government, TO pay
current eN penSeS until the revenues shall
equal the eX penditures. The issue of gold
bonds, he said, would discriminate
against the coin bonds OF the past.
Patterson (Dem.l of Tennessee, on the
contrary, favored the issue OF gold bonds.
The DEBATE, under the fye-minute rule,
when the bill is open for amendment, be-
gins Tomorrow.
The House met at II o'clock to-day.
Several bills were passed by unanimous
consent, including one to pension the
widow of the late Commodore Frank
Avery at the rate OF so per month.
In accordance with the terms of the
special order adopted yesterday, the
House resolved itself into a Committee Of
The Whole to consider the bill to author
ize the Secretary OF the Treasury to Issue
bonds to maintain a sufficient gold re-
serve and redeem and retire Unites States
notes, and for other purposes"