The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-18
THE DAY AT
WASHINGTON
Republicans and Democrats Alike
Roast Secretary Morton to a
Dark BroKn Color.
AND NO ONE DEFENDS HIM
Ehea Pearson Asked u Ssme Member Koaid
Not Dsiead the Secretary. he kas
Greeted With a Chorus Of
Noes" From All Sides.

Washington, Feb 1.-THE agricultural
/ appropriation bill occupied the attention
OF the house today. A great deal OF
criticism Of Secretary Morton was In
dulged In on both sides OF the political
aisle, but. as on Saturday, not one arose
TO his defense. At last Pearson asked n
there was rot some member, Democratic,
/ Populist or Republican. who would raise
a voice In his defense. His question
was greeted with chorus OF noes from
all sides OF the house The omission In
the bill OF the provision for a chief clerk
for the bureau Of animal industry at a
salary Of 1900. which was made upon
the secretary's recommendation. led TO
an insinuhtion that the secretary wanted
to legisiate out OF Office p. L. Lysle. a
free silver Democrat, from Missouri. the
present incumbent. who was appointed on
the recommendation OF the Missouri SEN
ators. and II was intimated that Sccre-
tary Morton's action was an attempt TO
retaliate upon Senator Vest for the lat
ter's attack on him in the senate two
weeks ago. The amendment was pending
when the house adjourned, making a
mandatory execution Of the provision In
the bill for the distribution Of seeds. IL
Is understood Cousins will tomorrow offer
an amendment, directing the secretary OF
the treasury TO withhold the payment OF
Secretary Morton's salary until this pro-
vision has been executed.
Washington. Feb 17.-In the senate
today Mitchell. OF Oregon, chairman on
the committee on privileges and elections,
presented the views Of the majority NJ the
committee favoring the seating OF Du-
pont. as senator from Delaware Ths
report begins with an account OF the pro-
ceedings Of the Delaware legislature in
May last. when II Is claimed Dupont was
elected 1t shows that In joint assembly
the legislature OF that state numbered
thirty members. sixteen Of whom consti-
tuted majority. and that. at the time
OF the alleged election. William T. Wat
son. who had been, elected a member OF
the state senate and also speaker OF the
senate. was acting as governor OF the
state. leaving. IL he was not entitled 10
sit as a senator. ~twenty-nine legislators
TO constitute Joint assembly and max ng
fifteen majority. II is also shown that
Dupont received fifteen votes, being a
majority Of the whole number entitled
to be cast In such joint assembly. and
a majority Of all legal votes cast therein.
he was legally elected senator
Washington. Feb. 1.-THE speech OF Da-
Wis. supporting the resolution OF which
he Is the author. enunciating the policy
OF the United States on the Monroe doc
trine, was the event Of the day In the
senate. There was an added interest and
significance in Davis utterances, as the
resolution voiced the sentiments OF the
majority OF the committee on foreign re-
lations. OF which he is member Pub
lie interst In the subject was evidenced
by the crowded galleries. the attendance
being larger than at any time since the
vote on the bond bill. His language was
conservative. and was not the radical ut
terance some had expected.
Washington. Feb. 17.-In the house to-
day. on motion of Doolittle, an amena-
ment was adopted to the agricultural ap-
preparation bill. directing the secretary
OF agriculture to distribute fibre flax seed
In the state Of Washington.