Evening journal., 1896-02-06
AGAINST PRIZE FIGHTS.
The House Passes a Bill to Pro.
hibit Fistic Encounters.
SENATE MEASURE FAvoRINe CUBA
Sensational Incidents In Both branches o.
Congress--Vest's Sarcastic Denunciatior
of Secretary Morton - Two Statesmen
Have lively Tit.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Iho most caustit
utterance heard In the senate since Mr.
Tillman's sensational speech was that ol
/ Mr.. Vest of Missouri, arraigninR Secretary
of Agriculture Morton. The keen satire
and ridioule directed against the secretary
and the illusions to the president made
the speech hardly less notable than that
which recently startled the senate.
Mr. Vests speech was on the resolution
of Mr. Hansbrough directing the sccre
tary of agriculture to execute the law as
to seed distribution.
Mr. Vest referred derisively to "tht
colossal intellect dealing with cabbages.
why did not this secretary, he said,
turn his searchlight on the sale of bonds
TO foreign syndicates Why did he not
investigate the proiiigacy Of public print.
| ingY The gigantic intellect OF this secre.
tary Of agriculture had daily gone outside
Of his legitimate duties, and why did II
not discover some of the really fragrant
abusesY
"This secretary, proceeded the senator,
assumed TO run the entire government.
He has been practically the secretary Of
the treasury, flooding this country with
reports and pamphlets denounoing the sill.
yer lunatics and upholding the single gold
/ standard.
Mr.. Vest spoke with deep irony Of the
| gardens surrounding the agricultural de
/ partment. He read the annual appropria.
| tiOns for botanical gardens plants, etc.
Here was this secretary - declared Mr..
Vest, "cultivating orchids and lilies of
| the valley and palms TO grace the banquets
and receptions of the president In this
city, but when we give few seed 20 some
| poor farmer this secretary springs 60 arms,
and liberty lies bleeding in the street.
The senator said he appreciated that he
would be assailed by the metropolitan
press for such expressions But he had
| been called communist, a lunatic, and
K he could stand more. As for himself, he
would rather send seed to some struggling
farmer of the west or put one flower in
the siclSroom of some poor girl than t.
decorate the banquets where thechandeliei
flashed its light across the red wine.
There was much amusement through
the chamber and in the galleries as the
senator compared the secretary with classic
heroes. Like the warhorse Of job. his
neck is clothed with the thunders, and he
sayeth among the trumpets, Ha, hal' rhe
trouble is that the secretary Of agriculture
is monomaniac on the gold standard
He sees only gold, gold, red gold, and he
thinks any man who does not see as he
sees is a lunatic."
Bitter and Sarcastic Pcroration.
Mr.. Vest closed shortly with a remarka
bly, sarcastic and bitter peroration He
referred to the useless seeds, which it was
| asserted the secretary had properly refused
to buy But, added the senator, there
was one seed not mentioned. "lt was, -
he proceeded, smiling maliciously, the
aurefurfonculum caues Mortonw or, In
palmer words, Morton's golden dogweed.
This would flourish while this secretary,
swinging his golden censor at the execu-
tive mansion, shouted his Holy, holy art
thou, o Grover, king Of kings and lord OF
lordsn'
Mr.. Vests speech having proceeded be-
! yond the hour fixed for taking up the
| Quay resolution to recommit the silver
tariff bill that measure went over for the
day, and the resolution to distribute appro-
priation bills among the several commit
tees was again taken up
Among the amendments offered was one
from Mr.. Quay proposing an increase OF
the finance committee from 13 to 10.
Mr.. Teller (Rep) Of Colorado took occa-
sion during the debate to refer TO the sue
cess of tho bond ISSUE Large as the offer
ings were they would have been larger II
the secretary OF the treasury had received
I DAQN Nl a AAANu UiAit AiA lllh nNlAANs NAhliArf
and awkward as this bond submission had
been, lacking the essential features Of a
popular loan, yet it completely answered
those who had talked Of the necessity of
looking to foreign syndicates TO sustain
our credit.
A new phase Of the Cuban question was
presented by Mr.. Morgan-a report from
the committee on foreign relations-recog
nizing a state Of war in Cuba and accord
ing both contestants recognition as beilig
eronts. The following is the text Of the
resolution
"That in the opinion Of congress q con
dition Of public war exists between the
government of Spain and the government
proclaimed and for some time maintained
by force of arms by the people OF Cuba,
and that the United States Of America
should maintain strict neutrality be
tween the contending powers and accord
to each all the rights of belligoronts in the
ports and territory Of the United States
The House on Prize Fighting.
Forthcoming prize fights between Fitz-
simmons and NIaher and others in the
southwest occupied the attention of the
house for time, and bill was passed to
prevent prize OF bull fighting in the terri
tories of the United States.
| Inc Dill was introduced hy DcicEdto
Catron of New Mexico and provides that
any person who in any Of the territories
or the District of Columbia shall volun-
tarily engage in pugilistio encounter be-
tween man and man, or a fight between a
man and bull or any other animal, for
money or for other things Of value, OF for
any championship, or upon the result Of
which any money or anything of value is
bet or wagered, or TO see which any ad-
mission fee is charged, either directly or
indirectly shall be deemed guilty of a fcl-
ony, and upon conviction shall be punish
ed by Imprisonment in the ponitentiary
for not less than one year nor more than
five years.
The term pugilistic encounter as used
in this bill is meant any voluntary fight
by blows by means of fists. or otherwise,
whether with or without gloves, between
two or more men for money. or for a prize
of any character, or for any other thing
of value, or for any championship, or
upon the result of which any money or
anything Of value is bet OF wagered, OF to
see which any admission fee is charged,