Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-05
4 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Consisting of Senators Sher- man, Morgan and Lodge APPOINTED BY THE SENATE A Long Wrangle Expected Over the Seating of
 Senator Dupont. FEE AID SALARY QUESTION DEBATED Many District Attorneys Want Their sala- ries Increased, but Only Two of Them
 Are Successful No Conference
 Committee Appointed.
FEE AID SALARY QUESTION DEBATED

Washington, March 4.-Ihe senate en- tered today on the consideration of the question whether Fl. B. Dupont has been legally elected United States senator from the state of Delaware. Although the facts in the case are conceded on both sides of the chamber the legal point is one on which the two political parties take opposite views, and on the opposi- tion hinges dispute which may occupy the time of the senate for weeks to come. 1t seems in Delaware assembly, on the 18th of May, 1895, MT. Dupont received fifteen votes out of a total of thirty cast. But as to one of the thirty votes It IS contended on the part of MT. Dupont that it was illegal, it having been cast by Mr. Watson, senator who hao, on the death of the governor, succeeded to that office and who could not. as claimed hv inc republican members of the com mittee on privileges and elections, legally or constitutionally act as senator. III that case the total legal vote cast pelng only twenty-nine, MT. Dupont Wouid have received majority ana -Wouio pe entitled to seat in the senate. The con tention on the part of the democratic members of the committee IS that tne exercise of duties of governor py at son did not divest him of ms rignts as a state senator, and that at all events that was a question to be determined by tbe senate of Delaware and not by the United States senate. MT. Mltcnei VI oregon chairman of the committee OH privileges and elections made the oPen- inc argument in favor of the right or MT. Dnnont. He spoke for sthree and haif hours and had not ended his speech when the matter was laid aside Tor the day. ,,,so s,h-
 The senate disagreed to the house sup stitute for the senate concurrent reso- lution as to Cuba, and a conference with inc house was requested the senate con forces heinz Senators Sherman, republi- can. of Ohio; Morgan, democrat, or Ala bama, and Lodge, republican, or Massa- chusetts, all members or the coiiiiii''ee on foreign relations.
 The resolution offered yesterday py NIT; Allen declaring United States bonds ana legal tender notes redeemaole m soIu and silver coin was laid before the Seli- ate: but in the absence of MT Teller, who desired to address the senate upon it, the resolution went over without ac- ton. e ., calendar and passed. and the senate at D. m., adjourned until tomorrow.
 Mr. Voorhees, who has been absent for some weeks past on account of illness, was in his seat today in apparently per feet health. Ii.
 MT. Dupont was in the lobby while ms cause was being pleaded, and Ex-Senator B. in controversy was also an interested listener. ., ,
 Among the measures passed by the sen ate were: ,...,4
 Senate bill to provide for substitute ports of entry and delivery in the state or Florida. ,,., +b.
 Senate joint resolution directing the secretary of war to furnish an estimate for deepening the channel from HamPIon Roads to the navy yard at Norfoik Va, and also improving the western D""'i of the Elizab beth river. = e-s
 Senate bill granting pension or $'o month to the widow of Ex-Senator Speh- cer of Alabama as brigadier-geneT
 Senate bill for the relief of st. Charles college Missouri. for use, occupation ana damages by United States troops ourihs the civil war. .1 1au, which requires the southern alSliio' iudee of Florida to reside at Key west Fla
 After passing few relativeV uIiile s portant bills the house spent the rest ol the days session in the conslderatioil III committee of the whole or the iee anu ealarv amendment to the legislative eX- scutive and judicial appropriation Dill. Tba whole time was spent upon the pre- narration. fixing the salaries or the us trjct attorneys of the federal courts xyhicb range from 5000 to $50OO. The sec
  score of amendments, chiefly intended 10 increase the sums allotted to varlous districts hut the committee re- fused to make any change in the scneu- ule. save in two instances. Ihe saiary of the attorney for the western district of Pennsylvana was increased rom s95O0 to s4000 and that of the attorney of the eastern district of Michigan from 5000 to $40Oo.
 An amendment was agreed to requiring pappra1 in amounting aS- sistant district attorneys to make se- Iections from residents of the distrlct Tn which they are to serve.
 Tn the course of the afternoon a mes sage was received from the senate an- nouncing the disagreement of that body to the substitute of the house for the (,uban resolutions and asking confer ence thereon, but no action was taken on
 The order for the printing of the re- oort of the Nicaragua canal commission made February 19 was amended so as to exclude the printing of the accompa- uying papers and maps. The conference report on the army appropriation pii' was agreed to. The house, at o'clock, adjourned until tomorrow
 ECCENTRIC MANS MISFORTUNE. Charles dway Rouss Would Rather Be
 Blind Than Loaf
 New York, March 4.-An evening paper says: Within very few veeks Charles Broadway Rouss, the ec ntric Broad way merchant, will be totally blind. The occulists who have been treating him have given up all hope of saving his sight. which has ben rapidly leaving him despite all their efforts With charac- teristfc courage MT. Rouss treats his af- f1iction lightly. and says he might as well be blind as dead for if he obeyed the doc tors and retired from business to give his eyes a rest he would surely die of ennuf Few men in mercantile life have been more talked about than Charles Broad way Rouss since he came to this city