The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-28
LOOKS LIKE A TRICK
A Piece of Political Business That In
trests New Mexico.
HILL SEES THROUGH 1T ALL
Elkins and the New York Senator
Indulge In a Spirited and Very
Warm Debate-Another Ad-
Journment Wrangle.

presented a favorable report on the bill
proposing the purchase of a square op-
posite the east front of the capitol for
a supreme court building.
The legislative appropriation bill was
then taken up. The pending question
was the motion of Sherman to strike
out all provisions relating to the change
of compensation from fees to salaries
for United States district attorneys and
marshals. Villas offered further
amendment proposing a uniform salary
of $4,000 to district attorneys, except
the district of New York to be left as
at present and giving $4,000 for the
large districts of Massachusetts,, East
ern Pennsylvania, Eastern Louisiana,
Northern Illinois and Northern Cali
fornia- Allison spoke against the prac-
tice OF placing riders on appropria-
ton bills, but he regarded this reform
as exceptional and desirable. At the
close of the discussion Villas amend
ment was defeated. A roll call fol-
lowed on Sherman's amendment, and
Ii was defeated-1S to 80.
At this point Hill created a sensation.
He moved to strike out the provision
that the legislative assembly of New
Mexico shall meet in May. This is a
small, mean, contemplate trick" said
Hill with great vigor. 1T is a provi-
sion sneaked into this appropriation
Jill W ACiSt tHC dPpIONdl VI Tie pTccl-
dent" The senator went on TO explain
that the present legislature. which was
democratic, would meet in December.
But 1t was attempted by this amend
ment to put off the meeting until May
IN the hope that a republican president
might be inaugurated in the meantime.
1t was a contemplate trick to "sneak
In" a political advantage.
What right have you to sneak"
interrupted Elkins. What authority
have you for such a statement"
"Ah," responded Hill, "I thought I
would stir up the senator from New
Mexico 1 see beside him the author of
this plan, who, ON the minute, is here
to whisper in his ear in support OF it.
What l mean by 'sneaked in,'" pro-
ceeded Hill, ''is that 1t is unworthy that
this political trick should be tried in
connection with great appropriation
bill"
But the senator has made a serious
charge" persisted Elkins. Let him
confine his explanation to the assertion
of 'sneaking in what does he mean
by that?"
'T mean that such a political plan
has no place here. 1t has crept in,
sneaked In. VIII the senator deny that
this is political amendment"
Elkins responded that the house of
representatives, in the exercise of its
| rights, had introduced this proposed
change.
After further acrimonious debate,
Cullom, in charge of the bill, explained
that the amendment came from the
house in the regular way. Carter fol-
lowed in defense of the amendment
Hill answered that he did not COM
plain of the presence of the New Mex
| leo delegate (Catron), who sat along
side of Carter, but he did object to hav-
ing that delegate attempt to secure
| this political amendment.
Hill moved to strike out the New
| Mexico provision and he appealed to
| the republican senators to make the
striking out unanimous, as the amend
ment was clearly political" Daniel
| spoke against the amendment.
Elkins defended the proposition, say
ing the delegate wanted 1t and was
| better qualified to speak for 1t than
| any one else. Certainly no senator who
| spoke of an amendment being sneak
| ed in" was a good authority on a ques-
| tion Of taste. At this point another
heated personal colloquy occurred.
| Brice and Elkins being the partici-
| pants.
Were you not at one time delegate
| from New Mexico?" asked Brice, ad-
dressing Elkins.
Yes. 1 had that honor" replied FL
| lkins.
Did you at that time ever suggest
a change in the time of holding the as
sembly?" pursued Brice.
| mo, there was no demand for IL
| then," answered Elkins.
| But now" proceeded Elk,ns taking
up new and very personal phase. let
| me ask the senator from Ohio what he
| thinks of the governor of New Mexico,
| for this is a contest between the gov
/ ernor and the delegate. Let me ask the
Il u-h the said a
him?" Elkins' reference was to the Of
| fensive telegram sent by Governor
| Thornton and others to Brice.
THE governor withdrew his state
| ments," said Brice.
| But what was the telegram that the
governor sent concerning the senator?''
asked Elkins.
Brice responded again that the tele-
gram had been properly disavowed by
the governor.
What did the governor say in that
telegram about the senator from Ohio?
| persisted Elkins.
Brice explained that the governor
had attended a meeting from which a
telegram was sent rejecting on him
| CBrice), but subsequently the governor
| had publicly disavowed responsibility
and had made suitable amends. Turn
| ing his attention to the pending amend
ment Brice said that if II was a polit-
icaltrick II was unworthy to be brought
| here. on its face the charge was well
| founded. and under the circumstances
Brice said he would authorize this
| amendment.
Elkins said the amendment of Brice
discloses that the governor had beer
mistaken on an important occasion. 81
that IL was fair TO presume he might b.
in this case and that the delegate
might be better authority than the gov
ernor.
Faulkner opposed the amendment or
the ground that IL was political anC
was based on the phase that a repub
/ lican president would be elected
do I understand" asked Wolcott
that the senator says a republican
president will be elected?"
NO" responded Faulkner. who 4
chairman Of the democratic congres
sional committee. only those OF tn