Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-16

tional arguments for and against it was
that the republican senator's to a man
voted in favor of the claim, that the dem
ocrats voted just as unanimously against
it and that the populists allied themselves
solldly on the democratic side, making
the vote on the amendment which de-
clared that Mr. Dupont was not entitled
to the seat 81 to 30 A second vote on the
resolution thus amended resulted in ex-
act1y the same figures. There was no at
tempt on the part of the republicans to
postpone a decisive issue.
At $40 the senate adjourned until to-
morrow.
The House.
Mr.. Howard, populist, of Alabama, sig
nalized his return TO congress after an
absence of several months today by rs
ing to question of personal privilege
immediatel after the reading of the jour-
nal He said that when last present in
the house his appearance had been made
the occasion of a cruel, baseless attack
by the press of the country. The article
in the St. Louis Republic, he said, was
typical of the general onslaught, and he
read that. 1t stated that Mr.. Howard had
come on the floor of the house in a state
of intoxication after a debauch of several
days, his appearance resembling that of
a tramp. He had gone to sleep, it said,
on a lounge, and had thence been re-
moved by two colored porters of the
house.
This is the contamination OF Howard's
career" was the closing sentence.
Mr.. Howard wehi on to explain that
he came to the house to vote on the silver
bill. He had come against the advice OF
his phys. clan, and was accompanied by
his wife and the wife of Representative
Stroud. The members about him, Mr..
McLaurin and others, saw that he was
desperately sick, and had advised his re-
moval for thar reason. Since then, Mr..
Howard said, he had been confined to his
room, at times near deaths door, and only
yesterday had been able to resume his
duties on the floor Il should not trouble
the house about this matter" he contin-
ued, but believe it to be due to the peo-
pie who sent me here and the children
who bear my name to denounce the
charge as wilfully and malic.ously false"
Mr. Howard referred to the designation
of populists as "cranks," and said: IF
the principles of the peoples party are
wrong these misguided people who hold
them will not be brought back into the
ways of truth by vituperative abuse. The
same designation is made of free silver
democrats and of free silver republicans,
the only difference being that they are
harmless and we are not. But whatever
may be thought of the party to which |
belong, am a, member of this house, and
1 am entitled to It's protection against
these assaults"
On motion of Mr.. Dingley, republican,
of Maine, it was agreed that when the
house adjourn tonight it be until Monday
next.
Mr.. DeArmond called up the unani-
nous report of elections committee No.
upon the contested election case of j.
Hampton Hoge, republican, VS.. Peter j.
Otey, democrat, from the Sixth Virginia
district, confirming the title of Mr. Otey
to the seat which he occuI ID and it was
agreed to. Z,
The house then proceeded to read and
pass the private pension bills favorably
acted upon by the committee of the
whole the past week, there being about
100 in all on the calendar.
When the bill was reached to pension
the widow of the late Secretary Gresham
at the rate of 500 month, Mr. Talbert,
democrat, of South Carolina, made the
point that no quorum had voted on it's
passage and the speaker was compelled
to count quorum. The vote by which
the bill passed was 120 to 15.
Mr.. Talbert also endeavored to secure
q recommittal of the bill granting pen
sion of $75 month to the widow of the
late Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr., with in
structions to reduce the amount to $50
month, but the motion failed-55 to 16
At o'clock the house under the rules
took a recess until o'clock, having pass
ed 101 bills. Thirty-four bills were laid
aside to await formal Endorsement before
final action upon the demand of Messrs.
Erdman, democrat, of Pennsylvania, and
Talbert, democrat, of South Carolina.