St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-28
PERSONAL TILT BETWEEN THE
NEW YORK AND WEST VIR-
GINA SENATOR'S.
"A MEAN POLITICAL TRICK
TION WITH THE PENDING
BILL.
BRIoE, OF OHIO, TooK A HAND.
by the Democratic Senator's
Was Gained.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-The SEN
ate indulged in an acrimonious political
debate today, which developed much
personal and party feeling, and brought
en- two sharp personal exchanges be-
tween Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Elkins, and be-
tween Mr.. Brice and Mr. Elkins. The
controversy arose over Mr.. Hills mo-
ton to strike from the pending ap-
preparation bill the proposed change
of the date of assembling the New
Mexico legislature from December to
May. Mr.. Hill bitterly denounced the
change as political trick" which had
been "sneaked into" this appropriation
bill in order, as he claimed, to post
pone the meeting of the Democratic
legislature in the hope that a Republic
an president would be elected and the
political control of the territory
changed. Mr. Elkins protested against
the use of the words 'sneaked into"
The exchange between the senators
was very animated, but Mr.. Hill persist
ed in the use of his adjectives. Later,
Mr.. Brice sought to question Mr.. Ell
kins, when the latter brought up the
offensive personal dispatch which had
been sent to Mr.. Brice from New Mex
leo. The debate took a wide range,
Senators German, Faulkner, Cockrell
and other Democrats attacking the pro-
visions as political, while Senators Ell
kins, Carter, Cullom and other Repub-
lican senators defended it, Mr.. Gull
lom sought to table Mr., Hilps motion,
but a motion to this effect failed-21
to 29-whereupon Mr.. Cullom yielded
to the Hill motion, and the New Mex
leo provision was struck out. At the
close Of the day the senate passed the
legislative appropriation bill carrying
$21, 100000. Aside from providing the
usual appropriations, the bill Is impor-
tant in effecting a reform, Of the system
Of compensation for United States dis
trict attorneys and marshals, salaries
being substituted for fees.
When the legislative appropriation
bill was taken up, Mr.. Sherman's mo-
ton to strike out ALI provisions for a
change from fees to salaries for fed
eral attorneys and marshals was pend
ing. Mr.. Villas moved to further amend
by fixing district attorneys salaries at
the uniform rate Of $4,000, except in a
few large districts Mr.. Villas amend
ment was voted down without roll
call, and then the Sherman amendment
was defeated by vote of 80 to 18.
At this point Mr.. Hill created some
thing of sensation. He moved to
strike out the provision that the legis-
lative assembly Of New Mexico shall
meet in May. '"This is a small, mean,
contemplate political trick" he ex-
claimed with great vigor. 1T is a
provision sneaked into this appropria-
ton bill to force the approval of the
PRESIDENT ,.e,s =: -
What right have you to say
sneaked in?'" interrupted Mr.. Elk
ins Rep., w. Va.). "What authority
have you for such statement?"
"Ah," responded Mr.. Hill, with unc-
ton. IT thought ia stir up the SEN
ator from New Mexico. ] see beside
him the author of this plan, who on
the minute is here to whisper in his
ear to support it. What I mean by
'sneaked in,+" proceeded Mr.. Hill, "is
that it Is unworthy that this political
trick should be tried in connection
with a great appropriation BILL
But the senator has made a serious
charge" persisted Mr.. r.Elkins. LET him
confine his explanation to the asser-
ton of 'sneaking in What does he
mean by that?"
"I mean that such a political plan
has no place here. It has crept in,
sneaked in. Will the senator deny
that this is a political amendment"
Mr.. Elkins responded that the house
of representatives, in the exercise Of
it's rights, had introduced this pro-
posed change. -
Mr.. Cullom Rep., Ill.,, in charge of
the bill, said he was surprised at this
outburst Of excitement from the New
York senator, who, Mr.. Cullom feared
would have a spasm before he got
through"
"Oh, no. interjected NJ. Hill; "I was
never cooler in my life
Mr.. Hill moved to strike out the
New Mexico provision, and he ap-
pealed to Republican senators to make
the striking out unanimous.
Mr.: Elkins defec;sii daeed the proposition
He declared that the amendment was
not political 80 far as he knew.
Were you not at one time the dele
gate from New Mexico?" asked Mr..
Brfce, addressing Mr.. Ellzins.
Yes, I had that honor" replied Mr..
Ellxins.
did you, at that time, ever suggest
a change in the time Of holding the
assembly," pursued Mr.. Brice.
mo, there was no demand for it
then,' answered Mr. Elkins. "But
now,'' proceeded Mr.. Ellkins, taking
up a new and very personal phase, 'let
me ask the senator from Ohio (Brice)
what he thinks Of the governor of New
Mexico, for this seems to be a contest
between the governor and the dele
gate. Let me ask the senator what
the governor said about him. Mr..
Elkins reference was to the offensive
telegram sent by Gov. Thornton and
others to Mr.. Brice.
1.-THE governor withdrew his state
ments,' said Mr. Brice.
But what was the telegram that
the governor sent concerning the SEN
ator?" asked Mr.. Elkins.
Mr.. Brice explained that the gov
ernor had attended a meeting from
which a telegram was sent rejecting
on him CBrice), but subsequently the
governor had publicly disavowed re-
sponsibility, and had made suitable
amend.
Mr.. Blkins said the statement of
Mr.. Brice disclosed thata'the governor
had been mistaken on one important
occasion, so that it was fair tc pre-
sumo he might be in this case and
the delegate was a better authority
than the governor. o.
Mr.. Faulkner Oem., 1 w. Va) op-
posed the amendment Oh the ground
that 1t was political, and was based
on the hope that a Republican presi-
dent would be elected.
do understand,fI asked Mr.. VOL
cott, "the senator says a Republican
president will be elected?"
NO" responded Mr.. Faulkner, who
is chairman of the Democratic con-
gressional committee; "only those Of
most vivid imagination and who dream
when they are walking will saw that -