The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-04
SENATORS FORCED TO SMILE.
BUTLER Runs AFOUL OF HILL AND
A FUNERAL BILL.

The Ambitions POpuIist Twice Head
ed on when About TO Air His
Views in Speech-SenatOr Hin
Surprises the Chamber by Obiect-
ing to Consideration of a Bill
While Acting as Presiding Omeer.
Washington. Jan. 3.-Instead OF suR-
gesting some practical plan for the re-
lief OF the finances OF the government,
the Senate spent the entire session to-
day criucising the administrations finan-
cial policy. II was a great day for the
occupants Of the crowded galleries. near
ly all OF the star debaters OF the Senate
We're in evidence at various periods in
the debate, which came up on the reso-
luton OF Senator Elkins Of West Virginia
declaring that the sentiment of the Senate
is against the proposed issue Of bonds,
unless the said bonds are advertised and
thrown open to general competition.
Senator Hill was In his element, for ne
is never so delighted as when he is en-
gagged in a trough and tumble" discuss
sion with Senators Teller. Sherman,
Hoar, Hawley and the other big guns, on
the republican side Of the chamber. 1t was
a novelty to see the senior senator from
New York defending the President and
the Secretary Of the Treasury from the
attacks of the republicans, but he not
only defended the administration. but he
upheld the hnanciers of the country who
are prepared to come to the relief OF the
government, because congress refuses 10
do its fun duty I'm the existing emer-
gency. IL was Senator HIPS busy day,
for he made three strong administration
speeches, replied 10 questions from six
republican senators, and finally had the
qualification of seeing the Senate ad-
lourn without a vote being taken on the
In the course OF the debate. there wera
! many interesting and amusing Incidents.
carefully prepared speech, criticising the
financial policy Of the administration.
every senator gave him his undivided at
tention, for Mr.. Sherman Is always in
structive when discoursing on his pet
topic, national finances" Although his
voice Is not strong, he could be distinctly
heard throughout the Senate chamber, so
interested We're his listeners upon the
floor, as well as In the galleries Several
of the democrats left their seats and took
chairs on the republican, side, so they
might follow Mr. Sherman TO n better ad-
vantage.
Senator George OF Mississippi an unre-
lenting foe of the gold bug" and a
never failing friend to free silver" took
a seat directly in front of Senator Sher-
man, leaned back in his chair, gazed at
the stained glass skylight, and apparently
absorbed every word uttered by the dis
tinguished senator from Ohio.
Senator Mills. who maintains that freer
trade viii give greater revenues than high
protective duties, sat in a frail cane bot
ton chair, rocking hack and forth ner-
yously In the open space near the vice
Senator Pugh of Alabama, another un-
controvertable free silverite, moved over
to the republican side and occupied seat
near Senator Sherman.
Back of the rows of seats were many
members of the House Of Representatives.
Including Representative McClelland ot
one of the funniest incidents of the day
occurred just after Senator sherman con-
youthful populst from North Carolina.
who Is hungry for senatorial notoriety,
plunged headlong in the debate and was
proceeding to arraign both the democrats
and republicans for conceding to the Sec
retary of the Treasury the right to issue
bonds even for redemption purchases.
He was in the midst OF an appeal for
unanimous consent for the passage or his
bill, which he had previously offered to
take the place OF the Elkins resolution,
restraining the President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury from selling bonds,
except with the consent of congress. SEN
ator Butler was just warming to his
subject in tone Of voice that reminded
his hearers of young preacher conduct
ing a revival meeing. Senator Hill was
dent Stevenson, and Senator Butler was
in the middle OF a sentence, when the
hands or the senatorial clock pointed to
O'clock Without further ceremony,
Senator Hill brought the gavel down upon
the Vice Presidents desk, with a sharp
report and said THE hour of o'clock
having arrived, It is the duty Of the chair
to lay before the Senate the unfinished
business, which is"
Here the clerk read in voice strikingIy
funeral: "A bill to provide for proper
disposition of the remains of deceased
members of the Senate and House of
Representatives, who die at the capitol
during
1t was the bill introduced early in the
session by Senator PETER, who seeks to
put an end to congressional junketing par
ties when congressman die. Considering
the funeral tones of Senator Butler and
the lack of interest his remarks excited
the sudden injecting of the PETER bill
into the proceedings, rendered the scene
so ludlcrous as to provoke laughter among
the senators and the occupants of the gal
leries.
few minutes later, when the regular
business" had been laid aside to permit
a continuation of the Elkins resolution,
Senator Butler urged the Senate to put
aside partisan feeling and adopt his bill
against the Issuance of bonds 'unani-
mously"
Senator Hill provoked another laugh
at the expense of the young senator from
North Carolina by saying: 1.-The present
occupant of the chair, the senator from
New York, objects to the present consid-
GRAFTON of the bill at this time
The novelty of the presiding officer OBJ
jecting to the consideration of a bill
nearly took away the breath of the ven
cradle Senator Harris and other parlia-
mentary experts in the Senate.