The news & observer., 1897-02-05
The Senate Spends Some Time
in the Discussion.
HILL FAvORS THE COLD TEA
SHERMAN THINKS WHISKEY
is VERY WICKED.
The pRYs WIN BY THREE VOTES
German Gives Chandler a Jab-- The
immigration Bill Sent Back to Con-
terence Villas Still Harp
ing on Nicaragua.

terence Villas Still Harp
ing on Nicaragua.
Washington. Jan. 4.-The session OF
the Senate to-day was one of unusual
activity with sharp colloqules ana Wig
orous speeches wrhich drew large croWus
to the galleries. The ball was set roll
ing early in the day when Mr.. Morrison
endeayored to pass the bill to prohibit the
use of intoxicants in the Capitol building.
This aroused the opposition of Mr.. hlh,
of New York, who denounced the ousy
bodies and mischief makers inspiring TINS
class of legislation. The Senator spoke
for the fullest enjoyment or lnulVluual
liberty consistent WgCh common Sooo'
The speech was not only notable TOT the
yigor with which MIR. Hill threw INTO IT.
but also for its effect in prolonglng the
debate to 2 O'clock when the bill was as
placed by the Nicaragua canal bill. The
Immigration bin was re-committed to con-
ference. Mr. Lodge, in charge OF the
measure, adopting this course as a result
of urgent appeals for modification of
the bill. Before this was done, however,
a warm personal and political colloquy
occurred between Mr.. Lodge and Mr..
Chandler. one the one hand, and Mr..
Gorman on the other The Maryland
Senator took exception to recent sugges-
tions of steamship and corporation IN
fuence. and declared there would be am
nle onportunity within the next year for
the Republican Senators TO resist une
corporate influences at work after Marcn
4 In reply. Mr.. Chandler asserted that
the MARYLAND Senator had for the nrst
lime turned an immigration debate INTO
partisan channels.
Mr.. Villas added another day 70 nus
epeecn against the Nicaragua canal, ana
had not concluded when the Senate al
journed. -,
When the salon bin came up, Mr.
Sherman said this was more than ques-
tion Affecting the Senate kitchen. Was
n right that any part of this great publlc
hn;lling should be used for the sale or
Houors? Mr.. Sherman did not believe
the public idea that saloons existed here
was iustified There was nothing hke
an ordinary bar here. But the law should
he made stringent so that when man
wanted whiskey he would have to go
outside the Capitol to get 1T.
Mr.. Hill came into the debate at this
noint. speaking with much vehemence
against the "busy bodies" and "mlschlef
makers who libeled Congress and lnsplr-
ed this class Of legislation. He had recelV-
ed many letters, he said, protest
ing against '.this abomination IN
our National Capitol" Such state
ments were false. No such tnlng
as a bar exiscted here. MT.
Hill read in sarcastic tones a letter ap-
pealng to him to aid in driving saloons
from the Capitol, and thus raise lne
standard of National honor.
"Has our National honor come to this,
hat 6arpndQ
whether we take a glass of ale or beer
with our meaisy
This appeal to National honor. he ad-
ded. was becoming a common device eve
nv time some small question presented IL
self. But there was no question or Ma
tional honor involved in this matter.
Mr.. Hill said he felt no personal con-
Germ on such regulations as he could get
along on cold water. But a question of
the principle of decency to Congress was
involved. The Senator then stated his
experience while he was Governor OF
New York, when he vetoed two bills
similar to this. The first bill not only
prevented the use of liquor at the Capitol
huilding. but included the Executive
Mansion, so that it would have been I'M
possible for the Governor to offer glass
Of wine to his guests.
The veto was unanimously sustained.
Then the busy bodies, always thrustIng
their noses into other peoples business,
returned the next year and secured the
massage of another bill which he, as
Governor, vetoed.
The roll call on Mr.. Hills motion TO
commit was followed with some interest.
1t was a tie at first, but the summoning
Of Senators defeated the motion, yeas,
27: nays, 30 as follows:
Yeas-Aldrich, Bacon, Blackburn,
Rrice. Cameron, Cannon, Garter, Chand-
Ter. Faulkner, Gibson, German, Gray,
Hale. Hawley, Hill, Mcmillan, Mantle
Martin. Mills, Mitchell, (Wis.), Murphy,
Palmer, Smith Tillman, Turpie, Wal
thall and White-27.
Nays-Allen, Allison, Baker, Bate,
Clinton. Clark, Cockrell, Cullom, Davis,
Frye. Gallinger, Gear, Gordon, Hans-
brough, Hoar, Jones, New, Lindsay
Lodge, Pasco, PETER, Perkins, Petit
grew, Pugh, Roach, Sewell, Sherman
Stewart, Teller, Thurston, Wilson-3O.
AS the vote was announced, Mr.. Hlll
remarked: "And having brought the bill
before the Senate, Senators can now pro-
ceed to take a glass of beer"
He went on to speak of the hypocrisy
of the bill. 1t was soon evident thal the
Senator would talk against the measure
until 2 O'clock, when the bill would b.
cut off by the Nicaragua Canal bill.
He spoke of the extremes to which pro-
hibition legislation had been carried, and
the excessive punishment inflicted. The
violation of an excise law, he said. had
become worse than murder or burglary
Mr.. Hill talked up to 2 o'clock when the
bill was displaced and the Nicaragua
Canal bill was taken up.
Before proceeding with the debate. Mr..