The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-05

WASHINGTON Fen 4-The-e were
vigorous speeches IN TIE senate today
relative % the uSe Of infaxteantS az the
capitol. and the h1l designed to aee as 4
pFoaioitoTy law failed OF YSassage. Morrill,.
Wao tried 20 force tAe measure through.
IN discussing the use Or liquor said
there was much feeling throuxhout fha
country against it. lie had Just received
letter stating that the writer had seen
= man coming from the building drunk
While there was some nlsapprsaensioa
as 10 the existence Of ordinary saloons
- the building set as the public felt that
an eVil existed congress should make a
strict INVESTIGATION.
sherman asked if u was right thar any
part Of this great public building should
be used for tie sale OF liquor. lie did not
believe the puh,ic idea that saloons existed
mere was justified. There was nothing ike
an ordinary bar here. Hut the laws had
been made stringent so that when a man
wanted whisky he would have 10 so out
side the capitol To ger IT,
Hlil came into the debate at this noint.
speaking with much vehemence aralnst
the 'husybodies and mischief makers''
VINO hoe3ed congress and inspired tals
class OF legislation. fIe mad received many
letters, De said, protesting against this
ahominstion in our national capitol"
such statements were false. No s9ch
thing as a bar existed here He read IN
sarcastic tones letter appealing to him
20 aid In driving saloons from the capitol.
and thus raise the standard OF national
honor.
Has our national honor come to this
exclaimed HlE. that IL depends upen
whether We take a glass OF ale or beer
with our meaIsf'
This appeal 10 national honor" he add
ed rs becoming a common device every
time some smsH question presents itsef.
Bat there Is no question or national honor
involved In this matter There are no sa-
looms here. there IS no drunkenness here's
] nave never seen drunken man in the
capitol / state for the benefit OF thess
agitatoTs that II is a libel on congress 20
say that saloons are here and drunkenness
exists here. 1t ls absolutely false.
The discussion next took somewhat
humorous turn. Chandler. Gailnger and
Gray exchanging sallles as 20 the effect ot
the hili IN restretion OF the personal COM
fort OF senators.
The roll cal on HlIrs motion 10 commit
was followed With great iaferest. 1t Vas
a tie az first. hut a sammonlng ~ senators
defeated the motion. yeas - nays 81.
As the vote was announced. Ilil re-
marked. And having brought he bill
bef0re the senate senators can now pro-
coed to take a glass of beer" lie went on
10 speak OF the hypocrisy OF the bill. lie
spoke of tho extremes 20 which prohibit
tlon legislation had been carried and the
excessive punishment Indicted. The viola
ton or an excise law, he said. had be-
come worse than murder or burglary. This
sort Of legislation was unw!ac and unnpc-
eSsary. Under Il the venerable senator
from Vermont MorriiD. could be taken
out OF she senate on charge of violating
the excise laws. Under 81 senators would
find on reaching the chamber some day
that one-hAIf Of their associates we're IN
the police court for violation of the ex-
else laws.
HiI threw much viSor into his speech.
and prolonged debate until the bill was
displaced by the Nicaragua canal blu.