Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-04
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February 4
SENATE.

Mr.. Gallinger in presenting a petit
tlon for the speedy ratification OF the
arbitration treaty read an extract from
letter which he had received from
clergyman expressing hope that the
two New Hampshire Senators would
not descend to marrow partisanship"
in that matter. He said that he GER
tainly would not do so.
In presenting like petition from the
Episcopal diocese of Delaware Mr..
Gray remarked that his constituents
did not express any apprehension of
his being moved by marrow partisan
ship"
The bill introduced few days ago
by Mr.. Mills to increase the pensions of
the survivors of the war of 1912 from
So to $50 a month was reported favor
ably from the committee on pensions by
Mr.. Gallinger, who said that there were
only twelve surviving pensioners of
that war and that their ages ranged
from 80 to 1O4. The bill was passed.
Mr.. Gallinger also introduced 10y re-
quest q bill 10 establish department
OF health. Mr.. Morrill, moved to take
up and pass the House bill to prohibit
the sale of Intoxicating liquors in the
Capitol building. lie said that there
was great misrepresentation in the
public mind as to there being saloon
at either end of the Capitol, but the
House had passed the bill and he
thought the Senate should not object
to it.
Mr.. Hill gave notice that he would
move to recommit the bill.
Mr. Blackburn contended that the
bill should not have been referred to
the committee on public buildings and
grounds and that it should be consider
ed by the committee on rules. 1t re-
lated to the culinary department, and
the committee on public buildings and
grounds Ihad nothing to do with the
kitchen.
Mr.. Sherman suggested that Mr..
Blackburn was wrong in his contention.
He did not think there was any neces-
sity for the bill; but he thought that
the Senate ought to meet the popular
objection, even although based on false
and foolish grounds, that liquors were
sold in the Capitol restaurants as at
public bar. Every Senator, he thought,
should be willing to defer to public
opinion.
Mr.. Aldrch read the rule which pro-
vides specifically that the committee on
rules shall have charge of everything
connected with the Senate restaurant.
Mr.. Hill moved to refer the bill to
the committee on rules. He denounced
the bill as silly, unwise end unneces-
sary. He spoke of the people active in
such agitations as 'busy-bodies med
ding with other peoples business" and
said that the matter might be safely
left with the committee on rules.
Mr.. Chiffon spoke in favor of the bill
and against its reference.
Mr.. Chandler pointed out some OF
the Objectionable provisions of the bill
which would prevent his colleague
(the only physician in the body) from
prescribing stinlulant for one of his
sick brethren.
Mr.. Gallinger informed his colleague
that if he called upon him for pre-
scription he would give one, not to be
filled by chef or bar keeper, but by
a licensed chemist.
Mr.. Gray suggested the picture of
Senators passing in front of Mr.. CALM
gers desk to get "billets doux en-
titling them to restorative drugs.
The vote was taken on Mr.. Hills
motion to refer the bill to the Commit
tee on Rules and it was disagreed to:
Yeas 27, nays 80.
The bill being before the Sen
ate, another attack was made
upon it by Mr.. Hill who de-
clared that the theory Of the bill,
if it had any, was vicious. 1t would
not be parliamentary to say that it was
cowardly; and therefore he would not
say that conscience doth make cow
ards of Us ALL" Neither would he say
that an alleged public opinion "doth
make towards of us all. There was not
single Senator who did not know that
drinks would be obtained in the Capitol
hereafter as they had been obtained
heretofore. But Senators had to satisfy
a clamor, to satisfy an alleged public
opinion. He had no sort of re
spect for such public sentiment.
He was opposed to such sort of mar
row legislation. He believed in the
personal liberty of the citizen. He be-
lieved in the right of man to eat,
drink and do whatever he pleased, sub
ject only to such reasonable regulation
as the welfare of the whole community
may demand. All else was tyranny.
All else was oppression. From where
doth II oop,ao Not from tho neoD1a of
the District, but from those queer
people living hundred and thousands
of miles away who have never been
in Washington and never would be,
but who lie awake at nights, thinking |
of the great danger from the power of
the Pope, or from the sale of lager beer |
in the saloons of the Capitol. He |
thought that when the Senator from
New Hampshire (Mr. Chandler), in-
bued with the ideas of prohibition
State, could not vote for the bill the
Senator from liberal State like Texas
(Mr. Chilton) might think the bill at |
least deserving of criticism.
While Mr.. Hill was speaking the |
morning hour expired and the bill went
over without action till tomorrow.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Nor |
gan requesting the President of the |
United States to furnish information as
to the arrest in Cuba of Caspar Betan-
court, a United States citizen; whether
his release has been demanded; and
what answer to that demand has been
made.
NJ. uoo. Jooroooto1 tho boctx n 1op