The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-05
The Bill to Prohibit Whisky
Selling in the Capitol
Consumes a Large Part Of On
Days Time.
MORRILL, AGAINST II
Hill Says :"Having Brought the
Bill Before the Senate
Senators Can Now Proceed to
Take a Glass Of Beer.''

Washington, Feb. 5.-The session of
the senate yesterday was one of unus-
ual activity, with sharp colloquys and
vigorous speeches, which drew large
crowds to the galleries. The ball was
set rolling early in the day, when Mr..
Morrill, endeavored to pass the bill pro-
hibiting the use of intoxicants in the
capitol building. This aroused the op-
position of Mr.. Hill of New York, who
denounced the busy-bOdies and mischief
makers inspiring this class of Iegisla-
ton. The senator spoke for the fullest
enjoyment of individual liberty con-
s1Stent with the common good. The
speech was not only notable for the
vigor which Mr.. Hill threw into it, but
also for its effect in proIonging the de-
bate until o'clock, when the bill was
displaced by the Nicaragua bill. The
bill was committed to the conference,
Mr. Lodge, in charge of the measure
adopting this course as the result of
appeals for modification OF the bill. Be
fore this was done, however a warm
personal and political colloquy occurred
between Mr.. Lodge and Mr.. Chandler
on one hand and Mr.. German on the
other.
The Maryland senator took exception
to recent suggestions of steamship and
corporate influence and declared there
would be ample opportunity within the
next year for Republican senators to
resist the corporate influence after
March 4.
In reply Mr.. Chandler asserted that
the Maryland senator had turned an
immigration debate into a partisan
channel
Mr.. Villas added another day to his
speech against the Nicaragua canal bill
and had not concluded when the SEN
ate adjourned.
Regarding the sale of LIQUOR in the
capitol, Mr. Morrill, said there was
much feeling throughout the country
against it. He had just received a letter
stating that the writer had seen a man
coming from the building drunk. While
there was some misapprehension as to
the existence of ordinary saloons in the
building. yet, as the public felt that
one existed, congress should make a
strict prohibition.
Mr.. Hill came into the debate, speak
ing with much vehenmence against the
busy bodies and Observation-Disclosures
who libeIed congress. He had received
many letters, he said, protesting against
this abOmination in our national capt.
toll" Such statements were false. No
such thing as bar existed here. Mr..
appealing to him to aid in driving Sa-
looms from the capitol and thus raise
the standard of national honor"
HAS our national honor come 10
this" exclaimed Mr.. Hill, that it de-
ponds upon whether we take a glass of
ale or beer with our meals?"
This appeal to national honor, he add
ed, was becoming to be common de-
presented itself. But there was no
question of national honor involved in
this matter.
There are no saloons here; there is
no drunkenness here; I have never seen
a drunken man in the capitol. I state
for the benefit of these agitators that
it is a libel on congress to say that
saloons are here and drunkenness ex-
lists here. 1t is absolutely false" The
discussion next took a somewhat hui
morous turn, Mr. Chandler, Mr.. Gal
linger and Mr.. Gray exchanging. sal
lies as to the effect of the bill in re-
stricting the personal comfort of SEN
ators The roll call on Mr.. HIPS mo-
ton to commit was listened to with in
terest.
remarked: And having brought the
bill before the senate, senators can now
proceed to take a glass of beer
Mr.. Hill talked up to 2 o'clock, when
the bill was displaced and the N1cara-
qua canal bill was taken up
Mr. Lodge moved to take up the i'm
migration report and the motion pre-
vailed, So to 13-
Mr. Hill appealed to Mr.. Lodge, in
charge of the bill, to allow the bill to
be recommitted for notifications in the
age and illiteracy provisions Mr.
Chandler seconded the appeal, saying a
recommittal would secure the deSirabl
end of uniting political parties on inn
migration legislation. Mr.. Lodge yield
ed to the appeals and thereupon moved
that the senate disagree TO the CONFER
ence report. Mr.. German Dem., Md
made an emphatic protest against the
recent statement of Mr.. Lodge that
opposition to the bill was due to cor
poration and steamship influence.
He hoped that the senator Qsodg)
would have occasion during the next
year of opposing the power of corpora
TONS 1t was corporate power which
had largely controlled in the selection
of the president for the next four
years.
Mr. Chandler said the language of
the senator implied threat that II
the bill was not shaped to suit him, hll-
clustering would be resorted to-
The debate on the canal bill was then
resumed Mr.. Villas speaking in oppo-
sition.
Mr. Villas had not concluded when, at
5:15 p. m, the senate went into e1ecu-