Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-04-18
~"ssE "N~ssN~S~\ JSNA tSNAs
ALL WAR TALK.
The One Subject of Con-
versation at Washington.
Speaker Reed Presides Over Most
Memorable Session Since 81.
Naval Committee and It's Duties-House
Flocked TO Senate. Thursday.

gressmcn, uttering words of hostility |
against the Spanish dons: they wake in |
the morning to find the newspapers |
flaming with great scare head articles |
about the latest developments at the |
captains of the United States and OF
Spain. War now seems assured to
members of both House and Senate |
and they are prompt to voice the de-
mands of their constituents by urging
in season and out of season Immediate
aggression.
Speaker Reed presided in the House,
Wednesday, over the most memorable
session since the War of the Rebellion
perhaps in the history of the Republic
No words can depict the excitement
and the pandemonium that prevailed
when Representatives Bartlett OF
Georgia, and Brumm of Pennsylvania
tried to set at each others throats
when the lie had passed between them.
Members piled into the far corner ot
the chamber like maddened foot ban
players. Representative l'runm is Il
tall and muscular looking man, whose
seat is in the 'Chcrukoe Strip not very
far from the seat of ReprescntatiN"
Burlcigh. He has a smooth face, pierre
ing eyes, wears his hair rumpled, and
is credited. whether truly or net is not
known, with having Indian blood in his
veins. Certain it is that lie has high
cheek bones and countenance that in
some regards is Indian-lkc. He is u
Republican and an extreme partisan.
Representative Bartlett of Georgia
who thought Mr.. Erumm had called
him a liar, is Il man of diminutve
stature. nervous and easily cNcitable.
In all things he is a typical Southerner,
talks like d Southerner. is apt to be
radical in his Views and to cherish
strongly the traditions and customs Of
the Southern people. He is nevcrthe-
less, a pleasant companion and, what IS
not generally true OF Southern con-
gresslncn, is very rich. When Repre-
sentative Brumm had called him a Iiar
he ran down the aisle like a chipmunk
and threw blue covered book at the
Pennsylvania much as a woman
would throw a rock
But Speaker Reed was not the only
Maine man concerned in that mo-
mcntous fray. He promptly called
upon the ser@eant-at-a arms, Is. +. Rus
sell, native of Maine but fUr many
years a resident of Missouri. to qu"l
the disturbance and Mr. Russell hold
ing aloft the great silver mace, WhicH
was his emblem of authority, pushcG
through the struggling and Whirlin
mass Of mon.
Mr.. Russell has had a notable career
lie passed his boNho0d on a Main,
farm near Bethel but went West III his
early manhood. For many years a.
has edited a Republican newspaper j!
Crawford county, Mo. and to this dAl
continues his careful preparation "'
matter for its columns. He WAS cicc;e
to the Missouri Legislature ana event
ually became speaker of the Il publicat
House there. He proved most ac-
ceptablc pgcsidG1 officer. His service
for the party were family rccogniz by
his election as scrgeant-at-arms of th'
Fifty-fourth Congress. He was re
elected to the Same position for th'
present Congress, which assured him
continuous service of four years. The
salary is $4,000 a year, the same as q
member Of Congress receives.
His office in the House is just oppo-
site the corridor from Spral">
Reeds private rooms and n
keeps in close touch with that
the Speakers orders concerning TIN
quiet of the House are enforced. II
has many deputies ami when he carrie
the mace Gne of the deputies runs ~
his side to force the memller to his seat
should he refuse to be Seated rcaccabiE
He has the same privileges of the fiop'
in the House ana Senate as all NOM
hers have and naturally spends much
- to- Hon
1t is also his duty to pay the members
of the House their salaries of $4,000 a
year each. Tho money is paid every
two weeks, just as all Sovernmch;
salaries are paid.
Capt Boutollc. representing the
fourth Maine district in the House. did
not oppose the Cuban resolution
Wednesday, because of any hostility to
it's spirit He believes thoroughly IN
the Presidents policy towards Span
and had hopes that the disputes would
have been settled pcaccably, had the
country been more patient. The
Presidents course has the hearty mora
support of an overwhelming majority
of the thoughtful ana patriotic citizens
of this country" said he. Il therefor
believed that the request Of the Pres
dent S message should nave petn con-!
piled with in practical terms
The committee On naval affairs "i
which Capt. Boutelle is chairman. j.
kept very busy these days with conSld
Grafton of the naval personnel Dill
This is Il measure by which the officers
of the navy hope to be bettered. IL
' provides for a reorganization of the
navy hy the old time contentious he-
tween the line and the staff may he
oblterated. The line refers to officers
in the regular navy While the staff IN
cmdes engineers and the like. Inc
passage of the bill is said to be 1nl-
peratiVe in the event of war. 1he
other day Chairman Boutelle heard
Commodore Melville the brave offlcer
who sailed away to the Arctic MUM
Der of years ago and had thrilling eX-
perience in the Arctic winter He alS2
heard Col. Charles Haywood. native Of
Waterville, who is head of the marine
corps.
Captain Boutelle received a nunyb2,'
OF teleSrams Thursday and Friday.
complimenting him on his vote in the
- 81,