Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-06-14
EXCITING DEBATE IN THE SEN
ATE

By Congress to the Methodist Book
Concern, South, had been paid to lob
byists, precipitated rather heated de"
bate in the Senate yesterday afternoon.
So general was the discussion that the
matter was not concluded when the
morning hour closed, and it went over
until to-day.
Mr.. Chandler took the ground that
the Senate had been deceived and that
the Methodist Book Concern ought to
refund the money if the charges were
true.
In the course of his remarks Mr..
Chandler asserted that it was unwit-
tingly through Mr.. Pasco that the
Senate had been deceived, and to this
language Mr.. Pasco took exceptions.
Mr.. Pasco sought to interrupt Mr..
Chandler but the New Hampshire Sem
stor declined to yield at the moment
and Mr.. Pasco, with much indignation
"a frame of mind in which be rarely
presents himself to his colleagues
walked down the aisle and insisted that
Mr.. Chandler recall his statement and
put him in the record fairly. Mr..
Chandler declined to modify his state
ment more than he had done but dis
claimed any intention of reiec.iDg up.
on the Senator from Florida. The
discussion between the two Senators
evidently left Mr.. Pasco smarting under
what be imagined to be misrepre-
sentation of bis position, while MIR.
Chandler commended that he had not
misrepresented the situation and as
serted that he proposed to let his re-
marks remain as they had been uttered.
Mr.. Bacon, with some warmth Of
expire ssion, asserted that it was un-
worthy of the Senator from New Hsmp-
shire to seek to put such an accusation
upon the Senator from Florida or any
one else. Every Senator who had been
identified with this claim had, he be-
lieved, acted in the utmost good faith.
Mr.. Chandler replied that he had
not sought to place the responsibility
for the Senete's action upon Mr.. Pasco,
out that had it not been for the assur-
Ances thai came from him and other
Senators that the whispered charges
we're untrue the bill would not have
passed
Again Mr.. Pasco insisted that Mr..
Chandler was wrong 10 seeking to
IDENTIFY him with any guarantee to the
Senate. He had simply submitted GER
| Tain kilograms he had received. 1.-THE
statements made by the Senator from
New Hampshire" said Mr.. Pasco, We.
| lion and the Senator from New Hamp-
shire knows it."
1.-THE exact opposite is the TRUTH"
retortei Mr.. Chandler, "and l propose
that that statement OF mine shall stand
1t Is incumbent upon those Senators
who were acting honestly, and who
| were deceived, and who led the Senate
into doing this thing, to do something
| The facts in this case ought to come
out and the blame fall where it be-
longs"
Mr.. Tillmap denounced the attacks
that had been made upon certain Sena-
| ,ors. He declared that had it not been
! for the assurances given the Senate the
Lodge amendment limiting attorneys
fees 10 s. 900 would have been inserted.
That amendment would have prevailed
anyhow had it not been for the high
| sense OF honor OF some of the Senators
| who said that to add such an amend
| ment to the bill, after the assurances
that had bean given, would have been
| an insult to the whole Methodist
church and every person connected with
! the bill before the Senate. THE thing
to do" said Mr.. Tiilman, sis not to at
tack Senators nor make the church pay
back this money, but to make these
lobbyists, this thief, this liar, Stahlman,
disgorge."
Mr.. Teller, in a short but earnest
speech, said he believed the
claim Of the Book Concern was
an honest claim, and that it
had legal claim against the govern
ment. The voting of the money by
Congress was not an act of charity, but
the liquidation of a just debt. He had
passed upon the claim twenty years
ago, and be believed it was one that
should long ago have been allowed. II
the resolution was sent to the commit
tee for investigation the committee
would get at the truth, and the credit
Of the church would not be injured un
less the facts were such that it ought
to be.
The talk that had up to this time
been going on about lobbyists and ell
that sort of thing aroused Senator Nor
gan, OF Alabama, who wanted TO know |
what those conscientious Senators had |
to say about the many things they had |
voted into law for the benefit of the SUI
gar trust at the solicitation of the high.
" paid lobbyists that corporation main
tanned at Washington. The denuncia-
ton of Senators who had unWittingly |
been deceived, if there was any decep-
ton at all, Mr.. Morgan characterized
as the refinement ofcruelty. Mr.. Nor
gan said he did not believe the North
had anything TO complain of the South
in the matter Of putting through ques-
tionable claims OF legislation.
"You of the North" said Mr.. Morgan,
with vehemence, "have ilched from the
Treasury, going even 10 the extent of
flching the Presidency itself. II you
want this money back, the women of the
South will return it to you if it can be
secured in no other way. But after you
have got it what will you do with il?
Give it to the sugar trust or some other
of the stall.fe trusts that have grown
so fat you can no longer control them2