Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-14
CONGRESSMAN COLD.
ONLY A SLENDER ATTENDANCE IN
EITHER HOUSE.
CAPITOL LIKE 4 SNOW PALACE.
Cannon Gets n Tumbie-Reed Stays
NJ Home-Hay Points mi Deception
of Big-Army Observation-Disclosures
ship for Dewey.

WASHINGTON, February 1s.-At no
time during the session of the Senate to-
day was a quorum OF the body present. a
majority of the members being snow
bound at their homes. For the first
time in many years no invocation was
pronounced at the opening of the session,
neither the regular chaplain nor any
other minister being able TO reach the
capitol.
A sharp debate over the unanimous ron
sent agreement. reached Saturday, 10 vote
on the McEnery resolution, was precipi-
tated early In the session. Some feeling
was manifested by senator's who object
ed to the introduction Of the resolution,
but none of them indicated what might
be their action tomorrow.
In connection with the consideration of
the resolution, the Senate decided to meet
at IL o'clock tomorrow.
In response to some OF the statements
made. Mr.. McLaurin, of South Carolina,
explained how the unanimous consent
was reached, and then said:
II know there are senators in this
chamber who would not have voted for
the treaty if they had not been assured
Of an opportunity to vote pom the Nc
Emery resolution. If any senator was
not present when the unanimous consent
agreement was made, it was his fault. l
give notice, therefore. hat | shall object
to any violation of the unanimous con-
sent agreement"
HOAR-WOLCOTT COLLISION.
Mr.. Hoar. of Massachusetts, said he
had. Just received a telephone message
from Mr.. Mason, of Illinois, who request
ed that. on account of his illness to-day.
discussion Of the unanimous consent
agreement go over until tomorrow, when
he might be present.
Mr.. Wolcott. Of Colorado: Does the
Senator from Massachusetts understand
that the unanimous agreement reached
on last Saturday carries with it a unani-
nous consent not to discuss the question
i'm the absence Of the Senator from llli-
nois2
With some feeling Mr.. Hoar replied:
Il do not think the Senator from Colo
RADIO ought in fairness address Il a
question to me-"
He then proceeded TO an explanation OF
how he happened to make the statement
received by him from Mr.. Mason.
After Mr.. Wolcott and MIR. HOar had
had a collOquy that was not audible TO
the Senate, Mr.. Hale, of Maine, rose
and said: Let the senators adjust their
differences outside"
Adverting to the pending matter, Mr..
Hale said he could not comprehend the
object Of the opponents Of the resolution.
and added that he would like to know
the inside of this never-ending objec-
ton TO these resolutions"
Mr.. Allison. Of Iowa. said 1T was well
understood that If the resolution was de-
bated it would occupy the remainder Of
the session. He maintained that the unan-
imOus consent 10 vote Oh the resolution
implied that there should be no debate.
Mr.. Allison, at the request of Mr.. Hale.
then made a statement Of the condition
of the various appropriation bills.
1T IS manifest" said he. that these
bills will occupy a great deal of the time
Of the Senate"
ADMIRAL OF NAVY.
Mr.. Hale, chairman Of the Naval Affairs
Committee, f%ayorably reported a bill Gre
ating an admiral of the navy.
The bill reads: 'The President Is here
by authorized to appoint, by selection
and promotion, an admiral of the navy,
who shall not be placed upon the retired
list, except upon his own application; and
whenever such Office shall be vacated, by
death or otherwise, the Office shall cease
to exist"
The bill, it is well understood, is made
to fit Rear-Admiral Dewey, and 1t IS said
that when the bill becomes law he will
be nominated by the President for the
Ofilce. The Dill was passed.
\ Senate bill authorizing the exchange
OF the old custom-hOuse lot at st. Au-
gustine. Fla, for lands adjoining the
powder-house lot, was passed.
Consideration Of the agricultural appro-
priation bill was then begun.
FOR REMOVAL OF SNOW.
4 Joint resolution, appropriating $4,000
for the removal Of snow and ice from the
streets Of Washington city, was adopted.
The appropriation for vegetable patho-
logical investigations was increased from
S22.500 to $32, 800, provided that 5000 should
be used for the investigation Of the
disease known as little peach"
Mr.. Tillman offered an amendment, ap-
propriating S7.10O for investigation and
experiment in connection with fertilizers
and fungicides, on the causes of blight in
Sea Island cotton and watermelons, n
the remedies for the same" The amend
ment was agreed TO.
Mr.. Tillman also offered tho following
amendment. which was agreed to:
TEA CULTURE IN SOUTH.
sTo enable the Secretary Of Agriculture
To investigate and report on the cost OF
making tea. and the best methods Of cul-
tivating and preparing the same for mar
ket. so as to demonstrate whether II Is
practicable TO introduce its culture In the
Southern States as a profitable industry,
5000"
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. Teller. Of Colorado. then made a
brief statement TO the Senate, In which
he said he proposed tomorrow 70 vote
for the McEnery resolution.
Among the bills passed was the follow
ing:
DRAWING OFF OF SPIRITS.
To amend the statutes concerning the
drawing off, gauging. marking, n re-
moval Of spirits, so that spirits may be
Drawn off i'm packages smaller than bar
rels and put in ive-gallon cans for eN-
port purposes.
The Senate then, at 2:35 p. NJ, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Allison. went into executive
session. and az $3.50 =. NJ. adjourned.
House Attendance Slim.
This was an exceedingly dull day In
the House. owing TO the blizzard, the
attendance was very slim. The great
marble Capitol looked like a snow palace.
Lodges. facades, and parapets were bank
ed with snow. on the drives and the
plaza in front of the building the snow
had driftcd into great pillows, in some
places 10 feet deep. Not a street-car op-