The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-04
HOUSE WAS A BEDLAM
PEOPLE WHO CROWDED THE GAL
LERIES IN THE CLOSING
HOURS WE'RE PATIENT
ALL GREEK TO LISTENERS
members Frantically Sought Recog-
milton In Behalf Of BeIated Local
Bills, Generally without Avail
MIR. Walker Succeeded In Voicinr
His Views on Currency Reform
Bills Hurried Along.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-Crowded
galleries looked down upon the strug-
Cling members of the house today as
the closing scenes of the last legislative
day of this congress were being enact
ed. Step by step the leaders in charge
OF the appropriation bills pushed them
through the final stages, and during
every lull in the consideration of con-
ference reports members clamored for
recognition for belated local bills, in
the vain hope of rescuing them from
death on the calendar.
At times the house was like Bed
lam. Pound as the speaker would with
the gavel it was almost impossible to
preserve order. and to the casual visitor
In the gallery the proceedings on the
floor must have been about as intel1gi-
BILE as an exciting day in the wheat
pit would be to a parish priest.
The noise and confusion on the floor
punctuated with the beating of this
speakers gavel or backed with the
droning voice of the clerks, members
facing each other and talking at the
same time. pages scurrying up and
down the aiSles all this was utterly
distracting. But the people in the gal
leries stayed on, and there were a
dozen persons in line in the corridors
waiting for every vacant seat, so great
is the attraction of a dying congress.
Mr.. Walker, of Massa chusetts, after
many unsuccessful attempts, got an
opportunity during the afternoon to
voice his views on currency reform,
and severely criticised some OF his Re-
publican colleagues. His. statement was
largely personal. showing the efforts
Mr.. Walker had made during a long
series of years to secure monetary leg
rlo @t,f No
ed published criticisms Of his course,
and went into an elaborate explanation
of the long fight in his committee which
resulted in the report of bill and its
subsequent withdrawal
His colleague, Mr.. Barrett Rep.,
Mass), demanded an opportunity TO
reply, claiming that Mr.. Walker had
agreed to yield him time. This Mr..
Walker denied, saying he always kept
his promises to God and man, but mot
according to the standards Of his coll
leagues"
Mr.. Barrett denounced the denial as
IAN unmitigated falsehood."
Mr.. Walker proceeded to criticise the
currency committee selected by Mr..
Grosveror, chairman of the Republi-
can caucus.
Mr.. Walker spoke in high terms Of
H. H. Hanna, of the Indianapolis
monetary commission, but denounced
the manner in which he and his COL
leagues had lobbied about the capitol
for an alleged currency reform.
THE difficulty with these reform
ers,' said he, lis that they obtain their
facts from canvasback and terrapin,
and their arguments from chapagne.
The result is robbery
do you expect the next congress-
interposed Mr.. Johnson Rep.s Ind j. "to
enact any banking and currency legis-
lation worthy of the name? do not
IF 1T does,' replied Mr.. Walker cit
will mean certain defeat for the Re-
publican party. There is more dyna-
mite connected with banking and cur
rency than amy subject ever introduce
ed in the house. Any party that at
tempts the settlement of the currency
question before the silver question is
settled will be swamped''
Mr.. Cannon presented the conference
report upon the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill, and explained briefly the
points upon which the conference had
agreed and the report was adopted
Upon the items still in dispute he NOV
ed that the house insist upon it's dis
agreement.
Mr.. Corliss moved to concur In the
Pacific cable amendment.
Mr.. Hepburn Rep., Io.), opposed the
amendment He was against govern
nent ownership.
Does the gentleman not advocate
the building of a government armor
plate plant?" asked Mr.. Corliss.
81 do; simply because the private ar
NOR plants are holding up the govern
ment."
The motion to concur, modified so as
to include the other amendment ap-
propriating $780, 900 for cable steamer,
was defeated, II to 1902
The house then insisted upon it's dis
agreement to the items of the sundry
civil bill still in dispute, and agreed to
a further conference. The house con-
ferees were specifically instructed to
Insist upon their disagreement to the
senate amendment increasing the sal
aries of appraisers at Boston, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore and Chicago
Recess was then taken to p. m.