The times., 1899-03-04
DELAY ON ACCOUNT
OF arid Lands
River and Harbor Bill Held
Up in the Senate.
No Provision for Irrigation in the
Northwest.
scenes During the Last Night Ses-
sion of the Fifty-Fifth
Congress.

At noon today, If legislative clocks are
not tampered WITH the third session Of the
Fifty-fifth Congress will pass into history.
Last nights continuous session marked the
beginning of the end. Today will usher in
tie closing scenes.
In both the Senate and the House the
opposing elements waged the parliamentary
war. The floors of both chambers were
strewn with papers; the members looked
tired and disheveled. but interest in the
fight did not abate. 1t kept up until the
early hours of morning, when more mem
bers were stretched on lounges in COM
mittee- rooms and cloalTooms than were on
the floors, but still the few who did not
succumb to fatigue kept up the rush.
Not since the opening of the present ses-
sion has there been such throng of spec
tators at the Capitol or SO much interest in
the proceedings.
Crowds mt the Capitol.
Last night all roads, seemingly, led to
the big white building on the hill, and the
majority of Washington's citizens seemed
to be going in that direction. Early in the
evening the galleries began to fill, and by
s O'Clock they were crowded and the peo
pie overfiowed into the corridors. The
stream of humanity was endless; the bab-
Bile of voices incessant.
It was a scene calculated to inspire the
national legislators to unusual efforts. The
dresses of the ladies made patches OF brill
liant coioring in the galleries, contrasting
sharply with the sober garbs of the men.
Everywhere bright eyes looked down on the
men who hold the destiny Of the nation
in their hands.
Secretary Alger was on the floor of the
Senate until early this morning. Governor
Brady of Alaska, was also an interested
spectator. and there were many people of
national prominence in the galleries of
both houses.
Interest in the Senate.
Interest centered in the Senate where
the conference report on the River and
Harbor Appropriation Bill was being
fought over. The provision placed in the
bill by the Senate for reservoirs to irri-
gate the arid land of the Northwest had
been knocked out by the conference COM
mittee, and Northwestern Senators desired
to have the measure recommitted to the
committee in order that the provision
might be reinserted.
Senator Carter OF Montana started the
fight, and he was REINFORCED by Senator
Warren of Wyoming. Both denounced
the action of the committee and urged the
need of reservoirs at the headwaters of
the Mississippi. The diversion of
the evening was furnished by Senator
Frye, chairman of the committee who.
debate had been going on for
several hours, made a brief speech in
which he said some very sarcastic things.
His talk had no effect, however other
than to create diversion. Senator Hans
brough endeavored to have the Senate pro-
ceed to the consideration of executive bust
ness. but failed. and Senator Warren kept
on talking. taking up where he left off
when he was interrupted by Senator Frye.
Early this morning there was no indication
OF let-up. Senator Stewart and other
Senators took up the discussion, and IL
looked as though the effort to prevent the
passage of the measure would succeed.
Effect of the Delay
There are five other important measures
which cannot be disposed of until the River
and Harbor bill is out of the way. These
are the Sundry Civil bill. the General De-
fciency bill. the Army and Navy bills, and
the District of Columbia bill 1t was re-
garded this morning as doubtful whether
the Senate will have time to act on those
measures. and, in the opinion of those who
watch legislation an extra session seemed
very probable.
1t could not be stated at what moment
Senator Warren and the others who were
taking part with him in the filibuster
would give in. but the indications were
that their opposition would be kept up. At
o'clock this morning Senator Warren had
the floor. still talking about the arid lands
of the Northwest, and he did not appear
to be in the least fatigued.
Mr. Bailey Makes Trouble.
1t looked for time as though there
would be block also in the House Mr..
Bailey OF Texas announced early in the
evening that, in order to prevent the con-
tested election case of Brown against
Swanson from being called up he would
check every effort at legislation, so that
there would not be time to consider the
case.
In pursuance of his threat he called for
yea and nay votes on all amendments to
measures under consideration and DELAYED
matters in other ways until Mr.. Crum-
packer. Chairman of the Committee on
Elections. announced that the case would
not be called up. Mr.. Bailey then with
drew his opposition and the proceedings
were resumed.
The Arid Lands.
At / o'clock this morning an effort was
made to compromise the differences on the
arid land question, but the effort failed.
and Mr.. Warren continued with his re-
m-sks.
4 joint resolution was prepared and
unanimous consent asked for its consid-
Grafton. ceding the arid lands to the
States in which they are located, and pro-
Yding that the proceeds of their sale
should be applied for irrigation purposes.
After the resolution had been read Mr.
Tillman objected.
MIR Warren again interrupted in a
few minutes by Mr.. Mason to get reso'u-
tion of enquiry passed. Mr.. Tillman an
nounced that as long as business was to
be blocked he should as long as he was
able object to any other measures coming
before the Senate.
Mr.. Pettigrew then took the floor TO
speak on the arid land question
Mr.. Lodge introduced a resolution to
print additional copies of its eu!ogies on
the late Senator Morrill, MIR. Tillman said
he would yield to that quicker than he
would to anything. but he objected We
are either going to finish this bill or have