The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
Intellectual Encounters Between Cannon
and Hepburn, Lewis and GrOSYenOr,
AND DoLLWER AND JOHNSON
Melville Hull Saved the Day for Hog Is
land-Brilliant Flashes All Along
the Line During the Consid-
Grafton of Army Bill.

In congress. December passed with scarcely
ripple on the legislative sea, but January
and February have been tempestuous.
While the Paris treaty created whirlwind
in the senate, the army reorganization act
brought on a squall in the house. Legisla-
tive helmsmen in both houses managed
their steering gear with great difficulty, and
drew long breaths when the gale subsidized.
The trouble drew crowds OF visitors to the
galleries of both houses, for the storm in
the senate was not confined to executive
sessions. Metaphor, trope, smile, sarcasm,
humor and personalities had full play In the
house OF representatives. They resulted in
several duels-not at Bladensburg, but IN
the house. They were Intellectual duels, far
more entertaining than those fought forty
years ago. They came without warning.
The political atmosphere was surcharged
there were sudden flashes of lightning all
along the line, and rare detonations follow
ed. There was fine chance for profession
al duelists, and few of them took advan-
tage of the opportunity.
The first of these intellectual encounters
occurred before the bill for the reorganiza-
ton of the army was reached. The profess
SIGNALS were Joseph G. Cannon, of Illinois,
and William P. Hepburn, of Iowa. The
former is chairman of the committee on ap-
preparations and the latter chairman of the
committee on Interstate and foreign COM
merce. Cannon Is an expert with the clay
more, while Hepburn handles rapier with
exquisite skill. The cause of the trouble
dated away back to December 10, 1898. On
that day the sagacious Hepburn, having
the felicity of recognition from the speak
er, secured the passage of a dissolution set
ting aside January IS for DEMONSTRATION
of such business as may be on Me calendars
of the house reported from th@ committee
on interstate and foreign commeree." When
the time arrived for the. constellation OF
such measures Mr.. Cannon was on the floor
watching the proceedings.
The nation holds the chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations responsible for the
expenditures of the governmental least he
thinks so. The Illinois member seems to
feel the responsibility, and questions all
outside bills carrying appropriations. he
frequently demands explanations, and seeks
the ground upon which the appropriations
are founded. In this case Mr.. Hepburn
called up bill establishing a light and fog
signal station on or near Hog Island Shoals,
Rhode Island, to take the place OF the Light
vessel now there. at a cost not to exceed
$4,000. The report had been read and the
speaker was about to put the question when
Mr.. Cannon evinced an inquiring DISPOSE
ton. He wanted to know something about
Hog Island and the gentleman interested In
It. 3. .Ete
IniS seemed 10 nettle Mr. f1epDuTus WHO
drew his rapier and prepared for action. He
insnuated that II the gentleman from ILL.,
nois wanted any information on the matter
ne had better go to the lighthouse board.
where tie committee on interstate and for
eign commerce had gone. This thrust threw
the gentleman from Illinois on his mettle.
He brandished his ciaymore. and In an IN
slant the attention of the house was hxed
on the combatante. Cannon hardly thought
that the recommendation OF the lighthouse
board was enough. Such a recommendation
could be obtained by any congressman. He
thought that the bill ought to locate the
light definitely and tell exactly how much
such a light would cost The committee
seemed to know nothing whatever about 1t,
and 1t was their business to know all about
It.
About this time one Melville Bull, a repre-
sentative of Rhode Island, was at work in
the committee on naval affairs. endeavoring
to solve the naval academy problem A
kind friend dropped flea into his ear and
he made break for the house, flea and all.
He arrived there while Cannon was swing
ing his claymore. When the gentleman
from Illinois had subsidized, Bull, in simple,
straightforward way. explained the bill to
the satisfaction OF everybody. Mr.. Hep
burn, however, was not through with Mr..
Cannon. He was still In position. left foot
forward with rapier extended. 1t was en-
guard, en- fierce, parry and thrust. until he
gentleman from Illinois He repelled Can
mons charge against the lighthouse board,
and in doing SO accused him OF cheesepar-
ing and parsimony, holding him responsible
for the unprepared condition of the country
when war was declared. He wanted to
know II the gentleman from Illinois expect
ed the secretary of the treasury to spend
his days and nights on Hog Island 6hoal
measuring storms and Weighing and meas
uring commerce. instead OF acting upon in
formation received from his subordinates.
Here Cannon made another swing with his
claymore. He claimed that his action was
always governed by a desire to save the
country from unnecessary taxation and that
the result of the war showed that he had
acted according to his best lights Alto
gether, 1t was lively fight and one that
tested the mettle of both gentlemen. The
house regarded it as delicious legislative
moroccan, and the laughter of the galleries
showed the appreciation of their occupants.
AS for Melville Bull, he was In heavenly
ecstacy Hog Island Shoal is his favorite
fishing ground. He can fish al night If they
get light there.
This duel however, was not nearly as ex-
hiliarating as the one that occurred a few
DAYS afterward between j. Hamilton Lewis,
of Washington, and the veteran Charles Ii.
Grosvenor, of Ohio. Both are military gen.
tlemen and professional gladiators. 1t was
during the discussion over the army reor-
ganization bill.
The challenge came from Lewis. He was
the perfection of neatness and delicate
courtesy as he drew his scimitar from it's
sheath and haloed Grosvenor's head with
the flashing blade. Never was the polished
gentleman from Washington in trim more
exquisite. Every word was enunciated with
a finish only excelled by the recherche OF
the sentence itself Finer sarcasm was
never uttered. Each compliment carried Its
own peculiarly pungent sting. At times
Lewis drew an atomizer from his intellect
and sprayed the Ohio statesman with de-
rision. Anon the atmosphere was freighted
with panegyric absolutely magnificent In
verbal ornamentation.
The house was moro than delighted. II
bummed with applause and roared with