Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-03-31
AN AGED STATESMAN
AMUSES SENATOR'S
Pettns Made One of Funniest speeehe.
Ever Delivered In the senate.
Porto Ricon Bill Up.

WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Pet
tus fAla.l, the oldest member of the
body-his age being only few months
short of four score years-delivered the
funniest speech heard within the senate
chamber in many years Throughout
it all, Mr.. Pettus was very solemn.
Mr.. Proctor (Rep., Vt.) had delivered
foreeful argument in support of free
trade with the island Of Porto Rico
He was followed by Mr.. Pettus, who
devoted the first part of his remarks TO
the constitutional phases of the subject.
Then, quite unexpectedly, came the fun,
as he sharpened his wit at the expense of
Mr. Gallinger On. II and Mr. Beyeridoe
Ind..) at was a gem" said one senator
commenting upon Mr.. Pettus' speech,
'and will long stand as one of the best ex-
amples of senatorial fun making
He referred to the ignorance of law
manifested by Mr. Gallinger IN. HI
Thursday, in quoting certain judicial de-
cisions, and then adverted to the wonder
full defamation we had yesterday from. the
orator of the senate" (Mr. Beveridge).
when you get genuine orator he is abso-
lutely absolved,' said he, from all rules of
logic and common sense.'
He further said in part:
Il tell you the senior or Junior senator from
Iowa, don't know which, and the senior or
junior senator from Maine, do not know
which, will have to take some action in refer
enee to that orator. There is no doubt about
it in the world. Laughter There will have
to be some caucus ON the matter. LAUGHTER I
I tell you, Mr.. President these four wise men
from Maine and Iowa could not devote their
Al
better than to take some consideration of the
orators in this chamber. [Laughter.]
Mr.. President, the Master once had to select
man to lead the children of Israel out of
Egypt and through the wilderness of Canaan.
He did not select an orator. daughter No
he selected one Of these men from Iowa or
Maine, and his name was Moses And he was
stubborn man, too. [Laughter.1 But Moses
told his master to his face that he could not do
it, because he could not speak to the people,
And what was his reply ? There is Aaron he
speaks Well And they took Aaron along, not
in command-that was not allowed but they
took him along as kind of deputy. And when
Moses, on his masters order, went up into the
mountain for the tables, the orator. left in
charge, had golden calf framed (laughter) and
he put all the people down to worshiping the
golden calf [Laughter.] More people wor-
ship the golden calf now than they did in those
days.
Dut, While Aaron ana MS people We're all
down worshiping the golden calf the son of
God appeared and he pulled out his sword and
demanded to know who was on the Lord s
side, and the orator jumped up from his knees,
drew his sword and got on Moses side and
went to killing the Israelites along with Moses.
All these orators will do the same thing
(laughter) the last one of them. We saw an in
stance of it yesterday afternoon
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Pettus' speech con.
sideration Of the amendment was resumed
The pending amendment was that of Mr.
Morgan, providing that the United States in
exchanging the Porto Ricon coins for United
States money, should pay 100 cents, instead of
90 cents, for each of the Porto Ricon pieces
The amendment was defeated, II to 49, The
committee amendment to the exchange of
money was then adopted.
Mr.. Pettus offered as IA substitute for section
II provision declaring that "the constitution
and laws Of the United States shall have the
same force and effect in Porto Rico as in other
territories of the United States"
1t was defeated IS to 49,
Mr.. Lindsay (Ky.) offered an amendment
striking out the provision in section Is, that
the governor should participate in legislation.
MIR. Foraker accepted the amendment
Mr.. Allen offered amendment the effect
of which was to designate Porto Rico as a ter
ritory of the United States.
Foraker and Alien had a sharp colloquy