The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-07
Mr.. Payne Announces the Porto Rfcan
Bill VIII he Called Up ON
Wednesday, Next Week.
DISCUSSION TO BE BRIEF
VOTE MAY BE TAKEN BEFORE THE
HOUSE ADJOURNs THAT DAY.
Democrats to Confer To-Night-Biu i'm
the Interest of the Militia
Clark Case Argument.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The most In
teresting features of the Republican House
caucus last night do not appear I'm the au-
thorized statement OF the proceedings. 1t
transpires that a large portion of the time
of the caucus was consumed in speeches OF
protest against the growing power OF the
Senate, the excuse for the outbreak being
found in that provision OF the Porto Rican
civil-government amendment to the House
bill setting up form OF government In the
island over which the Senate would ex-
ercise absolute control by virtue OF power
to veto executive appointments. The bur-
den of the protest was that the Senate is
growing In power at the expense Of the
President, on one hand. and the House OF
Representatives on the other. Speeches
were made calling attention most unpleas-
antly to the increasing insignihcance of the
House as contrasted with the swelling ar
rogance of the upper branch OF Congress,
which is evidencing a determination to
usurp authority on every hand, debating
legislation and restricting the presidential
prerogative of appointment. This increas-
ing power was characterized as a danger
Gus senatorial oligarchy, and vehement
demand was voiced for action 10 check its
further development. After having given
expression to this violent Indignation those
who protested loudest quietly took their
medicine and fell in line behind the leaders
by acquiescing in the programme TO accept
the Senate bill with all its good. and bad
features The House has watched with
growing displeasure the development OF the
so-caIled senatorial oligarchy for a good
while, but this is the first time there has
been an open outbreak in speeches before
any considerable assemblage.
Representative Payne of New York. floor
leader of the majority in the House and
chairman of the ways and means commit-
tee. announced to-day that the Porto Rican
tariff bill would be called up next wednes-
day. He said the time limit TO be placed on
| the debate had not been decided upon. The
| vote might be taken on Wednesday.
Representative Richardson. the Demo-
| cratic leader of the House, has called
Democratic caucus for Saturday night to
take measures to poll the full Democratic
| strength against the Porto Rican tarin bill
| next week. All pairs will be declared OF.
and absentees will be obliged to return to
| Washington in order to be recorded against
| the bill. -
| The Senate committee on elections to-day
| heard further arguments I'm the Clark case.
| Former Senator Edmunds spoke I'm support
| of the prosecution. He took UP the charge
of the conspiracy. and undertook to show
| that the $4,000 used by whiteside in his ex-
posure had been supplied by Mr.. Clarks
friends. Instead Of having less than $4,000
| he contended that Mr.. Welcome and his
associates had. according TO the evidence.
received up to the time OF the exposure
| more than 100000 True, the claim was
| made that much OF this sum had been ex-
1 pended I'm the campaign prior to the meet
| ing of the Legislature. but II this was the
| case the evidence, which would put to
| shame the whole charge, had been de-
| stroyed when the checks and vouchers used
| in the campaign were burned. Mr.. Edmunds
| defended Mr.. Whiteside, saying that he
had only acted in accordance with his con-
viction as TO what his duty to his State
was. Detective service such as he per-
| formed was necessary in order to uncover
crime such as he undertook with honest
| purpose to expose. He accounted for the
employment of the persons whose charac-
4 lerS ndQ Dcen cfltlClStO ny SdyifiS tndl III
| cases of bribery IL was absolutely neces-
sary to employ go-betweens. Bribery was
universally the mother Of perjury, render
ing IL almost impossible to secure proof at
first hands. If, however, these agents were
corrupt. II they were good or bad. they had
derived their character from the hands Of
| Mr. Clark his agents.
Mr. Edmunds defended the Montana Su-
preme Court and ridiculed the explanation
i made by C. w. Clark and Attorney Cor
bett as to the special train from Butte TO
| Helena on the occasion when Justice Hunt
claimed TO have been approached by Dr.
Treacey. AS for Mr.. Clark. he had no
enmity toward that gentleman. He had
no doubt that in making his canvass for
the Senate he had acted up to his highest
ideal OF right, which was the belief that ne
could purchase with money what he want
ed Referring to the legal points ne main
tanned that the Senate should declare va
cant any senatorial seat whose occupant
had been elected by corrupt practices. lie
was also satisfied that the Montana stat
ute prohibiting the use OF more than Se.of0
i'm a campaign sufficient TO render void
Mr.. Clark's election Mr. Edmunds con-
cluded his remarks at o'clock. thus clos
ing the hearing I'm the famous case. The
committee adjourned until next Tuesday.
when meeting will be held 10 consider
the question of a report.
A bill of much interest 20 the National
Guard and the militia was introduced to-
day by Representative Marsh. OF Illinois.
chairman OF the House committee on
militia. for the arming Of State troops with
Krag-Jorgensen rifles II provides: .Tha<
the secretary of war Is authorized 10 isyie
on the acquisitions OF the Governors of the