The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.



hour Of the Sehsta mis- long delayed speech
in support of Ais flee trade amendment to
tie Porto Rican Tariff bill. Whatever may
be the effect Of the young lndianan
speech upon the country. it is stating the
plain truth miidlySo say that II has made
him the mostuunpopular man in the Sen
ate among his colleagues. The naughty o-d
statesmen always have resented Mr. Bev-
eridge forwaFdness, though when he spoke
on the Philippine question they listened TO
him with show Of respect. Yesterday,
however, only three Republican members CT
the Senate appeared to be paying the least
attention TO Senator Beverage. These
were Senator Proctor, Senator Chandler,
and Senator Frye, the President pro tenn
pore. On the Democratic side OF the cham
Der he was listened TO by Senator Bate,
Senator Clay. and Senator Heitfeld. At no
time during his occupancy OF the floor eX-
tending over nearly two hours, we're more
than twenty Senators in their seats. AT
about the middle OF his speech there were
by actual count just eleven OF the grave
and reverend seignioTs. His colleague, MI.
Fairbanks, was very much Interested ID
some CORES ondence that must have been
Of great importance. for only occasionally
did he look I'D from his desk toward Mr..
Beverdge Senator Hanna left the cham
Der as soon as the Iudianan rose to speak,
and did not return until the speech was
finished Mr. Hanna took Mr.. Beverage
into the Vice Presidents chambers a week
ago. locked the doors thereof, and said
some things TO him that probably Will
never get into print When Mr.. Beverage
emerged from the room his face was
flushed, and he announced that he had de-
cided not to deliver the speech. MI Han
ia presumably had induced him TO make
this decision. Mr.. Hanna doesn't believe
in oratory. During his three years in tie
Senate he has made only one speech. HIS
maiden effort was delivered last Monday,
and consisted Of about two hundred words.
Seven of these precious two hundred words
we're: Il brand this statement as malicious
lie" What he branded as a malicious lie
was the statement Of a Republican mem
Der of the House who voted for the Porto
Rican Tariff bill that that measure was
the price OF large contribution to the Re
publican campaign fund, which Mr.. Hanna
is to manage for Mr.. Mckinley. Mr.. Bev-
eridge denounced nobody in his speech yes
terday as a malicious liar. Indeed, he said
nothing in a two-hours' speech at viii, b
anybody could take offence. And still both
sides of the chamber seemed offended by
his delivery of the speech. Senator Fora
ker, The nominal manager of the Porto
Rican bill interrupted Mr.. Beverage at
the opening OF his address by asking Presi-
dent Pro Tempore Frye if at the close CT
Mr.. Beveridge's speech it would be per-
missible TO take a vote on amendments 10
the bill He was informed that II would
not be. Obviously, the intention was 10
vote down the Beverage proposition imme-
diately after the Indianan had finished
speaking. II is said that the purpose was
to make the vote against 1t unanimous. eX-
cept the one vote which the author CT the
amendment would have cast for it.
The speaker Plays the Mischief
The ears Of the Hon. David Bremner Hen
derson must have tingled yesterday. In
both ends Of the Capitol he was being
roasted to a turn all day long. For good
and sufficient reasons none Of his critics
would consent 10 the use Of his name
for publication. But they all agreed that
was the Speakers letter to an Iowa
friend abusing the Senate for holding up
the Oxnardized Porto Rican bill for so
long time The Senate has its share of
towards. The Senate is always the body
upon which the great interests concen-
trate their efforts to defeat proper legis-
lation," wrote Speaker Henderson. But
this fact remains,' continues the great
letter writer. that ] have the knowledge
that ! have done my simple duty, and
have done 1t in consultation and CO.
operation with the President Of the United
States" Thus does the Speaker show
that simple duty" overcomes plain
duty" At the same time there are men
now alive who insist every day until they
grow red in the face that the President
of the United States has not budged an
inch from the position he occupied in De-
cember when in his message to Congress
he urged free trade for Porto Rico in the
name Of plain duty" Still, If the
Speaker did his simple duty in consul
tation and cooperation, too, with the
President in whipping the party into line
for the Oxnard bill. of course the talk
about Mr.. McKinley's immOvable position
in the face Of his plain duty must
cease In view OF the fact that Speaker
Henderson declares In his letter that the
trusts were clamorous for tree trade with
Porto Rico the suggestion is being made
that an Investigation into this charge
would be OF value to the country, as it
might possibly reveal the cause which
made various gentlemen Of high position
plead very earnestly for free trade only
a few weeks before Henry Oxnard bobbed
up in Washington with his little rs per
cent tariff bill However. as it is thought
TO be not impossible that a mistake has
been made as to the authorship of The
letter signed with the Speakers name, an
investigation into this may precede all
the other proposed investigations.
Keeping ~ Their COuraEe.-The
Republican State Committee of Indiana