The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-09
SEEN AND HEARD ATTHE CAPITOL

Representative Bartlett Of Georgia. who
defended CASTOR A. Robbins on the
Aldrich-Ro5bins contest. earned the DIS
tinction yesterday OF being the most aEi-
tated speaker on the floor Of the House
He spoke so loud and intensely that his
voice became seriously impaired and his
words flowed so rapidly that not all
he said could be understood in the gal
leries. lie repeatedly wiped his face and
lips with a big handkerchief. which. dur
ing much of his speech he held in his LETT
hand without ceasiug for one moment 20
speak. In his right hand he fiOurished a
lead pencil. which he waved about his
head like a cutlass and ever and anon
pointed il dciantly at the Republicans in
general and Mr. Mann OF Illinois in par
ticular. During one especial outburst Mr.
Bartlett picked a large pamphlet from a
desk. raised it to his arms length, and
hurled it back at the desk with such yio-
lence that it bounded OF and fitted for
some distance across the floor.
Senator Culiom is said to present more
petitions in the Senate than any other
member Of that body. and il is a very un e.
usual thing for a week to pass without
several being submitted by him. The
Senator said yesterday that the greater
number Of these petitions are drawn up
by the various labor unions and societies,
of which there are so many in Illinois,
especially in and around Chicago. Il IS
a noticeable fact that the New York Sena-
tors present a comparatively small num-
Der OF petitions or memorials. and that
OF those that are presented the greater
number come from the board Of trade.
or from other large financial corporations
or societies.
The b Of greatest bulk which has been
presented to Congress during the present
session is that introduced By Senator Car
ter Of Montana. entitled a bill making
further provision for the government Of
Alaska and for other purposes 1t fills
604 pages
The loudest speakers in Congress are
Senator Tillman and Representative Bro
sius. Mr.. Brosius speaks with long, deep
roar. while Senator Tillman. when thor
oughly wrought up TO his subject. speaks
in spasmodic shrieks. Senators Lindsay
and Wolcott have powerful voices. but
they are more careful OF them than the
gentlemen named.
During the few days that have e'apsed
since the close OF the hearings on the Clark
case before the Senate Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections. the committee room
in which they we're held has been COM
pleteIy overhauled and cleaned. Every
nook and corner OF the room was carefully
scrubbed. the portleres were taken down,
and both they and the carpet were given
a thorough steam cleaning. When the car
pet was taken up il was found to be stuck
to the floor in several places with the to-
bacco juice with which it had been sat
urated during the hearings. One Of the
wOrkmen was required to scIaps the i5cr
with a steel scraper before the deposit upon
it could be removed with a scrubbirg
brush A member of the Elections Com
mittee said yesterday that the condition In
which the committee room was left at the
close Of the hearings is indicative OF the
crowds OF people who attended them.
During the discussion CT the Porto Ricau
bill in the Senate yesterday Senator For
aker who is in charge Of it, was kept busy
answering questions propoundei By Sena-
tors on both sides OF the chamber. Many
of these answers required a reference 10
various documents. and some amusement
was created by the manner in which SEN
ator Foraker kept his son. who acts as his
clerk, busy looking up these various re err
ences. One Senator laughingly said:
Young Foraker is acting as a page today
and 1 should think that a pages duties
would be rather arduous for a man weigh
ing more than 200 pounds" This remark
was emphasized by the speaker pointing to
the clerk in question. who at that time was
getting a book from under his fathers
desk, an act that appeared TO be difficult
one for him.
For the first time since taking his seat
Senator McCumber addressed the Senate
yesterday. and during the short time that
he held the floor he was attentively lis
tened to. His remarks related to a clause
In the Porto RCan bill, which he discu sed
In a clear, concise manner. Indicating that
during the days which he has spent as a
listener to other speakers he has kept we'll
in touch with the subject TIE Senator has
a strong. clear voice and speaks in a de-
liberlte manner that makes him easily
understood.