Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-22
THE FINANCIAL BILL.
Difficult to Forecast Its Ultimate
Shape.
1T NOW GOES TO THE CONFEREES
No Doubt That the Gold standard
Part of II VIII BE Retained--Sena-
tor Berry's story of Arkansas
EIcctiOn-Promise to Lawton.

tor Bcrry's story of Arkansas
observation-disclosures to Lawton.
WAsHTNGToN, Feb. 16-tSpccial. j
What the financial bill will be when it
one can really find out. The senate
bill in the first place was n new meas
ure substituted for that passed by the
house. Then the senate committee
amended II several times. and, as dnal-
ly passed, it differed materially from
the form in which it was first reported.
Now it goes into conference, and no
one can tell what the confcrccs will DO
with IT,, although one thing is assured
beyond doubt of all question, the
gold standard will be part of it, al
that was really deemed important
when the legislation was inaug Irated.
For some reason there has been little
difficulty in passing the bill in either
house. The majority supported and
the minority opposed. and that was all
there was of it. The senate furnish
n diversion because three or four Re
publicans criticised some of the provi-
sions Of the committee bill, but even
their speeches excited no especial in
terest or comment. There was fore
gone conclusion feeling about the bill
which seemed to tax" away all inter-
est To get up some real excitement
there must be q measure of widespread
Importance over which there is a
doubt
The Inst Financial Bill.
I recall one particular instance Of
this kind, and it was upon a financial
bill. the repeal of the silver purchase
ella use Of the sherman law. Day after
day the bill was debated in the senate
A majority on the Democratic side.
Joined by number of ardent silver
men on the Republican side, aided by
three or four Populists declared the
bill should never 90 through. Any at
tempt to fix n time for vote was OBJ
jected to- and the fight went on. 1t be-
came interesting because there was an
announced determination on the part
of the silver forces never to allow the
bill to pass. There We're night sessions.
1t was at one of those sessions that
Senator Allen spoke for 10 hours, an
effort which gave him the champion
ship for long talking in the senate.
Nobody knew when the end would
come. There were those who believed
that some time the opposition would
break down, and all wanted to be there
when 1t happened. When the end
came, there was no time fixed for a
vote. and ii was taken about o'clock
at night. The day previous the late
Senator Harris of Tennessee, who was
leading the Democratic opposition, told
the Republican silver leaders there
would he no falterng on the part Of
the Democrats. Later in the day he
came over and said: 1T is all over.
have had another look at my hand"
An Arkansas icction.
Senator Berry tells a story about an
election contest in the legislature down
in Arkansas. 1t appears that some
candidates for the leg slal1ra in one
district knowing they WEI beaten,
broke into the courthouse and took
away the ballot boxes. six in number,
and substituted boxes containing other
ballots, thus securing their certificates
Of election. When the contest came up
In the legislature and the facts were
brought out. the speaker of the house.
n very honest and just man, took the
floor and denounced the outrage in
round terms After reviewing the case
he said. These men, the henetciarieS
of nefarious crime, went to that
courthouse in the night, broke in and
carried off eight ballot boxes contain
ing the honest ballots of the voters"
"You lc.' broke in one of the men.
"You lie; there were only six boxes
taken"'
Promise to Lnwton.
The last letter that General Lawton
read was from Senator Rcycridgc in
which the senator told him that he sup
posed he would soon receive commits
sion as brigadier general in the regular
army Such a commission might in
time have given him stll higher rank.
But this commission was delayed, and
Major c. neral Lawton of volunteers
died a colonel in the inspector generals
department. There was no intention of
sighting General LaWton His name
was ION the list IIe was serving
with the rank and pay of major gen
eral, and it was thought best tina 9TH
or deserving men should be cared for.
Senator Bcycrldge had been to see the
president, anu so confident was he that
commission would soon go forward
to Manila that he wrote General Law
ton TO that effect, and it was this letter
that General i.aWton received and real
Just before he went on the fatal battle
Geld.
Senator HOar's Learning.
Senator Hoar has been learning some
new things about western life during
the hearing Of the Montana senatorial
contest, and whenever there Is devc'-
opmcnt of this kind | am reminded OF
a story which Senator lioar used to
tell with great glee. Thomas c. Power
was senator from Montana; Fred 4.
Dubois was senator from Idaho, Sen
ator IIOar says: II was standing by
one day when roll call was in prog.
reSS. The honorable senator from Ida
no, Mr.. Dubois WAS in his seat. The
honorable senator from Montana, Mr..
Power, came rushing from the cloak
room and asked, What is this vote 2
nh tho bannra hIa capator frop,