Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-04
PORTSMOUTH TELEGRAPH News
a Popullst-Democratic candidate and
was defeated.
AN ORATOR FROM DELAWARE.

AN ORATOR FROM DELAWARE.
While this session has as yet pro-
duced no watchdog, IL mas turned out
a successor TO the renowned Levin lr-
wing Handy. of Delaware. Handy was
u periphraStic orator-one who gave
pleasure to the House and annoyance
10 gentlemen in charge of appropra-
ton bills. No oratorical bird ever flap
ped his wings more persistently. The
House was eternally famed by his pin
ions. AT times he was as witty as
Tom Hood, as sarcastic as Roscoe
Conkling, and fully as eloquent as
Thomas f. Bayard. Handy was a
Democrat, while his oratorical SUCCESS
OF Is Republican. Singular as it
may seem. the predecessor OF the latter
never opened his mouth while Repre-
sentative: Neat and natty in appear
ance, and graceful in gesture, the new
genius Will undoubtedly administer as
nluch comfort TO the House and do as
much to relieve the tedium of its pro-
ceedings as did Handy himself.
The men who will probably appre-
ciate this the most Will be those engi-
neerlng the appropriation bills. 1t is
peculiarly gratifying to them ut times
TO nave word painters waste their time
III forensic exhibitions and discuss sub
Jects not germane to their bills. They
are usually anxious to economize time
III passing such bills. Word painters,
adjective distributors. and other spe-
ciallsts, however, frequently thwart
lhem. General debate in committee of
the whole always precedes the reading
ot dH appropriation bill AT times it
runs without limit, and again a speci-
fed time is agreed upon. In such die
cussion every man who Is recognized
mas an opportunity to give n sample
Oh MS eloquence by tacklng subjects
not Germane to the bill 1t takes n
neophyte some time to discover this
popularity of parliamentary practice
under the Reed rules. 4 member who
served one term without realizing It Is
lnaklng up for lost time in the present
congress. He has delivered eight ora
tons upon the Philippine question. by
emoooylng the same ideas differently
expressed, III general debate on the de-
nclency and other appropriation bills
he is still lying en- perdu, awaiting
lurther opportunities, and is good for
at least eight more speeches.
In former years the naval appropria-
ton bill was the favorite dumping
ground for such material. This yenr
however. the loads are being pretty
evenly distributed. All the appropria
tlon bills seem to be receptacles for
snch refuse. While there was little
business before the House. this was
exceptionally pleasing TO the chairman
OF the Committee on Appropriations
IL consumed time and prevented the
consideration of private bills Involving
government expenditure. 1t was really
economy, though not. perhaps, econ
omy par excellence. The latter virtue
mas been shown in one OF the dopart
ments since the opening OF Congress
y mechanic was blown into the air nv
an explosion at q government factory
at 1898 o'clock and taken to the hos
pltal. upon his recovery he learned
mat under the ruling of the depart
inehl ms pay had ceased at 1856. His
Journey through the air was thus
taken at his own expense. Extraordi-
nary as this may seem. the fact was
brought to light in n hearing before
one OF the committees of the House.
IL Will be well for the new members
70 work off their surplus material in
general debate while there is time. for
as business proceeds and the avenues
Oh legislation become choked they NAV
be shut out. The elasticity of the rules
is not always available.
JERSEYS LONESOME DEMOCRAT
Many a bright Representative nm
doubtedly remains in the woods while
those qneandering in the meads and
pastures of legislation are not always
sure of their footing. A fair percent
age, however. are coming to the front
and doing their work right manfuiIv.
Ihey talk to the point without persi
mage, building slowly but surely a foun-
dation for further efforts A Jerseyman
walked into the gallery not long ago.
he saw the only Democratic member
from that State arguing dispassionate
ly n point of constitutional law. The
Representative wore n frock coat and
bore himself with great dignity. MANY
of the members seemed to be fntorested
in his argument. The words were we'll
chosen, and the ideas clearly expressed
and enunciated. There was no strain
ing for effect, no mouthings, and no
saving Of the air. There were no sar-
castle allusfUr1s or turns for political
effect. Convinced OF the correctness OF
ms views. the Representative was hon
estly trying to impress them upon the
House. Turning to his friend, the Jer-
seyman said:
Why. that's Bill Daily, of Hoboken. I
have heard him make many an argu-
ment in court. In criminal cases he is
SAID to be the best lawyer in the State,
When I first knew him he was a
molder in an iron mill. He has been an
Assemblyman, n State Senator, a Judge
of the Circuit Court and United States
District Attorney. If the Democrats had
nominated him for Governor in.lS9S.
John w. Griggs would never have APP
pcared in McKinley's Cabinet. Bill
made his mark in New Jersey, and he
will make his mark here"
If this diagnosis of Mr.. DAILY is cor
rect there are IL score of men in the
House like Daily. There is no mush-
room growth about them. They de-
velop slowly and gradually in response
to the demands for legislation. acuuir-
ing influence and making themselves
felt in eXigcncies.
Here Is another of them He sits
within twenty feet of DAILY and comes
from the land made famous by Ponce
dc Leon and fernando De Soto. He
lives within five miles of the site where
De Soto landed when he made his ex-
petition to the Mississippi. Like Dalyy
he is leading lawyer In his State
one we'll versed in constitutional cues
tions and thoroughly equipped for leg