The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-05-22
WHAT CONGRESS rs DOING.

the House leaders say they will be
ready for the sine die adjournment
June 1, but allowing for delays and
accidents incident to the closing up
of the session, they T not inclined
to think both Houses will be ready
to quit before June 10th.
Among the items in the general
deficiency bill taken up in the House
last week was one of $50, 600 for ex-
penses incurred by Richmond Pear
son in his contest.
The Senate, after a protracted dis
cussion, has passed the Naval ApprO-
priation bill. By this measure, as
finally agreed to the Secretary of the
NAVY is authorized to procure armOr
of the best quality at $445 per ton !;
butif he is unable to obtain it at that
price, he is then authorized to pay
$545 per ton for the armOr for the
battleships Maine, Ohio and Missouri,
and proceed to erect q government
armor factory at cost not to exceed
81, 900, 900 one half of which amount
is made Immediately available.
Congress had another sensation
last week. w. A. Clark, the mil
IiOnaire Senator from Montana, fur
nished this one. It will be remem-
bered that every member Of the COM
mittee appointed to consider his
case became convinced that his cleo
ton was accomplished by the whole
sale use of brides and that common
honesty aud deCency demanded his
expulsion from the Senate. Finding
that he was to be kicked out, Clark,
on last Tuesday, rose to Il question OF
personal privilege, announced that
he had telegraphed his resignation
to the Governor Of Montana, and
babe farewell to his colleagues.
Right here it may be stated that
the Governor of Montana, Mr.. Smith,
is an avowed enemy of Clark, while
the millionaire Senator has no firmer
friend than the Governor
of the State, Mr.. Spriggs. Well,
Clark telegraphed his resignation to
the Governor of Montana, but it so
happened CD that Governor Smith
was absent on a business trip to
another State, leaving Spiggs acting
Governor. Whereupon Spriggs &C
copied the resignation of Clark, and
within a few hours appointed the
self-same w. A. Clark to fill the va
cancy caused by the resignation.
This, it appeared, would make Clark
safe, for while it could be shown
that he was elected by fraud, the
Governor had a perfect right to APP
point him to fill the vacancy.
But the end is not yet. The Senate
is naturally annoyed at Clark's little
scheme to avoid expulsion. And on
Friday, 18th, the committee resolved
to press to a vote the original resOlu~
ton declaring that his election lis
null and void on account of b]ribGriOS,
attempted briberies and corrupt prac-
tees by his agents and Of violations
of the laws of Montana defining and
furnishing crimes against the cleo
titive franchise"
The passage of this resolution
could not, Of course, affect Clark's
title by appointment, but it would
give him d hint as to the feeling Of
the Senate and the country as to his
election and the methods adopted to
accomplish it.
And the situation is still further
complicated. Gov. Smith returned
to Montana Friday, revoked acting
Governor Spriggs' appointment of
Clark, and appointed Martin Magin-
mis- to fill the vacancy caused by
Clark's resignation. AS reasons for
this action Smith asserts that Clark's
re-appointment was secured "under
circumstances and conditions which
indicate collision and fraud"
He asserts, we believe, that a Clark
agent induced him to leave the State
Thus the matter stands as this is writ
ten. The case is undoubtedly without
a parallel in. American history.
In the matter of antitrust legisla-
ton, Congress proposes a Constitu-
tiOnal amendment that is worse than
nothing, a cowardly makeshift. The
amendment would give Congress
power to dissolve a North Carolina
corporation, if not objection
able to the people of this State. It
is not at all probable that such IN