The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-19
SEEN AND HEARD ATTHEC CAPITOL


One OF the prettlest incidents OF the sss-
, sion took place in the Senate Thursday
while the final debate on the Firanciai bi,l
was In progress. Senator Vest arose to
address the Senate during the time when
the rule for the ten-minute speeches was
IN force. The Missouri Senator is one Of
the besS beloved men in the chamber.
His fin@ mt.:,sl balance his integrity and
keen sens,l OF honor. have won for him
the universal respect OF his colleagues.
Besides. he Is an orator who would CON-
| mand attention without such personal
Qualities as he possesses. In addition to
all this, Senator Vest Is at present in very
poor health. and all. regardless OF party
animation, have the deepest sympathy for
hifn- great many speeches had been
made under the ten-minute rule and the
senators were getting impatient for a vote
when Mr.. Vest rose to speak. He warmed
up TO his subject. and he did not notice
now the time few. His ten minutes we're
gone before he had fairly started nut tne
presiding officer did not interrupt him.
r1tteen minutes passed. then twenty, but
| he was allowed to continue his remarks
| III it had been any other man. even
Republican leader. the gsvel would have
cur short his oratory. At the end of
thirty-ive minutes Mr. Vest concluded
and started to take his seat Just as he
was sitting down Mr.. Frye softly tapped
the desk with his gavel and said gently:
1.-THE Chair regrets to announce that the
time of the Senator from Missouri has ex-
pred
Quite a number OF Civil Service advo-
Gates were at the Capitol Saturday to
witness the vote on Mr.. Mudd's amend
ment to the Legislative Appropriation bill
to strike out the appropriation for the
Civil Service Commission. When the vote
was announced defeating the proposition
there was a general clapping OF hands In
the galleries. Every year the anti-Civil
Service members make fight on the
merit system, and always with the same
result.
Senator Clark of Montana was present
as a member of the District Committee at
the recent hearing of the board of trustees
on the public school enquiry. Anyone who
is of the opinion that his knowledge Is
confined to mining copper wire, and other
commercial enterprises would have been
willing to reuouree the Judgment thus
hastily formed. He manifested the keenest
interest In the proceedings. and his ques-
the point. He also exhibited an accurate
knowledge OF the modern system OF teach
ing, far more than one would suppose a
man so occupied with vast business ven
lures could acquire. His views were not
superficial. but went into the psychology
OF childhood. the abstruse principles. of
pedagogy, In manner that was surpris-
ing He showed that the pursuit OF for
tune had not been so absorbing that he
..-.1- L. aw.frx
questions that many man considers OF
little value.
Representative Littlcfield of Maine every
day receives letters from all parts OF the
country asking him for copies Of his speech
on the Roberts case.
Representative Norton of Ohio said yes
terday that If the Republicans ere sincere
in their affection for the old soldier they
will adopt the suggestion recently made
and set apart one day each week for the
consideration OF private pension bills
ut Is almost impossible he said. ito
get members to attend the Friday night
sessions. And il any member makes the
point of no quorum the two and one half
hours set apart for the consideration OF
the pension bills are consumed in the
effort to secure a quorum"
The majority OF Senators and Represen-
tatives who have closely followed the devel-
opments In the Montana contest are firm
in the belief that Senator Clark will not
be disturbed in his seat. While 1t is uni
versally admitted that the evidence elicit
ed shows undoubtedly that Senator Ciark's
election was attended by corruption. IL Is
pointed out that none OF the corruption.
or attempted corruption. has been traced
to him. This, IL Is said. is the fact of SUI
preme Importance to the Senatorial mind.
1t Is held that the theory that tue large
sviias of money offered to men who liam
boyantiy refused to use it. really came from
Clark's impiacable enemies has been quite
as we'll established as has the converse
proposition. The Senate's traditional dis
inclination to unseat member on rumors
Of misdoing and unproven charges OF cor
ruption IL considered an insuperable bar
rier in Senator Clark's line Of defences. IL
is said that when the case Is over and all
of the Montana liars have had their fling
al him and for him. Senator Clark. in due
time and through proper channels, viii
make some revelations that will startie
the country and confuse the enemies who
have conspired to ruin him