The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-17
SEEN AND HEARD ATTHE CAPITOL

II is very often the case that tn, Presi-
sonai duties which necessitate his abb
sence from the Senate chamber, aud at
such times he calls upon some Senator
to act as Presiding officer until he re-
turns 1t is a very unusual thing for
this request not to be acceded to- and
wnen such case occurs 1t attracts con-
siderable attention. During the reading
OF the Alaskan bill yesterday morning the
president pro tempore asked Mr.. Bate 10
occupy the chair, but the Tennesseean
who was attentively following the reading,
4 replied that he preferred to remain at his
desk. Mr.. Carter was accordingly asked
TO preside, and did so.
prominent Republican Congressman
| said yesterday that he believes Congress
will adjourn earlier than is generally ex-
pected. The greater the distance between
adjournment and election day. the better
Tor Republican chances he added.
At an early hour yesterday morning the
corridors of the Capitol we're crowded with
| visitors the greater number OF whom were
from out Of the city. and belonged to ex-
| cursion parties mich we're spending the
vened at 10 o'clock, many Of the visitors
| took seats in the galleries on that side
! of the Capitol, but few remained, as moth
| ing was being done except the reading of
/ the Alaskan bill. At noon, however. when
| the regular session OF both houses began
the galleries filed rapidly and during the
| rest of the day there was an unusually
! large attendance.
"One would think said a Representa-
| tive yesterday, that the bill for the relief
| OF the Globe Works of Boston, may go
| through this Congress. 1t is an old, old
story. 1t is a claim for money alleged to
be due to the builders OF the light draft
monitor Suncook, built in 1862 1t is a
claim that has annually appeared in Con-
gress since 1867
The Senate diplomatic gallery was &C.
cupied yesterday by two members Of the
Turkish Legation, and one of the Colom-
bian Legation. The Turkish representa-
tives remained but short time and
seemed to take but little interest in the
proceedings. but the South American was
an interested listener to all of the de-
bate on the Porto Rican Relief bill. As
rule the ladies Of the Diplomatic Corps
attend the sessions of Congress more
often than the men.
There are number of very bald heads
seen in the House. two Of the most con-
spicuous being those of Mr.. Boutell of
Illinois. and Mr.. Van Voorhis OF Ohio. The
side hair of Mr.. Boutell is white; that
of Mr.. Van Voorhis is dark, while
here and there appears a grey streak.
These gentlemen do not figure conspicu-
ously in the House debates, but both are
decidedly practical representatives-that
is, they are earnest workers in commit
tee apd Jealous in looking after the ia
terests of their constituents.
Mr. Tillman made one of his emphatic
speeches in the Senate yesterday, the first
that he has made in several days. He
directed his remarks principally toward
the attitude assumed by Mr. Allison on
the Porto Rican question, and on this sub
ject his speech was mixture OF denuncia-
tion and sarcasm. There are few subjects
on which Mr. Tiliman speaks in which
he does not find an opportunity for refer
ence TO some occurrence or condition Of
affairs in his own State of South Carolina,
and in speaking of the hurricane in Porto
Rico he compared it to the storm which
caused such great suffering and loss of life
among the growers of Sea Island cotton
off the coast of South Carolina.
During the reading of the Alaskan bill
yesterday morning, Mr.. Bacon entered the
Senate chamber. and for some time occu-
pied himself at his desk. The clerk was
reading slowly and in a low. monotonous
tone of voice. fact which soon attracted
Mr.. Bacon's attention. Rising and ad-
dressing the Chair, he said: mfr Presi-
dent, as the present function of the SEN
ate is the reading of this bill for it's in
formation, 1 suggest that it be read in
such a manner that it can be unders TODD
The clerk then raised his voice and Mr.
Bacon, with look ON his face which
seemed to say. Il have done my duty
left the chamber.
Yesterday was dull day with the door
keepers of the galleries of the House. 1t
is not often SO, but yesterday the at
tendance of spectators was slim. Those
who came did not remain long so drowsy
were the floor proceedings. Pension Fri
days and claim Fridays are unattractive
days in the House from popular stand
point. Among the gallery visitors yester-
day was Senator Taliaferro of Florida, who
was showing a party of Florida friends
what may be seen at the Capitol
Probably the most interested spectator
in the gallery when the House adopted the
conference report on the Financial bill.
Tuesday afternoon, was Hugh H. Hanna, OF
Chairman of the Monetary
which began the agitation re-
sulting in the passage of the bill. His
presence at that time recalled remark he
made al the conference held at Indianapo-
lis, January, 1897 regarding the period
within which he thought Congress should
and would pass bill on the subject
Among the gentlemen present at that time
were Messrs. Walker and Fowler of the
Committee on Banking and Currency. and
one of them said that if the bill proposed
we're introduced into the House, say on
Thursday. it would not reach the commit
zee for week.
oh broke in Mr. Hanna, Il can't
pend more than week at Washington
oOking after this matter"
Mr. Hanna as Chairman of the Executive
entered upon a campaign 10
ecure the passage of a bill TO reform the
financial and monetary systems of the
ountry. In three years and two months
C day from the date on which he de-
Jared that a week ought TO be sufficient
ime within which to accomplish the work
lie saw bill passed fixing the gold stand
I'd, increasing the national bank currency
0 per cent and providing for the refundinS
f the bonded debt In conducting the cam
aign. which closed with the signing OF
he bill by the President on Wednesday. it
understood that the indianapolis None
airy Commission expended not less than
go. 900.
4 Japanese View.
(From the Philadelphia Ledger)
''If the United States is 10 have the com
erce Of the world" says Marquis Ito, the Jspa-