Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-27

than one foot was burning when Hep
burn succeeded in closing the debate.
Meantime Speaker Reed appeared on
the floor and personally appealed to the
members 10 sustain Hopkins. If the
minority had voted soidly with Hep
burn he would have won his fight hand
somely. AS il was he was beaten by
eighteen majority. Nor did the Iowan
get another opportunity to press the
matter to consideration before Congress
adjourned sine die.
A NEW SITUATION.
The situation in the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress was changed the instant that
Thomas b. Reed sent in his resignation
When the new Congress met. David B.
Henderson became the power on the
throne. The same caucus that gave
him the nomination for Speaker pledged
the party to adopt the Reed rules
Hepburn lost his fiery feeling against
the rules. and Dlacidly accepted the
caucus obligation. He was apparently
satisfied that under the new admins
tration he would be able to bring the
Mica raryila- Aiilf- before the House for
consideration. In the interim. between
the adjournment of the Fifty-siXth
Congress. The fight against the Hep
burn bill was resumed all along the line.
Corporate greed was still rampant, and
The Panama Canal Company became n
factor in the fight. They sought an OPP
portunity to sell their franchise to the
United States Government. They in
vited many a Congressman TO visit the
lsthmus as their guests and inspect the
work already done. The proposition to
sell looked Plausible, because such a
sale would avoid the complication
caused by the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
The situation was further complicated
by the Hay Pauncefote treaty
HIS FINAL TRIIrNIpIT
The Indignation OF the American peo-
pie was aroused. Nevertheless. Hep
burn maintained his attitude. Not for
an instant did he turn aside. He was
urged to await the report of the Walker
Commission which had inspected the
work of the Panama route, but refused.
He wanted an American canal. built by
Americans with American capital and
protected by American Notifications
and American guns. He stood with
defiant feet on the Monroe doctrine. de-
spite the Hay Pauncefote treaty. recog
nZing no other interests but those of
the United States. England was placed
on the same basis with all other ma
tions. This bill was reported to the
House on February II. Day after day
passed and no special order for its con-
sideration came from the Committee on
Rules. Hepburn's friends became anx-
ious. but he expressed the utmost con-
ldence that the special order would be
forthcoming before the end of the ses-
sion. This confidence was not mis-
placed.
1t came at last. setting down the LIST
and I'd of May for the consideration of
the bill. On May l the foodgates of
oratory We're opened. The new mem
bers jumped into the stream with
alacrity. 1t was grand opportunity to
display the opening buds of statesman
ship. They got away with the time OF
the House in great shape. There was
such a superabundance of material that
n night session was found necessary.
But the usual disturbing element APP
peared. Joseph B. Cannon, flushed with
his victory over the Committee on
Naval Affairs, assaulted the procession,
artillery. foot and dragons. Hepburn
met his-old antagonist hnt to hiit.
Never was there a finer fight, but 1t
was almost uneXamDled In ferocity.
The name of the Supreme Being was
occasionally used. but always in a par
liamentary practice. and the way in
which the words liar" and ''sooundrel"