The Greenville times., 1901-03-09
Assassinated in the Senate by
Senator Carter.
Arid Land Provisions Proved a
Stumbling Block.
Representative Catchings Dazed
by the Result, His Principal
Time Had Been Devoted
toRiyer Improvements.

luOLld6 AdfIcTaOl NAOubdudy 10 VIC HluA
who stabbed it in the back.
From the time that the measure was
sent to conference it was felt that the
arid lands provisions might prove
stumbling block, but none apprehended
that this littleitem of perhaps 100000
would furnish the motive for killing
the bill. Nor did any one suspect that
the senator from Montana carried a
knife up in his sleeve and anger in his
heart to commit the execution. There
was CONSERVATION in the senate cham
ber. therefore, at dawn this morning,
when, as the conferees were about to
reach an agreement, Carter took the
floor and announced rather tragically:
| ~ do not think this bill ought to be-
come law, and SO believing, l shall do
what lies in my power to prevent its
passage between now and IL O'Clock.
The bill will not pass if my strength
does not fail to such an extent that l
can no longer occupy this floor"
Then he hesitated moment, and
added:
"And l am in pretty fair state of
health"
The Montana senator was true at
least to his promise, and when the hour
Of l2 o'clock arrived, which terminated
both the session of congress and his ca
reer in the senate, he was on his feet
inveighing against the bill. Once or
twice during the morning he gave way
for few moments, in which to rest,
but II was to confederate, Wellington
of Maryland, who read naval reports
and other time-kiliing articles until he
cared to resume.
Meanwhile the senators were as
founded. They did not know that Car
ter had any great personal interest IN
the arid land item, and they had been
informed by both Warren Of Wyoming
and Pettigrew of North Dakota, who
were deeply interested in the matter,
that they would not throw any obsta-
cles in the way of the passage of the
bill, even though the item was stricken
out in conference. Time and again
senators approached Carter, requesting
that he yield the floor simply to let the
matter come to vote on the question
of whether or not they would send the
bill back to conference, but doggedly
the Montana senator stood at his desk
and talked until the gavel sounded a
warning that he was no longer mem
Der Of that body. +.
This arid land item, apparently an
insignificant thing was in reality an
entering wedge that was to be feared.
4 An appropriation of about $500, 900 was
asked to build reservoirs in Wyoming
for irrigation purposes. After vainly
endeavoring to get an amendment at
tached to the rivers and harbors bill,
and because of itthe confefees wrangz
led many weary hours, General Catch-
ings at last announced his willingness
to accept #, but. Mr.. Burton und ma
| jority of the committee would not con-
sent, because they said its adoption
meant future draft upon the treasury
Sl20, 600, 600 to $3.50, 200, 900. The sound
ness of this position was recognized by
all of the senators except those from
the arid land states, and even the latter
were ready to submit to the omission
of the amendment when Carter came
forth prepared to slaughter the bill.
Tonight republicans are louder, in
the denunciation of Carter than the
democrats.
Representative Catchings, who feels
his disappointment more keenly than
the majority Of those interested in the
bill, because he hoped that the passage
OF the bill on the eve of his retirement
would be the browning act of his ca
reer, confesses that he feels dazed by
the result. FPS
II have no explanation to offer for
the peculiar action on the part of SEN
ator Carter. Itcame to Us very great
shock this morning, and was quite un-
expected. II he had yielded the hoor
l think the conference report might
have been adopted"
/ Mr.. Catchings was asked if he had
heard the report that Senator Carter,
in talking the bill to death, had simply
Icarried out the wishes of President
Mckinley, who otherwise intended to
veto it.
IT do not believe the report" said
General Catchings, "and l have no in.
formation on 1t. I"
! The principal portion Of Mr.. Catch
lines time during this session has been
devoted to the interests of the Missis
/ sippi river and Southwest pass, and il
was through his efforts that these i'm
provements Jared so we'll in the bill
I.s failure, therefore, distresses him
exceedingly.
Senators McRuery and Foster, Judge
Davey, and in fact All Of the members