Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-03-12
THE SENATE MEETS.
Upper Chamber Of Fifty-Eighth
Congress in Extra Session.
Mr.. CANNON'S SPEECH DENOUNCED.
senator Tiilman Says the Payment Of In
tsrsst on south Carolina's Claim Caused
the Troubie-The Treaties Referred
70 Foreign Relations COMMITTEES.

TO EOEgt8h HDhAtDn9 O0hAs4sssNs
Washington, March 6.-In obedi-
ence to the presidents proclamation
the senate Of the Fifty-eighth con-
Rress convened in extraordinary SEES
sion at noon yesterday. An immense
crowd witnessed the interesting cere'
mony. Echoes of the Fifty-seventh
congress had not died away when
President Pro TEN. Frye called the
body to order and soon thereafter
the senators who were reelected and
those who were TO take their seats
for the first time, with the exception
of Senator German, who had seen
long service In the senate, were
sworn in. Friends and admirers OF
the senator's loaded down their desks
with beautiful floral tributes. One
of the features of the opening cere-
mony was the ovation accorded Sen
ator German.
Mr.. Cannon's speech in the house
of representatives early Wednesday
morning in presenting the confer
ence report on the general deficiency
bill, in which he charged that the
senate conferees had resorted to leg
islatiye blackmail and attacked the
rules of the senate, formed the sub
iect OF some ferHd remarks by Sem
ator Tillman and by the senate con-
ferees, Messrs. Hale, Allison and
Teller.
Senator Tillman said there were
two issues involved in that speech,
one affecting the dignity of the SEN
ate, and the other affecting his own
official integrity, responsibility and
personal character. The speech, he
said, was wholly indefensible, indie
cent and an outrage He read from
Jefferson's manual regarding the
comfy that must obtain between two
branches Of a legislature and asked
whether 1t had not been greatly vio-
lated in this case. "Power," he said,
"had made some of these men
drunk" .a...
Senator Tillman quoted the law au-
thorizing the payment OF interest on
South Cardinals claim and said 1t was
that which led the committee on APP
preparations to act, simply because
il meant to do a long-delayed act Of
Justice to South Carolina and undo
the wrong which had been done.
THAT is the cause Of this cry OF
'blackmail,' said he, "and which
caused the charge that the senate
forced the house to make gift to
South Carolina Of $47,0Oo."
Mr.. Cannon had objected to the
matter, said Senator Tillman, simply
because he called IT legislation on an
appropriation bill. Senator Tillman
drew a picture Of the scene in the
conference room while the commit
tee was discussing his item and said:
"The watch dog Of the treasury came
in and shut his massive jaws down
on this claim and said: Whenever
you all get ready to rub that out
wake me up" He said he was only
speaking metaphorically.
| Senator Tillman then spoke OF the
determination arrived at by him. Il
simply shut my jaws down on this
proposition" said he. shat ] would
nave tnat money or nuve mn vxuu
session and was in a position. under
the rules of the senate. to force It,"
Senator Hale, of Maine. said he
would let the matter pass into obliv-
ion, disagreeable as It wnss but II
affected him because he had charge
Of the deficiency bill. Speaking very
deliberately. Senator Hale said there
had been no legislative blackmail and
that there was no necessity. none
whatever" said he, speaking with
emphasis. for that conference to be
brought into the speech OF Mr.. Can
non.
The message from the president
saying he had convened the senate In
extraordinary session at this time
TO consider the isthmian canal and
Cuban reciprocity treaties. was read
On motion of Senator Cullom the
senate at $40 went into executive
session and at 3:15 adjourned until
Monday.
The business Of the executive SEES
sion Of the senate consisted In re-
ferrlng all the treaties before the
senate TO the committee on foreign
! relations and In referring the nomi-
| nations sent In yesterday to the com
, mittees which will pass on them
The committee on foreign relations
will meet Saturday for the purpose
Of considering the treaties and Sen.
ator Cullom, the chairman, expressed
| ~. NAv,nVVnttfAa Will