The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-14
One Almost Assured If Canal
Treaty Be Not Ratified.
THE MONUMENT TO
GENERAL HUGH MERCER
Secretary of War Issues Important
Statement In Regard to lt-valen-
tine, Of Richmond, Asked to
Submit Designs-BilI to
Prohibit Prizes in To-
bacco to Come Up.
Especial to Tho Times. Dispatch j

Especial to Tho Times. .Dispatch.)
Z WASHINGTON, d. c., February 13.-
Charles Fremont Cochran. OF the Fourth
Missouri District, called Congressman
hepburn, OF Iowa, a liar on the floor Of
the House to-day. There was NO fight,
and the incident is closed. although there
Is no announcement of a retraction or. an
apology The incident excited almost
everybody except Mr.. Hepburn.
The Democrats were greatly wrought
up through the refusal OF the Republic
cans to allow any amendments to be-
put on the Elkins bill. Mr.. Hepburn. as /
chairman Of the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. had charge Of
the bill. A number of Democrats had:
bitterly attacked the rule which pre-
vented amendments being made. It was
plain that feeling was running pretty
high.
Mr.. Hepburn was proceeding with his
speech In the course OF which he had
spoken in most sarcastic manner of the
record of the Democratic party on the
subject sof trusts. He made some state
ment to which the men In the press gall
lery We're not listening. But they heard
Cochran. who snrang to his feet on the
other side Of the hall and exclaimed:
THAT is a deliberate lle.' There was
momentary silence. Then Mr.. Hepburn
replied in his usual tone If my state
ment is not true 1T Is through Ignorance ~
He then proceeded with his speech
Cochran is a practical printer, editor
lawyer and politician. He is probably
fo1rk fs,. o 2
EXTRA SESSION.
The probability OF an extra session
Is stronger now than it has ever been.
L have 1t from a source very close to
President Roosevelt that unless the Sem
ate acts on the Panama Canal treaty,
and the Cuban reciprocity treaty he will
call the Congress In extra session on the
9TH OF March. It Is hardly possible. in
view of the fact that less than th-S4
weeks of the present session remain. and
that Senator Quay has the statehood
bill ahead OF everything else. and will
expect an endless debate upon it, that
the two treaties can be ratified at this
session. Nearly every Senator On the
fla$r will want to speak on the canal
treaty. Senator Morsan's speech will
probabl yconsume several days. An extra
session Is for the first time probable, 5 /,
MERCER MONUMENT.
Secretary Root to-day issued an ims
portant order in connection with the
statue to General Hugh Mercer to ba
erected at Fredericksburg. by an act OF
Congress approved June rs, 1902, $4,000
was appropriated for the erection Of the
monument. Congress agreed In 1877 to
erect the monument, but nothing was
done toward that end until the tpassaga
OF tho act making the appropriation, That
act directed that the money should ba
expended under the direction OF the Sec
retary Of War.
Secretary Root to-day issued the fol-3
lowing order: ses
1t is ordered that the Mayor Of Freder.
icksbrug Va, be requested to take the
necessary steps with n view to the ac-
qusition by the city of fredericksburg,
or the citizens thereof. of a suitable site
for said monument; such site 10 be. sub
mitted to the Secretary of War for ex-
animation and approval prior to Its con-4
veyance to the United States.
VALENTINE MAY Make DESIGN.
That In accordance with the recon-
mendation of the committee of the City
Council of Fredericksburg. Va, contained
In their letter Of January 5. 1908, Mr..
Edward V. Valentine, of Richmond. Va,
be invited to submit, On or before June
i, lvUS designs LOT! IL pTOllZe SIatu6
General Mercer OF heroic size. not
equestrian, together with plans for
granite pedestal and accessories; such
statue, PEDESTAL and accessories to cost
not exceeding s2l5oo. IS
"Mr. Valentines designs. when completed, !,
will be submitted to the Secretary OF War
for examination and approval. A sum
not exceeding $1,000 may be allowed ana
paid to Mr., Valentine when the designs
for tho monument with pedestal and ac-f
cessories complete. shall have been COM
plotted and approved by the Secretary OF
War.
',rhe approval OF the designs and plans
so submitted Is TO be n condition prece-
dent to the incnrrIng OF any obligation
by the United States and II they be not
approved, the Secretary of War Is to
bo at liberty to call for other designs and
plans from the same artist or other art
lists.
'"rhe foregoing instructions viii be
carried into execution by Colonel Theo-
dore a. bingham. United States army,
major, corps OF engineers, officer In
charge of public buildings and grounds
In the District OF Columbia, or his sue
,cessor In office'
THE INSCRIPTION.
The story Of Mercer Is told III the fol-
on the monument to his memory by ex-
press provision OF the act OF Congress.
Sacred to the memory OF Hugh Mer.
cers brisad!er general IN the srmy OF
Il : m q