New-York tribune., 1903-03-06
SENATORS STRIKE BACK.
4 LIYELY DISPUTE.
Tart Replies to- Cannon's Charge
of" Legislature RidckmaiL F."


that the Senate conferrees had resorted to 'egis-
Istive blackman'' and attacked the rules of the
Senate, formed the subject of some fervld re-
marks in the Senate to-day by AFR. Tfllman ana
by the Senate conferTees. Messrs. Hale, ALLISON
and Teller.
TILLMAN CALLS IT OUTRAGEOUS.
Mr.. TIIiman characterized the speech az re-
msrkable. and said he did not know that there
had ever been a similar one delivered In either
house OF Congress. There were two issues, he
said, involved in that speech. one affecting the
dignity Of the Senate and the other Affecting
his own official integrity, responsibility and per-
sonal character. The speech, he declared, was
wholly indetensibIe, indecent and an outrage"
He read from Jefferson's Manual regarding
the comfy that must obtain between two
branches OF legislature and asked whether 1t
had not been grossly violated in this case.
Power" he said, had made some Of those men
drunk"
He then gave q history Of South Carolina's
claim. Answering Mr.. Cannons criticism with
respect 20 legislating by unanimous consent
Er. Tllmsn said that nothing in the House Of
Representatives seems to go except by unani-
nous consent Of few leaders. THE unani-
NOUS consent OF the members he said, had
fallen into innocuous desuetude, and the unani-
YnouS consent he speaks of so strenuously here
is the unanimous consent Of those in control
South Carolina in this matter, he declared, had
been an outcast with no voice here and nobody
for forty years to ask that she shall receive
recognition or Justice.
Mr. TYIIman quoted the law authorizing the
payment of interest on South Carolina's claim,
and ESid it was that which led the Committee
on Appropriations to act, simply because it
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
'blackmsil' said he land which caused the
charge that the Senate forced the House to
make gift to South Carolina Of $4,000
Mr.. Tfllnan said he had great respect for Mr..
Cannon who as the watchdog Of the Treas
ury" had saved the country millions OF dol
lsrs Mr. Cannon had objected to the matter
sim Iy because he called 1t legislation on an
appropriation bill
Mr.. Tirlman drew picture Of the scene in
the conference room while the COMMITTEES was
discussing his iten and said: THE watchdog
OF the Treasury came in, shut his massive jaws
doU-n on this claim and said: whenever you
ali get ready to rub that out wake me up
He said he was only speaking metapnoricaIL!'
Mr. TiIIrnsn then spoke Of the determination
reached by him. Il simply shut my jaws GOWN
on the proposition" said he. that "oulo nave
that money or have extra session. and was
in a position under the rules of the Senate TO
force it,
Mr.. HALEs SHARP ANSWER.
Mr.. Hale said he would let the matter pass
into oblivion, dIsagreeable as 1t was. but II az
1ected him because he had charge OF the Den
ciency hill Speaking very deliberately, Mr.
Hale said there had been no Legislative black
mall and that there was necessity, none
whatever" said he, speaking with emphasis.
for that conference to be brought into the
speech Of DIR. Cannon"
MIR. Hale TO set Mr. Tillman right, declared
that he had never visited the conference room
and did not obtrude himself on the committee.
The Appropriations Committee. he said, had
handed justice.
Mr. Hale said 1t never had been thought that
one house Of Congress should arraign the other.
1t had never been thought or said before that
fhe processes OF one house processes OF
blsckmaiI and that they have become so IN
EufTerable that one house Will preach crusade
against the other, with the threat that the
people will stand behind the house that makes
the proposition. He said he had read the speech
of Mr. Cannon with the greatest amazement and
SORROW, all the more because It was not the i'm
passioned or unconsidered utterance OF some
new man, but was said by a very distinguished
and remarkably able man. who had earned
every advancement that had attended his career.
Mr.. Cannon's use OF the words Legislative
hlackmaN" Air Hale declared, were unfoFtu-
nate improper and breach OF the privileges
which IL they are not in the written Law, practi
caIly stand IN the Judgment OF all good men, as
the comfy between the two houses. Mr.. Hale
said he believed that when Mr.. Cannon read
his remarks the next morning he regretted
them.
The speech will be forgotten" said he ut
will pass TO the oblivion to which 1t should be
consigned The man who made il will go to a
higher place, and in his life he will have a
hundred things TO turn to in pride, but he VIII
never have anything more to regret than having
spoken these words. Speech is not everything.
said Mr.. Hale. mot by any means 1ntemperate
speech is the least OF all.
SENATOR ALLISON INDIGNANT.
He was followed by Mr.. Allison, who said he
commended and approved every word Mr.. Hale
lad said. respecting the remarkable speeches
made IN the other house at the close Of the last
session" The conference. he declared, had been
conducted in good temper. The Senate COM
InfItee never had sought to go back of the ap-
propFistioH bin presented by the House. and
inquire whether any item in II was passed by
the other house In violation OF its rules Neither
house. he said, is to be lectured by the other
as 20 what it's rules are or should be. Utter
ances Of that characteF are not in accord with
she comfy between the two houses. "I think"
ssad Mp. Anison, speaking With emphasis; and
that we should say, not once, but always. that
the rules Of procedure Of this body will be set
tied by the body itself in accordance with its
he declared that II the Deficiency bill
had failed. ft would not have been due to the
rules OF the Senate. but 70 the situation which
WAS presented in the House. Therefore, what
ever Of 6Ictation. whatever there was re-
-