The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-10
Maryland Man Refuses
to Discuss Cleve-
lands Record.
DEFENSE OF MR.. PAYNE
"A Much Misunderstood
Man" Says the Wis
COnSin Statesman.


with a difficult political problem on the
floor Of the Senate yesterday afternoon.
He had to choose between entering upon
hard political debate with Mr.. Spoon
er, IN which he would have had to de-
fend the political record Of Grover Cleve-
land. or else preserve discreet silence.
When the debate came to an end, Mr.
Gorman's Democratic colleagues thought
he had handled the situation with a good
deal Of political sagacity
Mr.. SpoOner was speaking on the
Postofice appropriation bill, on which
he held the floor for three hours FREE
quently he directed his comments
straight at Mr. German, whose seat Il
not far away. and every little while he
put in a challenge In the shape OF a
pointed question His evident desire was
to draw Mr. German into a debate.
which would disclose the Maryland Sen
ator's position on Mr.. Cleveland
A Discreet Silence.
Sometimes Mr.. German replied briefly.
but most of the time he sat silent while
Mr.. SDooner hurled his oratoricaI shafts.
When he did reply il was in answer TO
statements which seemed to be directed
at his leadership Of the Senate minority
But when Mr.. SpOOner took up instances
in Cleveland's term Of Office TO criticise.
Mr.. German was not eager in seeking
10 get IN scme explanation ahead OF any
other Democratic S,nator.
In the course of his speech Mr.
SpoOner defended Postmaster General
Payne, Commissioner Ware. ana Presl-
dent Roosevelt. IN turn. from partisan
attacks upon them. He I'D this in q
thoroughgoing way and occasional In
terruptions - other Seaa+trs tended to
prolong the debate. n consequence
with two other speeches OF some length
the PostOfnce appropriation bill did not
achieve any great progress yesterday,
although it was the business before the
Senate for practically the entire session,
Yields to Mr. Lodge
Immediately after the morning bust
ness, Mr.. Lodge was recognized. after
an amicable parley with Mr.. Patterson
Of Colorado as 10 the right OF way. The
latter wished 10 complete his speech on
Chinese exclusion, and thought he
ought TO be permitted to do it without
delay. Mr.. Lodge said he had a rather
brief statement 10 go into the Record.
and so his colleague yielded.
H. his introductory remarks, Mr.
Lodge said he knew the matter Of can
ceiling machines for the f5ostoffice De
partment had been gone into quite fully
in debate, but In discursive way.
so he desired to submit more con-
else and complete review Of the entire
matter
Mr.. Patterson then concluded his
speech on Chinese exclusion, again calf
ing attention 10 the danger which
threatens this country from the unre-
the United States enacts legislation of
sufficient sort before December
next. when Chinas Official reuuuciari5n
of the existing treaty becomes effective.
SpooneT Defends Payne.
Mr.. Spooner was then recognized. The
first part Of his speech was entirely In
defense of the record of Postmaster
General Payne, who comes from Wis
consin. The Senator went into detail in
praise OF Mr.. Payne's personal devotion
70 duty. and said that official had moth
ing 10 fear from any just review of mis-
acts. 1t was the distortion of things
which caused people to get wrong i'm
pressious Of MIR. Paynes administration
of the office. he said.
Passing from the Postomce question
to that Of Commissioner Wares recent
old-ase pension order. Mr. Spooner de-
Tended il as a worthy and just action.
You go back TO your aged COnfeGer-
ate soldiers and tell them you have op-
posed an order 70 look out for men who
have served III a hard war. and see
what they Will tell you" said Mr.
SpoOner, addressing his remarks 10 Mr..
Overman Of North Carolina, who was
within arm 5 reach across the center
aisle.
See If they will not tell you that
sleeping in the rain and undergoing
forced marches and other necessary
hardships OF campaign create
a disability in the eyes Of the law by
the time tney are s;Xty-two years old. |
Ask them that" demanded the Wiscon-
sin Senator, who suddenly changed his
manner and said But. no: / won't
ask you 70 do that You are too wise
to mistake what the answer would be.
MI Overman Protests.
Mr.. Overman protested that he should
not be singled out as the one to whom
such questions should be addressed, |
and said he based his objections on TIE
Hlegality, as he claimed, of Comnis-
sioner Ware ordering what ought to
come through Congress. Mr.. Spooner
explained that the personal phrasIng
of his comment was merely a manner
OF expression.
Mr.. German was the next minority
Senator to be drawn INTO the range OF
Mr.. SDooEcr fire. The Maryland Sen
ator's APPARENT unwillingness TO enter
into political debate. in which the
only reward in sight was u defense Of