The San Francisco call., 1904-04-05
Sfdelfgkb IN Congress.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
BY =. " NALL.

OF Congress over the passage Of one OF
the general appropriation bills is not
well represented I'm the brief reports
of proceedings sent over the country
every day during its course. This la
Dor is sometimes immense. Each of
them drs g its slow length from commit
lee 10 the fioor OF the House from the
House 10 Senate committee. from Sen
ate committee TO Senate. from Senate
10 the conference committee and from
conference committee back 10 the
House. and TO the Senate with the
final amendments. OF all the bills 10
take this course and bring up finally,
cut and shot 10 pieces. the bin pro-
viding for the conduct Of postofflces
and post roads is the one most beat
upon from every side and upon which
the division is least likely TO be a party
one.
On Saturday. March %. with
the passage OF the bill. the chair
man of the committee. William
Overstreet. concluded what had been
literally battle with the whole
House that has continued day by day
for three weeks. The night began three
has continued down TO the last line Of
the bill itself Ii has witnessed some
OF the most sensational scenes Of the
season and has dragged wearily for
hours through the discussion OF pro-
posed amendments. Every provision
OF the bill has been contested from
one side OF the chamber or the other
and TO each contestant the chairman
must stand ready 10 give battle. The
postal service is thing in which every
hamlet is interested and about which
every intelligent person knows some
thing, and this fact offers an eXplana-
tion Of the lively discussion which
drew something from members Of the
House who are rarely heard and Of
fered opportunity without limit TO
those who like to talk Democrats were
found pleading for expansion and in
crease in salaries quite as often as In
the line OF opposition. Since il came
on for consideration the bill has been
taken up Immediately after the morn
ing hour every day and its considera-
tiOn continued until nearly o'clock.
Despite the long contest, the bill was
not materially changed. The cutting
out Of the appropriation for carrying
the mail from san Francisco TO the
Society Islands was among the most
radical Of the amendments. This was
done at the instance of the Democrats.
a sufficient following on the other side
being enlisted to carry il through.
Livernash and Wynn of San Fran
cisco were the only Democrats voting
against il. Livernash made a strong
speech against the amendment. de-
clsring the Oceanic Steamship Com
psny now carrying the mail to be
the friend of the white sailor on the
Pacific. the Chinaman finding no place
on the ships Of the company.
Representative J. y. Gillette of Cali
fornia is likely TO become famous as
the leader OF the opposition to the pro-
posed Impeachment proceedings
against Judge Charles Swayne OF Flor
ida. Gillette was one Of a subcOmmit-
tee OF the judiciary Committee Of the
House that went TO Florida and in
vestigsted on the ground the charges
preferred. The committee numbered
three: Palmer. Republican. Pennsyl
vania; Clayton. Democrat. Alabama,
and Gillette. Republican, California.
Judge Swayne was not heard in his
own defense in Florida. but came on to
Washington and gave his testimony
before the whole committee. The sub
committee reported TO the full Com
mittee on Judiciary. Palmer and Clay
ton a majority and Gillette a minority
report. To the House these two re-
ports are carried. representing the
views OF the fun committee almost
oo4scI1x- Divided
with two Republicans absent, and who,
II present. would probably turn the
minority into a majority. nine to
eight The majority at present is com
posed OF Palmer, Powers De Almond.
clayton. Little. Henry. Brantley- and
Smith. all Democrats but the two first
named. The minority are Gillette. Jeh-
kins, Littleheld. Parker. Alexander.
Warner and Nevin. all Republicans.
Thomas. absent at his home in Iowa.
and Pearre. sick at his home in Mary
land, are counted upon to vote with
the ma jority.
Gillette's minority report is COM
plete answer TO the report of the
majority and covers every point quite
as convincingly as does the other aud
goes into important evidence that the
other ignored. The case will occupy
rhe House for week or more with
debate no doubt and possibly interfere
with some preconceived notions about
adjournment. IT is not at all likely
that il will be decided this session.
The report Of the committee will serve
as complaint before the House. The
House will discuss and vote upon it.
whether TO impeach or not. If the
verdict is for Impeachment then the
matter will be carried before the SEN
ale for trial. The Senate. however. will
give the defendant time to answer and
in the meantime that body will ad-
journ. In the event of impeachment
by the House the Senate may be con-
vened i'm November for the purpose of
trying the case before the regular ses-
sion.
There have been seven cases of i'm
parchment before the Senate in the
history Of the country. The first was