Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-03
SENATE DISCUSSIONS.
Upper House Does Most Of Its
Work In Open Session.
HEAD OF COMMITTEE ON CANALS
Filling of Hanna's Place Causing
some TrOublc-Why senator Hoar
Smilcd-Thc Champion Volunteer
Soldier-A COlOred Mans Letter.

some Troublc-Why Senator Hoar
smiled-Thc Champion Volunteer
soldier-A CoIored Mans Letter.
Washington, Feb. 90. - Especial -
There is very great contrast in the
manner in which the two canal trea-
ties were considered by the senate.
Last March when the senate met in
executive session and took up the
Colombian treaty discussion was be-
hind closed doors, although Senator
Morgan obtained permission to publish
his speech in the Record. The Cuban
treaty was also discussed in secret
session. During the present session
of congress there has been but very
little discussion in executive session,
a day or two at most. The treaty was
made public, and upon various resolu.
tons the senators talked of the Pana-
MA situation and of the provisions of
the treaty.
just a Vacant Craftsmanship.
Sometimes it takes but very little to
stir M the senate. For several days
now there has been deep agitation
over the successor of Senator Hanna
as chairman of the committee Oh inter.
oceanic canals No one cared very
much about it at first. 1t meant the
craftsmanship of a committee of i'm
portance and good committee room.
Several OF the leading senators of the
senate thought that Senator Spooner
of Wisconsin would be the man for it.
but the difficult question OF seniority
had to be overcome. Seniority in the
senate is not Il tradition; it is an I'M
written law. but as fixed us that of the
Modes and rersians Senator Platt OF
New York was the ranking member OF
the committee. and Senator Mitchell
of Oregon was the next man. But both
of those men had voted for Nicaragua
and against Panama when the SpOone1
law was passed. 1t would be better il
the minds of the leaders to have q
simon pure Panama man at the head
of the committee.
On the Same Footing.
Senator Hoar wanted some informa-
garding ,pension legislation for the
blind. So he applied to Senator Nc
Cumbcr of North Dakota. chairman OF
the committee on pensions.
I'VE are going TO report such bill.
answered McCumber. 1--WE will re
port Il bill placing the blind soldiers or
the same footing as the legless."
The remark caused Senator Hoar tt
smile broadly, and McCumber. who is
very Scotch. did not see anything
amusing in his remark.
The Champion Volunteer.
Chairman I.oudenSlager Of the house
committee on pensions has recently re
ported n very interesting pension bill
1t is for Charles Hunt of Cincinnati
and increases his pension from Sl2 Il
$50 per month. Loudenslager says thai
Hunt is the champion volunteer soldier
of America. and he doubts whether
any other man has Il record equal tt
his. He was Il volunteer and serveC
with the Michigan troops in the Mex
lean war. He served MS volunteer
officer with the Ohio and Mississippi
troops during the civil war. and liz
was the colonel Of the First Ohio vol
untecrS during the war with Spain.
Widow Of the Revolution.
Another bill reported by Loudensla.
ger is for Rebccca Mayo of Newburn
Va. and her pension is to be increased
from 81. to SO per month. She is the
last but one of the widows of Rev
dictionary soldiers. She is now ninety
years old and married the soldier wher
she was about twenty years Old back
in 1884. Her husband WAS then about
scvcnty-seycu years Old. lie served in
the Revolution from l1IG 10 11>l under
four different enlistnIentS. Mrs. Mayo
is now living with a daughter who WAS
the issue of the marriage.
Didn't Read the Letter.
Representative Gardner Of Massa
chuS"ttS has Il correspondent who re
sides in IIavcrhill. Mass. He is q
coiorod man and mas views on the race
issue which he impariS 10 Gardner in
quarto and octave letters. Recently Il
letter was received in Washington
from the Ilavcrhill correspondent
which was unusually large ana long
GHr'.ncr happened TO be out of the
city, bnt as he has an efficient secre
tGry the latter answered the coInmuni
cation. in which he set forth his chiefs
views on III" race question. together
with the dlliculties of securing any
congressional action.
After Gardner returned he received
personal letter from his Ilavcrhil
correspondent. in which, the discharge
OF the secretary was demanded and a
protest against the fniurc To read the
previous letter was made. Gardner
thelcupon looked mp the letter and
found that instead Of being Il disgust
ton on the race question the letter
asked that n. colorcd preacher be APP
pointed chaplain in the navy.
The secretary had not read the letter.
hut he has not been discharged.
Native Of Nevada.
Senator Stewart WAS cnllod ont OF
the senate The other day and intro
duc2d to IA gentleman in the marble
room who was born in Nevada T..
was Robert MAckay. now managing
editor of Success. "Well. we'll" sait
the senator. II knew your father well
and am right glad TO see you. Yo,
are Il native of old Virginia City, are
YOU Well, | am proud of such speci
mems of the products of my state"